Is Red Yeast Rice a Safe Alternative to Statin Therapy?
Have you been searching for ways to help lower your cholesterol? If so, you’ve no doubt come across a popular supplement known as red yeast rice. Red yeast rice is fermented rice that has been used in China for centuries as a preservative, spice and food coloring (it’s what makes Peking duck red). It is a dietary staple in China, Japan and Asian communities in the U.S. Red yeast rice is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat poor circulation, indigestion and diarrhea. In the U.S., red yeast rice (also marketed in products such as Cholestin and Hypocol) has been promoted to help lower cholesterol. It contains substances called monacolins. These are converted in the body to a substance that blocks cholesterol production. Dietary supplement or drug? There is some controversy about using red yeast rice to lower cholesterol. Researchers found that the rice contains substances that are similar to prescription statin medications. One substance, called monocolin K, has the same mak
