Red Yeast Rice: What is it and What Does it Do?

As you may well know, in the fight to improve cardiovascular health, there are several beneficial changes that you can make to your diet. One possibility that’s been getting quite a bit of attention is red rice, a supplement that reportedly lowers high cholesterol and may also cure diarrhea and other digestive ailments. Keep reading for more information on this new health-friendly supplement.

A popular part of the traditional Chinese diet for thousands of years, red yeast rice is a product of the yeast that is grown on rice. The beneficial compounds found in red yeast rice are known collectively as monacolins, and studies have shown that it may help to reduce cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Red yeast rice is often found in capsules and extract form.

It’s important to note that red yeast rice has not been approved by the government to treat high cholesterol, and it is not yet legal to sell it in the United States. In fact, in 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning advising customers to not purchase Red Yeast Rice and Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal Complex, sold by Swanson Healthcare Products, Inc. and manufactured by Nature’s Value Inc. and Kabco Inc., respectively; and Cholestrix, sold by Sunburst Biorganics.

The FDA tests revealed that these particular products contained lovastatin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Mevacor, a prescription drug approved for marketing in the United States as a treatment for high cholesterol. It is believed that lovastatin can cause severe muscle problems leading to kidney impairment. The products could be particularly harmful among people who are already taking lovastatin to treat a heart condition and may be ingesting more than they need if these red rice products are part of their diets.

It is possible to buy red yeast rice overseas or through the Internet, and certainly more research will be done on its safety and effectiveness in the coming years. If you are interested in adding red yeast rice to your cholesterol-lowering plan, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist to avoid any possible harmful interactions.