Q. I would like to take red yeast rice as a supplement to lower my cholesterol. But I heard that in 2007 the FDA restricted sales of red yeast rice if it contained lovastatin, the ingredient in Mevacor. Is that true or can I still buy red yeast rice containing lovastatin?
A. Red yeast rice was first introduced to the American market in the mid 1990s under the name Cholestin. A standard dose contained a small amount of lovastatin (less than half as much as a 20 mg prescription-strength Mevacor pill).
The FDA challenged Cholestin on the grounds that it was an unapproved drug. Cholestin has since been reformulated, but there are many other red yeast rice products on the market. The FDA has warned consumers to avoid this compound, even though it does lower cholesterol.
A recent analysis by ConsumerLab.com shows that red yeast rice supplements “vary by more than 100-fold, with some providing as much lovastatin as prescription medication and others containing very little.” Some products were contaminated with citrinin, a potentially toxic chemical.
We discuss red yeast rice and many other natural approaches for lowering cholesterol in the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. It is available in libraries, bookstores and online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
