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Q. What can you tell me about red yeast rice? Is it really good for lowering cholesterol levels, and are there any side effects?
A. Red yeast rice (RYR) can help in lowering cholesterol. In one study, researchers recruited people who had high cholesterol but had discontinued statin-type drugs because of muscle pain or weakness. They were randomized to RYR or a placebo. Those taking red yeast rice lowered both bad LDL and total cholesterol significantly and did not suffer serious side effects (Annals of Internal Medicine, June 16, 2009).
We are sending you our Guide to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health with more details on RYR and other natural ways to lower lipids and reduce the risk of heart disease. There are natural statins in red yeast rice so it is not surprising that some readers have reported muscle problems while taking this supplement. Anyone who takes RYR should be under medical supervision.
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Red Yeast Rice has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years as a treatment for ‘bad blood’. It is made by fermenting red yeast (Monascus purpureus) on rice. Its active ingredient mevinolin is chemically identical to the cholesterol lowering compound lovostatin, and also similar to the two cholesterol lowering drugs Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin).
According to available research, red yeast rice consistently lowers total cholesterol (by an average of 10-30%), lowers LDL cholesterol (by an average of 10-20%), lowers triglycerides (by an average of 15-25%) and increases HDL cholesterol (by an average of 7-15%). It appears to accomplish this by reducing the liver’s production of cholesterol.
* Caution: Red Yeast Rice is a statin drug, albeit in a natural form and at a lower dosage.
For years I have occasionally been diagnosed with elevated cholesterol. I have refused to take prescription "cholesterol drugs". I have taken RYR for many months with no apparent side effects. I am due an annual physical, at which time I will get another cholesterol evaluation with blood work.
Do you have any information on the effects of using RYR with a non-statin cholesterol-lowering medication such as Zetia?
Thanks.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY STUDIES.
I wonder if the Red Rice Yeast had the same anti-inflammatory effect as do statins? Just lowering cholesterol is not the only benefit for heart patients' use of statins. Reducing inflammation is equally important.
I know what is yeast, and I know what is rice, but what is Red Yeast Rice? I cannot eat yeast in bread, so would i not be able to eat this rice? I do not know how yeast can be in rice. Is it genetically engineered?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: RED YEAST RICE RESULTS FROM GROWING A SPECIAL TYPE OF YEAST ON THE RICE. THE RESULTING RICE IS USED AS FOOD OR MEDICINE IN CHINA. HERE, THE YEAST IS EXTRACTED TO CREATE RED YEAST RICE CAPSULES. IF YOU DON'T TOLERATE YEAST IN BREAD OR BEER, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY STAY AWAY FROM RYR.
I am 76 years old. I started with two tablets 2x a day. Then after 4 months I started taking 3 tabs a day; 2 in am and one in pm. Now I am having very severe muscle spasms in my arms, legs and neck. Very scary. I will go back to two a day; maybe then to one a day before I check my cholesterol @ the Doctor's office.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: SOME PEOPLE DO EXPERIENCE MUSCLE PROBLEMS WITH RYR JUST AS THEY DO WITH STATIN DRUGS. DEFINITELY CUT BACK OR DISCONTINUE THE RYR. BE SURE TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
I have been on Red Rice Yeast for a few years. It has been great. No side effects and the first 3 months my total cholesterol came down 30 points. Verses 3 points on a cholesterol medication in a year. All cholesterol medications gave me gastrointestinal problems. This stuff is wonderful!
I am a 66-year old type 1 diabetic and am prone to getting vaginitis. I also have an allergy to yeast. How would I find out if it is OK for me to use this supplement?
My doctors are not knowledgeable about alternative medicines and some have told me they don't believe in them. My LDL level is between normal and high (the medium range per my kidney doctor). My HDL and Triglyceride levels are in the normal range.
Thanks for your comments.
I have been taking red yeast rice for 3 years along with omega 3,6,9, capsules.
My cholesterol is 177 and tris are way down plus ldl is way up and bad is way down. I have had no side effects.
In the attempt to lower cholesterol my primary physician strongly recommenced RYR @ 2 caps/diem - 1 a.m./1 p.m. I did so for 3 days and 1 morning (total 7 caps). By mid-afternoon of that 4th day I had been rushed to ER, was admitted to hospital and receiving the 1st of 7 units of whole blood. RYR was the only variation of my diet/medications/activity.
To claim persons taking this supplement "did not suffer serious side effects (Annals of Internal Medicine, June 16, 2009" cannot be considered totally accurate, based on (my) personal experience. Considerable intestinal bleeding is generally regarded as serious, and certainly was in my case. Other products (prescription drugs) had also exacerbated intestinal reaction, including prior bleeds. Anyone having previously experienced any intestinal bleed situations is well-urged to use extreme caution regarding Red Yeast Rice.
Seriously, how can a yeast rice be a drug? The drug has been derived from the rice, not the other way around. And why is there an obsession with cholesterol? Seniors are really better off with more, not less cholesterol. But it is important to get the right kinds -- Omega-3s and no trans fats. Even when a product says "no trans fats," it may still have a trace amount. Walnuts are certainly a good source of healthy oils, and many other plant sources, like perilla. If you do get your "3s" from fish then beware of the possible mercury content.
Try to eat the smaller fish or certain algae are also a good way to go. And beware of all the side effects from statins -- they can make you lose your memory, damage your muscles and increase the likelihood of cancer. If you do take red yeast rice, make sure you also take Coenzyme Q-10. And also look into supplementing with enzymes -- they really help digestion and can undo a lot of previous damage inflicted through our dietary habits.
When my prescription plan wanted me to jump thru hoops to get the zetia + statin drug, I blew it off and started niacin, 1500mg/day. Then I heard about RYR & added 1800 mg of it to the niacin. I went for my annual physical two weeks ago & the Dr. didn't mention cholesterol at all in my report.
Think I'll just carry on.
My mother had lots of muscle pain with Lipitor and Zocor. I recommended RYR about three years ago. She is now 89, taking no statins, taking fish oil every day along with the RYR and her cholesterol level is 190. It was 300. She has had congestive heart disease since 1996 when she had bypass surgery. It remarkable that she is still living in her home independently and is very cheerful!
cv
My experience is similar to many who have written about the side effects of taking prescription statins. 1200 mg of RYR daily does the same for me that 20mg of Zocor did, without the side effects.
More to the point is the question of whether cholesterol control is really necessary. As cheesy as it looks, I urge readers to check out www.spacedoc.net and peruse the various articles on the cholesterol "industry" and all the money that is being made on it.
I am not sure, but I thought I read that the ingredient that was effective in lowering cholesterol levels was removed from the red rice products you can buy from vitamin catalogs or health food stores. I might have even read that in your book that I have read and recommended to many.
Misinformation is rampant on this page,
I'll address everyone from the first to last post.
S. Guy-Clarke: Lovastatin is naturally found in Red Yeast Rice, just like Willow Bark has Aspirin in it. Lovastatin, Simvastatin and Pravastatin are "natural" statins based on their structure. Other statins are more structurally different. Even though these statins are structurally different they work the same way.
Tammie L.: I am not familiar with data on Zetia and Red Yeast Rice, but they will not adversely interact. You can take them together and expect your LDL to lower more with both. Current studies have not shown Zetia added to a statin to be better at preventing heart attacks or saving your life. So you might be better off just taking the statin.
Kathy: Reducing inflammation is VERY important. Red Yeast Rice 600 mg Twice a day is about equal to 10 mg of Lovastatin. All statins reduce inflammation. Red Yeast Rice contains "natural" lovastatin
Jesse D.: Red Yeast Rice is not genetically engineered. It is a product of fermentation. Yeasts are fungi like mushrooms and penicillin. I'm not sure if you can take Red Yeast Rice.
Donita: Take care of your self and things will take care of themselves. Don't take drugs or "natural supplements" just because. If your blood levels are fine you are fine.
TonyD: Non-prescription products found to have prescription products are ILLEGAL and are pulled of the market by the FDA to protect you. Many body building supplements have been found to contain illegal substances which gets pro sports players in trouble and exposes John Q American to unnecessary risks of "dangerous drugs". Prescription drugs by definition are dangerous.
Bottom line: Simvastatin (Zocor) and Lovastatin (Mevacor) have been shown to be not as effective as other statins and have more side-effects when compared to other statins. Non-drug treatments sound like they would be the best for most of you that posted.
Ask your pharmacist or your physician about non-drug treatments for high cholesterol.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: THERE ARE ALSO LOTS OF NON-DRUG APPROACHES IN OUR GUIDE TO CHOLESTEROL CONTROL AND HEART HEALTH.
I see no mention of a recommended dosage for Red Yeast Rice to be effective. A doctor told me that the actual content/dosage of RYR tablets is not controlled and may not be the same for all brands. I have heard several word-of-mouth success stories regarding the effects of using RYR to lower LDL's.
Does anyone have information regarding effective dosage and/or effective brands?
Thanks for making the general public aware that we need to use caution and common sense when taking red yeast and that just because something is in its natural form, doesn't mean it is 100% safe for all people. It is always safe to let your doctor know what you are ingesting.
After reading about Red Yeast Rice in your book," Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy", I began with one 1200 mg of RYR - but lowered the dosage to 600 mg daily due to an uncomfortable side effect of flatulence. (Which was mentioned in your book.) Not a pleasant subject to discuss, but I would like to know if there's anything one could take to prevent that side effect of RYR?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WE FIND THAT FENNEL TEA CAN SOMETIMES HELP WITH FLATULENCE. YOU'LL FIND THAT IN BEST CHOICES AS WELL. GOOD LUCK!
Have you read this article? It gives a very different perspective on the use of red yeast rice.
LINK: http://cholesterol.emedtv.com/red-yeast-rice/risks-of-red-yeast-rice.html
My husband takes Pentasa daily for Chron's disease - can taking RYR cause more serious side effects, or keep the Pentasa from working?
William F.,
Thank you. Very good information. The take home message is that Red Yeast Rice shares ALL of the same possible ill effects as the statins that can be found behind the counter in the pharmacy.
Red Yeast Rice is not a magic drug because it is natural, but a drug like any other drug. Red Yeast Rice is found in nature, just like most other drugs are in some form.
I would characterize William F's link on Red Yeast Rice as complete.
I have been on zetia and red yeast rice 600 mg twice a day with blessings from my cardiologist after having problems with frozen shoulders after taking crestor. All my lipids have improved tremendously in the past 6 months. I take the whole foods brand of red yeast rice.
Great job! Such a well written post. I just got what I need about lower cholesterol supplement. Thanks for sharing the post and keep posting!
Very helpful. I've been on Crestor (10mg) and am having shoulder, neck, ribcage and now foot pains. I've seen an orthopedic and spine specialist and contacted my cardiologist who said to reduce my dosage to where my body can tolerate the Crestor (1, 2 or 3Xs wk). I take one Crestor on Monday PM and have pains by Wed.AM. I'm getting depressed and discouraged by the constant pain. Crestor did reduce my cholesterol levels and CRP numbers but I'm about to give it up for some better quality of life.
I tried RYR and started having dizzy spells and muscle pain. I wanted it to work but gave up due to the side effects.
My doctor has prescribed Zetia for me, which I have taken for a couple years before, but came off it myself (told the doctor) to give my liver a rest so to speak. Just had another cholesterol check and it is high again, so he wants me back on it. We are both over 65 and have no prescription coverage.
Zetia runs about $150 mo. He also prescribed Lovaza for my husbands cholesterol problem which is $170 mo. We cannot afford either. I was not able to take Zocor or Pravastatin or any of the other cholesterol lowering drugs as I got muscle pain from them. Zetia did a good job of controlling my cholesterol, but that was when we had coverage to get it.
I am not sure what to do now. I have gotten fish oil for my husband to take in place of the Lovaza, but not sure what to use myself. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Fran M,
Zetia is far too expensive. It does not affect the liver like the statins (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor etc.), so there is no need to give your liver a rest.
A good question, might be: Why are you taking Zetia? If the problem is not serious, maybe you don't need to be on Zetia.
Pravastatin and Simvastatin would be inexpensive alternatives to Zetia. Pravastatin is on some $ 4 lists and Simvastatin on a $5 list.
You might find Pravastatin to have less interaction and less side effects because it is removed by the kidneys and not the liver.
Always remember eat a balanced diet with less meat and more vegetables. Avoid whole milk and full fat diary. You don't have to stop eating anything, just use portion control.
The American Heart Association recommends that everyone eat fish high in omega 3 fatty acids twice a week.