Your Health: Red Yeast Rice Lowers Cholesterol Levels

[Guest guest]

Probably needs to be reinforced that we who may be on

insulin or other drugs for diabetes should talk with our

doctor before starting this. But, as cholesterol and

triglycerides seem to be a big problem in our population,

this could be quite helpful.

Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.

If you're searching for a natural solution to high

cholesterol levels, a dietary supplement known as red yeast

rice is well worth considering. Although

the substance has been used for centuries in China as a

medicinal tonic, a natural food dye, and a preservative, it

is best known in the United States

as a cholesterol-lowering agent.

Red yeast rice is made by fermenting a specific type of

yeast, called Monascus purpureus, over red rice. Laboratory

studies have shown that the yeast effectively

blocks the actions of a cholesterol-producing enzyme in the

human body.

The natural agent in red yeast rice responsible for this

effect is monacolin K. As it turns out, monacolin K is

chemically identical to the cholesterol-lowering

compound found in the prescription drug Mevacor

(lovastatin), and is similar to the active ingredients in

other cholesterol-lowering medications, including

Lipitor and Zocor.

While dietary supplements containing red yeast rice

typically contain lower concentrations of the active

ingredient than prescription drugs, numerous studies

have demonstrated their effectiveness. In clinical trials

involving approximately 900 Chinese volunteers with

moderately elevated cholesterol levels, researchers

found that red yeast rice preparations consistently lowered

total cholesterol levels by an average of 10 to 30 percent.

Subjects taking red yeast rice preparations also experienced

a 10 to 20 percent reduction in low density lipoprotein

(LDL), and a 15 to 25 percent reduction

in triglyceride levels. Levels of heart-healthy high density

lipoprotein (HDL) rose by an average of seven to 15 percent.

Studies conducted in the U.S. have produced similar results.

In a 12-week clinical trial, scientists at the UCLA Center

for Human Nutrition analyzed the

effects of a red yeast rice preparation in 83 adults with

borderline-high to moderately elevated cholesterol levels.

In an article published in the American Journal of Clinical

Nutrition, the UCLA researchers reported that the dietary

supplement lowered total and LDL

cholesterol, as well as triglycerides. In this study,

however, the scientists found no significant increase in HDL

cholesterol.

Lowering LDL cholesterol levels is a desirable effect, since

it helps prevent atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by

the build-up of plaque along

blood vessel walls. Cholesterol plaques in the coronary

arteries can block the flow of blood and oxygen to the

heart, leading to a heart attack.

Several large, long-term clinical trials have demonstrated

that when individuals reduce their LDL levels with diet and

cholesterol-lowering prescription

drugs, including lovastatin, the risk of experiencing a

heart attack is significantly diminished. Although red yeast

rice hasn't been subjected to the

same type of analysis, some experts speculate that the

cholesterol-lowering dietary supplement might produce a

similar reduction in the risk of heart attack.

Red yeast rice is generally well-tolerated by most folks:

Mild headache and abdominal discomfort are the most commonly

reported side effects. More serious

adverse effects are rare, but it is theoretically possible

that the supplement could cause problems similar to those

associated with the prescription drug

lovastatin, including muscle pain, dizziness, and liver

damage.

Although the long-term safety of red yeast rice has not been

specifically tested, the substance has been consumed as a

dietary staple in Asian countries

for more than a thousand years with no apparent toxicity.

Scientists attribute the safety of red yeast rice products

to the preparation process, which

does not involve the isolation and concentration of a single

ingredient.

Dietary supplements containing red yeast rice are available

over the counter at many health food stores. For healthy

adults with moderately elevated cholesterol

levels, most manufacturers advise taking 600 milligrams of

concentrated red yeast rice powder twice daily.

The supplement isn't recommended for use in children or in

women who are pregnant or nursing. Likewise, it should be

considered off limits for individuals

with liver disease, and for those who regularly drink more

than two alcoholic beverages a day.

For folks who are already taking cholesterol-lowering

prescription drugs, there doesn't seem to be any benefit to

adding red yeast rice to the mix. Doing

so could significantly elevate the risk of experiencing

serious side effects.

Virtually everyone with high cholesterol can benefit by

making a few lifestyle changes. Losing excess weight, eating

a low-fat diet, and getting plenty

of physical activity are important first steps.

If you're considering taking red yeast rice to lower your

cholesterol levels, it's wise to discuss it with your

physician first. Together, you can decide

if this natural dietary supplement is right for you.