Red yeast rice has been used for medicinal purposes since 900 A.D. China, says the National Institutes of Health. A thorough description of how it's made and used is documented in a Chinese text, Ben Cao Gang Mu-Dan Shi Bu Yi, published between the 14th and 17th centuries. Red yeast rice was traditionally used to address gastric upset, blood circulation and stomach and spleen health. Studies on red yeast rice using human subjects began in the 1970s. Results of numerous studies indicate that red yeast rice may lower cholesterol.
Properties
Red yeast rice contains ingredients that are similar to statins, prescription medications used to decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels as to prevent heart disease. Monacolin K is a substance in red yeast rice that has the same properties as the prescription drug lovastatin. The University of Maryland Medical Center says researchers are unclear whether the monacolin K in red yeast rice is solely responsible for its ability to lower cholesterol or a combination of other ingredients.
Other Uses
According to the NIH, red rice yeast is also used to treat coronary heart disease and diabetes. The NIH indicates that scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of red yeast rice for these medical conditions is unclear, and more research is needed. Red yeast rice has primarily been studied as a way to lower "bad" (LDL) cholesterol levels and decrease incidence of heart disease.
Evidence
The NIH indicates that there is good scientific evidence to support red yeast rice as an effective agent against high cholesterol. A 2009 study was conducted on 59 human subjects by the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University, says the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Study participants received either three 600mg red yeast rice capsules or placebos twice a day for 24 weeks. The red yeast rice group showed significantly decreased LDL levels compared to the placebo group. Other findings indicated that red yeast rice didn't cause elevated liver enzymes or high levels of creatinine phosphokinase, potential side effects of prescription statin drug use.
Cautions
Red yeast rice should not be taken by certain populations, the UMMB says. People with liver or kidney disease, thyroid disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, serious infections or those at risk for cancer should avoid red yeast rice. Those who drink more than two glasses of alcohol daily or who have had an organ transplant should also avoid taking red yeast rice. The UMMC says the safety of red yeast rice is unclear when taken longer than three months.
Other
Due to concerns by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical industry that red yeast rice could be considered a drug and not a dietary supplement, the FDA ordered red yeast rice products containing lovastatin to be taken off the consumer market. The safety and efficacy of any nonprescription red yeast rice product is not assured. The NIH indicates that there is "better evidence" that prescription drugs may give greater benefits in treating cholesterol. Talk to your health care provider before taking red yeast rice to treat high cholesterol or another health condition.
Member Comments
David_notMD May 27
The problem with RYR products in the U.S. is that they are not labeled for monacolin content. [Monacolin K is the monacolin identical to lovastatin, i.e., Mevacor]. Some contain none. Others are spiked with lovastatin. Others contain the expected blend of monacolins. There is no way to tell if what you buy is functional or not.