Red yeast rice and fish oil are considered cholesterol-lowering supplements. When taken in combination with a low-fat diet and regular exercise, you may experience a decrease in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides. All three of these factors can reduce your risk of atherosclerosis, heart disease heart attack and stroke.
Red Yeast Rice
The Mayo Clinic describes red yeast rice as a byproduct of rice. When rice is fermented, it turns a reddish purple color from the growth of a mold known as Monascus purpureus. This mold or yeast from fermentation is used in the dietary supplement of red yeast rice. It contains a compound called monacolins, which benefits cholesterol levels.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a byproduct of the tissue from oily fish such as tuna, mackerel or sardines. Supplement made from fish oil contains docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, according to the National Institutes of Health. Both are considered omega-3 fatty acids that can also benefit cholesterol levels.
Function of Red Yeast Rice
Red yeast rice inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol, the Mayo Clinic says. Without this synthesis, you experience a decrease in LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, in the blood. A decrease in LDL helps lower total cholesterol. A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 2009 demonstrated that supplementing the diet with 1,800mg of red yeast rice can lower cholesterol levels by an average of 35mg/dL over 24 weeks. Red yeast rice supplements were given in 600mg doses three times a day in combination with a low-fat diet and regular exercise.
Function of Fish Oil
Fish oil can reduce triglycerides, which is another type of fat found in the bloodstream. It often goes hand-in-hand with high blood cholesterol, because both fatty substances are transported throughout the body by proteins. Though the Mayo Clinic recommends taking between 2g to 4g of fish oil to improve triglyceride numbers, the National Institutes of Health claims effects are dose dependent, which means a doctor can help determine the appropriate dosage for you.
Warning
Red yeast rice can contain the same chemicals found in lovastatin, a prescription statin used in the treatment of high blood cholesterol, the Mayo Clinic says. Red Yeast Rice and Red Yeast Rice/Policosanol Complex, as well as Cholestrix, are brand names known to mimic lovastatin. Though this may sound like a benefit, there's no way to know the level of chemicals in the compound, which may have an adverse effect on the body.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Red Yeast Rice
- Mayo Clinic: Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements
- National Institutes of Health: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid
- Annals of Internal Medicine: Red Yeast Rice to Treat Cholesterol Problems
- National Institutes of Health: Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients
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