Elevated cholesterol can lead to heart disease and stroke. For some people, lifestyle changes are not enough to lower their cholesterol levels and reduce their risk factors, so medications are available to promote healthier cholesterol levels. Some individuals prefer to use natural supplements such as red rice yeast to lower their cholesterol levels versus using a prescription medication like Lipitor. Talk to your doctor before taking red rice yeast supplements to ensure safety.
Red Rice Yeast
Red rice yeast is a strain of Monascus purpureus fungi that grows on rice. This fungi has been used in Asian countries to control cholesterol levels. The active compound in red rice yeast is monocolin K, which has been shown to inhibit the liver enzyme HMG CoA that produces cholesterol in your liver. Red rice yeast is commonly sold in supplemental doses of 600 mg to be taken daily as recommended by your health care provider.
Problems With Red Rice Yeast
Red rice yeast is sold as dietary supplements, which are not regulated for purity. The active ingredient in red rice yeast may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer as well as from capsule to capsule. Also, contaminants have been found in some red rice yeast products. One toxin in particular is citrinin, which is potentially toxic to your kidneys and liver. If you have liver or kidney problems, avoid using red rice yeast supplements, warns Drugs.com.
Lipitor
Lipitor is a prescription medication that is in the class of drugs called statins. Lipitor acts on the same enzyme as red rice yeast to lower cholesterol made by your liver. By taking Lipitor, your liver produces less LDL, or bad cholesterol, that can increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Benefits of Lipitor
The rigorous U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug-approval process includes clinical trials, which must prove the efficacy of medications that are prescribed for you. FDA regulations also ensure that you receive the exact dosage of medications that are prescribed to you. All prescription medications are controlled substances that are tightly regulated by the FDA. Therefore, because Lipitor's action is controlled, you and your doctor can depend on the results Lipitor produces in lowering your cholesterol level.
Common Side Effects of Both
Since both Lipitor and red rice yeast work in your body to reduce the production of cholesterol by your liver, they both share common side effects. Lipitor and red rice yeast are contraindicated if you suffer from liver disease or liver problems. Since both target the liver to lower cholesterol levels, Lipitor and red rice yeast can further the damage to your liver. Lipitor is well known for causing the breakdown of skeletal muscle, which can lead to kidney damage, according to Drugs.com. Red rice yeast has the potential to cause the same skeletal muscle damage as Lipitor. According to Drugs.com, skeletal muscle breakdown is rare and elderly persons seems to be at a higher risk for this side effect than other users of either Lipitor or red rice yeast. Also, both Lipitor and red rice yeast can deplete your body of coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 is involved in energy production of all cells, especially of the heart and skeletal muscle. This depletion of coenzyme Q10 is thought to be a possible reason behind the development of skeletal muscle breakdown.
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