Red yeast rice has a long history of use as both a food and medicine. It contains similar compounds as those found in statins, a commonly prescribed class of drugs to treat high cholesterol. Because of this similarity, red yeast rice has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels effectively, and this represents its most common present-day use. This supplement could potentially cause side effects and produce other negative actions. Consult with your doctor before using any sort of natural treatment, especially when a supplement has equal potency to a prescription medication.
Adverse Reactions
Drugs.com, a site that compiles information from various medical databases, says that a meta-analysis of trials enrolling more than 9,600 patients in total found that red yeast rice does not appear to cause any significant adverse reactions. The most common problems reported were diarrhea, stomach upset, dizziness, bloating and loss of appetite. Because it contains the same components as statin drugs, it could potentially cause similar side effects related to these drugs -- some quite serious -- such as muscle pain, joint pain, liver inflammation, nerve damage and deterioration of muscle tissue that could lead to kidney failure. Natural supplements are highly unregulated and the amount of statin-like compounds found in these supplements can vary widely, which can influence the likelihood of side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for guidance on choosing a quality supplement.
Coenzyme Q10 Depletion
Using red yeast rice might interfere with your body's ability to make coenzyme Q10 -- a nutrient that plays a vital role in heart health and muscle health among other actions. For this reason, some red yeast rice supplements contain coQ10. Talk to your doctor about the need for supplementation if you are using red yeast rice.
Toxicity
The Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center says that an analysis of red yeast rice supplements found several were contaminated with citrinin, a toxic byproduct of the fermentation process involved in the creation of red yeast rice. Again, consult with a trusted health-care professional for guidance in choosing a safe supplement. While this could prove problematic for anyone, it could particularly affect you if you suffer from liver disease.
Medication Interactions
Avoid grapefruit juice -- it interferes with the breakdown of red yeast rice, which can lead to dangerously high amounts that can increase your risk of serious side effects. The UPMC also cautions against use if you take prescription statins, cyclosporine, anti-fungals, erythromycin or niacin.
Contraindicated Uses
Do not use red yeast rice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid this supplement if you have liver disease. The MSKCC notes a case study of a woman suffering severe hepatitis after supplementing for four months -- her condition improved after she stopped taking it. The potential for citrinin contamination also makes avoiding this supplement if you have liver disease prudent. If you have any sort of condition that affects your kidneys, clear the use of any supplement with your doctor -- along with the liver, the kidneys play an important role in processing the drugs and supplements you consume. If you have suffered statin-induced muscle damage, do not use red yeast rice supplements.
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