Red yeast rice is a form of rice fermented with a type of yeast that develops a characteristic reddish-purple color. Red yeast rice lowers cholesterol and is the substance upon which several cholesterol-lowering pharmaceutical drugs are based. Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B-5, is an essential nutrient that serves a variety of functions in your body, including some that contribute to lowering cholesterol levels.
Function
Red yeast rice lowers cholesterol by inhibiting HMGCoa reductase, an enzyme that speeds up synthesis of low density lipoprotein, or LDL, the "bad" form of cholesterol, while increasing production of high density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" form of cholesterol, according to William P. Castelli, editor of "Cholesterol Cures: More Than 325 Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol and Live Longer." Pantothenic acid also lowers your cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMGCoa reductase, according to a study published in the March 2001 issue of the journal "Medical Hypotheses." However, pantothenic acid also inhibits a second enzyme in the same pathway.
Activity
Red yeast rice is a food supplement that contains an active ingredient, monakolin K, that lowers cholesterol. Due to lack of regulation and natural fluctuations in levels of monakolin K, the levels you receive in your supplement vary widely from one manufacturer to another and even within the line of products sold by one manufacturer. As a result, the red yeast rice you take may or may not be effective, says Castelli. By contrast, when you take pantothenic acid, you can be assured that the dose you are taking is the dose listed on the label.
Insulin Resistance
A study published in the October 2001 issue of the journal "Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology" found that pantothenic acid decreased weight gain in laboratory animals, a possible contributing factor to its cholesterol-lowering effects. Pantothenic acid also reduced cholesterol levels by decreasing insulin resistance, both effects not obtained by taking red yeast rice. Additionally, pantothenic acid lowers triglyceride levels by inhibiting the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase. This promotes fat synthesis, a benefit also not associated with red yeast rice.
Calorie Burning
Panthothenic acid lowers your cholesterol, in part, by prompting your body to burn proteins, fats and carbohydrates for energy, according to Dr. Frederic J. Vagnini, author of "Dr. Vagnini's Healthy Heart Plan: A Surgeon's Approach to Natural and Allopathic Treatment for Cardiovascular Wellness." This benefit is not provided by red yeast rice. Pantothine, a derivative of pantothenic acid, may lower your total cholesterol by up to 19 percent. Red yeast rice decreases total cholesterol by an average of 17 percent and LDL cholesterol by up to 22 percent. Pantethine may also decrease your LDL levels by as much as 21 percent and triglycerides by up to 23 percent, while raising your levels of high density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" form of cholesterol, by 23 percent at doses of 300 mg three times per day.
References
- "Medical Hypotheses"; Inhibition of Acetyl-coa Carboxylase by Cystamine May Mediate the Hypotriglyceridemic Activity of Pantethine; M. Mccarty, et al; March 2001
- "Dr. Vagnini's Healthy Heart Plan: A Surgeon's Approach to Natural and ... "; Frederic J. Vagnini; 2002
- "Cholesterol Cures: More Than 325 Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol and Live"; William P. Castelli; 2001
- "Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology"; Hypolipidemic Effect of Pantothenic Acid Derivatives in Mice with Hypothalamic Obesity Induced by Aurothioglucose; E. Naruta, et al.; October 2001
- "Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and ..."; Tori Hudson; 2007
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