The history of red yeast rice, or Monascus purpureus, dates back to the 800 A.D., when its curative properties were praised in Chinese literature. Although the yeast was originally touted for its ability to ameliorate gastrointestinal, circulatory and spleen problems, compounds within red yeast rice were later found to help with cholesterol. One of these compounds, monacolin K, is sold in purified form as a popular cholesterol medication. Talk to your physician before taking any supplements. Be aware that natural supplements may interact negatively with other medications.
Pharmacology
Red yeast rice contains several compounds known as monacolins, which inhibit cholesterol production in the body. One of these compounds, monacolin K, inhibits an enzyme called HMG Co-A reductase and is sold commercially as lovastatin. Over the past few decades, there has been considerable controversy over whether red yeast rice should be classified as a drug or a dietary supplement. Drugs are scrutinized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while dietary supplements can be sold without review or quality control.
Choosing the Best
At present, most red yeast rice supplements available commercially are stripped of any appreciable concentration of monacolins to avoid regulation from the FDA. Consequently, not only will the supplement fail to lower your cholesterol, you also have no way of knowing about the dosage, purity or safety of the red yeast rice. The best way to take advantage of the natural, curative properties of red yeast rice is to take prescription drugs with purified monastatins such as lovastatin.
Immune System
A study published in the March 2011 issue of the journal "PLoS Biology" showed that the immune system and healthy cholesterol levels may be integrally related. The researchers found that viruses rely on cholesterol to thrive. And according to Professor Peter Ghazal, "What we have discovered is that a key immune hormone stimulated upon infection can lower cholesterol levels and thereby deprive viral infections of the sustenance they need to grow." Consequently, using cholesterol-lowering drugs such as lovastatin could enhance immune function.
Considerations
Many lifesaving medications, such as lovastatin, were derived from natural sources. In the interest of safety, it's best to take medications that are scrutinized by the professional review provided by the FDA. Consequently, it's important to talk to your physician before taking any medication or supplement.
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