I'll take that question: Q: Is there any evidence that the supplement "red yeast rice" can lower cholesterol?
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Becky Wright
Standard-Examiner Staff
A: "The short answer is yes," said Dr. Frank Yanowitz, medical director of the Health and Fitness Institute at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.
The long answer?
"There's a pretty good literature base, scientific evidence if you will, that red yeast rice can lower total cholesterol, the 'bad' cholesterol -- LDL, and triglycerides," said Yanowitz. "Even more importantly, at least in studies carried out in China, people who suffered from a heart attack had a decreased chance of suffering from a second heart attack ... compared with those who were given a placebo."
Red yeast rice has been used for thousands of years in Chinese herbal medicine, said Yanowitz, a cardiologist who serves on the board of the American Heart Association's Utah chapter.
Red yeast rice is a product of yeast grown on rice, and contains compounds that inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, www.mayoclinic.com.
"The active ingredient in red yeast rice is the same as in commonly prescribes called the statins," said Yanowitz. "The first statin, released many years ago, was called lovastatin; it's still one of the prescribed statins, and the main ingredient in that statin is the same as red yeast rice. Essentially, red yeast rice is equivalent in cholesterol-lowering properties to statin medicines."
But that doesn't necessarily mean you should treat yourself with red yeast rice capsules instead of seeing a doctor for prescription statins.
"When you take prescribed medication that's made by a pharmaceutical company, you know exactly what's in that because it's regulated. Herbal supplements, on the other hand, are not regulated, so one product called red yeast rice may differ from another product called red yeast rice in terms of how much of the active ingredient is present in the preparation -- they're not all equal," said Yanowitz.
"If the objective of taking something is to lower cholesterol, why not be safe and take a product that's standardized, that's been regulated by the federal government, so you know what you're taking?"
If the objective is to save money, Yanowitz still recommends going with a prescribed statin.
"They're available as a generic," he said.
Nicole Watkins, a technician for Walgreen's pharmacy in Roy, says some insurance co-pays for generic statins are as low as $10.
Yanowitz says red yeast rice isn't necessarily safer because it's "natural."
"Unfortunately, red yeast rice has similar side effects as statin medicines do, so it shouldn't be used, for example, by women who are, or expect to become, pregnant, or who have already had a baby and are still feeding with breast milk," he said.
Even though it's available without a prescription, the use of red yeast rice supplements should be discussed with your doctor, Yanowitz said.
"The active ingredient in red yeast rice is the same as in a statin, so it may also interact with other medicines you're taking," he said. "Some interactions may make the red yeast rice more potent, or some interactions may make other medicines either more or less potent."
Even if you take something to lower your cholesterol, the American Heart Association still recommends a heart-healthy diet and at least 30 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activity five or more days a week.
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