Red yeast rice mimics statin drugs

Red yeast rice is made by fermenting the fungus Monascus purpureus over red rice. The substance is then used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve blood circulation and spleen function. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration ruled that a Utah company selling a red yeast rice extract had to remove the product, Cholestin, from the market, because it contained the chemical equivalent of the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin. Though the ban later was reversed in court, the company reformulated its product to exclude the extract.

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Uses: Some alternative medicine practitioners recommend red yeast rice tablets for lowering cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease.

Dose: Usually 500 to 600 milligrams two to four times a day.

Precautions: Because red yeast rice can contain chemicals similar to those found in the class of prescription drugs called statins, which are used to lower cholesterol, many of the same precautions apply. The supplement may cause headaches, muscle aches, dizziness, gas and bloating. People taking red yeast rice should avoid grapefruit juice, which may enhance its activity, and alcohol, which can compound its effects on the liver.

Research: Several animal studies and clinical trials have shown that red yeast rice can significantly lower cholesterol levels, but many of these studies used the old formulation of Cholestin, which is no longer on the U.S. market. Other research has shown that its effectiveness may vary depending on the process used to produce the extract.

Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your health-care provider for advice on selecting a brand.

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-- Elena Conis