Red yeast rice is an alternative therapy to treat high cholesterol levels. It contains monacolins that may inhibit HMG-CoA reductase — the enzyme inhibited by statins.

Researchers at Chestnut Hill Hospital, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, report marked variability of monacolin and citrinin content in 12 readily available red yeast rice products. (more…)

People experiencing statin-associated myopathy include pain and muscle weakness. This muscle pain (myalgia) is estimated to affect 10% to 15% of patients taking statins.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia evaluated the tolerability of red yeast rice vs pravastatin (Pravachol) in patients unable to tolerate statins because of myalgia. (more…)

Researchers from Concord Hospital, in New Hampshire reviewed the evidence and graciously provide us with succinct conclusions.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Red yeast rice typically contains monacolins, including monacolin K — the naturally occurring statin known as lovastatin (Mevacor). (more…)

Dr. Robert Kelly (photo) is associate director and curriculum coordinator for the Fairview Hospital /Cleveland Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program.

He lists aspects of diet and exercise that are most and less effective in controlling cholesterol. (more…)

Red yeast rice decreases LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Researchers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania studied it’s potential as an alternative treatment option in patients who cannot tolerate statins. (more…)

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in Philadelphia tell us it was an effective alternative for patients with high cholesterol levels. (more…)

Researchers from the Universities of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania compared a statin to an alternative treatment option that included lifestyle changes, red yeast rice, and fish oil.

A reader has reviewed the entire study and expands on the summary below.

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Is there a role for omega-3, red yeast rice, and garlic in preventing cardiovascular problems? (more…)

Red yeast rice can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

However, ConsumerLab tests reveal that the levels of cholesterol-lowering statin compounds in red yeast rice products vary by more than 100-fold — with some products having hardly any. (more…)

 Dr. Désirée Lie from the University of California in Orange has reviewed the evidence.

Here are the highlights. (more…)

Yes, but you might be disappointed.

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The FDA warns to avoid these “natural” treatments for high cholesterol. (more…)

A news release promotes this product as a “natural cholesterol supplement [that is] effective without side effects.”

And on the LipidShield website there is an unpublished study in 30 men and women to prove it. (more…)

Any time there is a change in the availability of a statin drug to treat high lipid blood levels, discussions of potential options to these prescription drugs abound.

As Zocor (simvastatin) goes off patent, here is my contribution to the discussion: red yeast rice.

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Three of 16 products failed the content analysis test. One product did not release its ingredients and two others had less than half the expected ingredients.

That’s less than a 20% failure rate, which is better than often reported by this lab.

An article in Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals reports that the following supplements were tested: sterols, policosanol, guggulsterones, fish oil, garlic, niacin, soy protein, red yeast rice, and stanols. I highlighted the supplements discussed at this blog.

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