Integrative medicine is a hot field right now with more and more patients exploring complimentary and alternative treatments. Why shouldn’t some of these remedies work? After all, plenty of medicines are derived from the nature around us. One such example is lovastatin (also known by the brand name Mevacor), a medication used to lower cholesterol which is derived from red yeast rice, a supplement used in Traditional Chinese Medicine since 800 A.D. that’s produced by cultivating a red-colored mold on rice. A study published in the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrates the efficacy of red yeast rice in improving the lipid profiles of people with high cholesterol. When compared with another popular cholesterol-lowering medication, simvastatin (Zocor), red yeast rice was able to lower LDL levels just as effectively. But, similar to prescription lipid-lowering drugs, red yeast rice can have similar side effects on the liver and muscles. So why isn’t your physician recommending red yeast rice? The reasons are plenty, but one main cause is the currently under-regulated U.S. supplements industry where it may be difficult to accurately know how much of a medicinally active ingredient you are receiving, and consistently so. Regardless, red yeast rice may be a viable alternative for cholesterol reduction in certain people who may not be able to tolerate synthetically manufactured medications due to their side effects. [via Annals of Internal Medicine]
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Tags: alternative, CAM, cholesterol, complimentary, integrative medicine, lipid, lovastatin, mevacor, red yeast rice, simvastatin, statin, Zocor
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Who is to say a producer of natural products is less prepared to specify recommended dosage as opposed to a pharmaceuticle company. It has become obvious to me most doctors are not trained on natural medicines and nutrition and some are more driven to prescribe pharmaceuticles for profit motives.
Alternative practionares are less likely to precribe a pharmaceuticle due to side effects which are generally worse than the illness to be corrected. It’s very hard to use existing research on any drug because of lack of research integrity of scientific researchers. Ever wonder about “Ghostwriters”?
November 4th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I have read your e mail, and am interested. I take Zimitibe for cholterol from my doctor, but recently had a cholesterol test and she told me it was slightly high 5.5, can you tell me what it should be at a safe position. I always am very wary of what I eat. I suffer from anxiety attacks, and agoraphobia, and monophobia. cant go out alone or stay alone, please answer my message.
November 5th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Ada Bargh, I am not a doctor however, I suggest you use your Internet access to reseach Saturated Fats and Cholesterol levels. I’m a male type II diabetic and once I brought my total cholesterol back up to 250, my HDL to 45, and LDL to 135, I started to feel better, regained my enegy, and my neuropthy dissappeared. A side benefit of increasing my saturated fat intake was a lowering of AC1 to less than 7 (6.2).
Check out William Campbell Douglas II website.