Posts Tagged ‘red yeast rice’

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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If you haven’t heard of Monascus purpureus, perhaps you’ve heard of fermented red yeast rice. This edible rice product is produced by cultivating Monascus purpureus, a mold, on polished rice. It is currently considered a dietary supplement in the US that may be an alternative for people with high cholesterol but cannot tolerate the side effects of statins, a very effective class of anti-cholesterol drugs. Why shouldn’t it work? Afterall, lovastatin, a commonly prescribed statin, is derived from red yeast rice. In a study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, when combined with fish oil and healthy lifestyle changes red yeast rice can help reduce cholesterol as effectively as the statin drug Zocor. An interesting note: red yeast rice has been used in Chinese medicine since 800 A.D. to “invigorate the body, aid in digestion, and remove ‘blood blockages’”. Full story.

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