Red Yeast Rice Capsules Reduce Cholesterol

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Red yeast rice pills could be one of the keys in helping people lower their cholesterol levels. 

Researchers from Philadelphia studied a group of 62 patients, who were at risk of heart attack or stroke because of their abnormally high levels of low-density lipo-protein (LDL) cholesterol.
All 62 patients had experienced muscle pain or weakness as a result of taking statins, the standard care for lowering LDL cholesterol.

Patients in the study were randomly assigned to either 1800 mg a day of red yeast rice supplement or a placebo. Simultaneously, patients in both groups enrolled in a lifestyle change program that included weekly meetings and education on cardiovascular disease, nutrition, exercise and relaxation techniques.

After testing both groups at 12 weeks and again at 24 weeks, the group taking red yeast rice had the best outcome.

However, doctors caution people to be wary of supplements because they can cause side effects similar to those of statins, including rare life-threatening problems.  The red yeast rice used for the trials contained about six milligrams of lovastatin, a generic statin.

The FDA classifies red yeast rice as a dietary supplement, but there has been legal and industrial dispute as to whether red yeast rice is a drug or a supplement.  The FDA has not approved red yeast rice to treat any disease, and there are no regulations or manufacturing standards that police these compounds.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, June 16, 2009

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