Does Red Yeast Rice Work?

Does Red Yeast Rice Really Work for Cholesterol?

Red yeast rice that contains lovastatin effectively lowers LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") and triglycerides. Many people take red yeast rice as a natural alternative to statin cholesterol medications, not realizing that red yeast rice contains a statin. Red yeast rice should be assumed to have all the usual side effects and toxicities of statin medications. If you have had problems taking a statin in the past, you should not take red yeast rice.

 

Final Thoughts on the Effectiveness of Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice that contains lovastatin is effective at lowering cholesterol. However, reputable manufacturers make supplements that contain little or no lovastatin in order to comply with FDA regulations. This means that the companies that make red yeast rice that contains lovastatin are probably not reputable because they are not following FDA rules and regulations. This creates a dilemma for consumers. Red yeast rice that does not contain lovastatin probably doesn't work to treat cholesterol, and red yeast rice that does contain it is made by manufacturers that are not trustworthy.