Guide Note

Researchers at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania conducted a study using a placebo and red yeast rice extract pills on 5,000 heart attack patients in China. The researchers found that the extract of red yeast rice, which contains a natural source of statin, reduced the patients' chances of needing invasive surgery and reduced their cancer risk by two-thirds.¹

Fast Facts

1. Red Yeast Rice is an extract made from yeast (monascus purpureus) that grows on rice²
2. Natural medicine sold over the counter
3. First documented use in the Tang Dynasty circa 800 AD²
4. Synonyms: Chinese red yeast rice; red fermented rice; red koji; red mold rice; red yeast rice extract²
5. Uses: High Cholesterol, Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes²

Some physicians conclude that the red yeast rice extract is a viable alternative to prescription statin drugs. Director of Preventative Cardiology Operations, Dr. Daniel Edmundowicz, at the University of Pittsburgh's Cardiovascular Institute told ABC News, "The end justifies the means here, for some of my patients I'd rather get them to their cholesterol goal than see them avoid medication altogether."¹

Dr. Edmundowicz recommends that his patients seek nationally known brands, like those sold at reliable supplement retailers like GNC.¹

Experts warn that because red yeast rice is a natural dietary supplement, it does not need to be regulated like prescription drugs. The extract may be unsafe due to the fact that there is no set dosage. Because it is an herbal extract it does not need to undergo formal safety evaluation.¹

In 2007 the FDA warned the public not to consume three red yeast rice products that were being sold over the internet. The three products contained lovastatin, the active ingredient in Mevacor.³

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are contemplating using the supplement Red Yeast Rice, please consult your doctor.