Red Yeast Rice

Question: What is the advantage of red yeast rice over a prescription statin? To my understanding red yeast rice has the same active ingredient as prescription statins, so why would an unregualted natural alternative be better than a regualted active ingredient?

Answer: I agree with the previous answers, just remember to supplement with CoQ10 also any statin natural or prescription stops the production of CoQ10 which is necessary for good heart health. Don't take any statin without CoQ10 supplementation. Always go with natural over synthetic unless you are a synthetic person and to date I don't think we've accomplished this. I've used Red Yeast Rice and CoQ10 for years successfully, I highly recommend it. No side effects but be sure to purchase a good one from a reliable source!

Question: Should you take vytorin along with red yeast rice to lower cholesterol? I also take tircor to lowe triglicer. Is taking red yeast rice, and vytorin to much on the liver to lower cholesterol? Anyone have answers to this? I also take Lecithine, Fish Oil, and Milk Thistle to help on the liver. Any answers? Help!

Answer: Have you thought about trying to get off the meds and eat healthier to maintain your health? I've recently read about the RYR to lower cholesterol, but keep in mind that if you're eating unhealthy, you're probably causing a lot of oxidative damage (or other damage) to your organs and tissues, thus forcing your body to create more cholesterol to repair the damage. Cholesterol is something you can intake via foods, but you make a lot based on need to repair and sustain your body. Health is a choice, and the medical community would have you believe that your cholesterol needs to be lower (well, they sell more drugs that way) when in fact it may be high for a reason. If you short circuit your body's attempts to sustain itself, it may cause you more trouble in the long run if you can't rebuild properly. Just a thought.

Question: We are Pregnant and my wife has been taking red yeast rice? We just found out the we are pregnant. My wife is 5 to 6 weeks along. She is getting blood work done tomorrow to find out EDD. This is our first child and up to last night my wife has been taking red yeast rice. I know it says not to due to the chemicle in it and so she will stop. My question is, did she stop in time to stop any potential birth defects? I know I am over protective, but like I said, This is our first. Thanks for your advice.

Answer: I'm sure everything will turn out okay, just relax

Question: Cholesterol medication and red yeast rice not working for my father - any natural suggestions? Hi, my father recently had his second stent put in; he had gone off his lipitor and the doctors said he'd better get back on it. The side effects were so bad (weakness, pain in limbs) he had to stop taking it. I did some research and told him to take red yeast rice and Co-Q10, but he's still having bad effects. I'm wondering if there are other ways (besides diet - he's been on a pretty lean diet for a while & exercises 30 minutes/day) to reduce his cholesterol? Thanks.

Answer: That would probably be the reason Red Yeast Rice didn't work for him... he's allergic to the Statins (which are naturally occurring in RYR). The muscle pain/weakness is a semi-common allergic reaction to the Statins that can contribute to liver and/or kidney problems if they aren't stopped. He should stay off the Statins and RYR unless he wants to contribute more to his liver/kidney problems that they have been contributing to. That being said, some of the most beneficial natural products for Cholesterol health are Policosanol, Beta Sitosterol, Omega 3 and 9 Fatty Acids (typically in Fish Oil, Flax Oil, and Olive Oil), Guggul, Niacin, Lecithin, Garlic, PhosphatidylCholine, and any good soluble fiber. Each of those help with different aspects of Cholesterol health, so you may need a variety of them... try one or two of them out. Aside from that, there's always the standard plan of diet and exercise, but that's normally just increasing soluble fiber (veggies, fruits, grains, etc) and decreasing bad foods (some sugars, certain fatty foods, etc). Good luck!

Question: I take red yeast rice to lower choesterol. Can it cause Psoriatic Dermatitis w/super oily scalp? I have read that Psoriatic Dermatitis is caused by yeast overgrowth. Either that or I have been misdiagnosed with PD. Should I stop taking the red yeast rice or am I on the wrong track? Thanks for any advice. ~Judy

Answer: I have been taking Red Yeast Rice for several years, 3 times a day. Have had no problems at all like you mention. I like safer things for Cholesterol which is why I take it, and it DOES help!

Question: Where can I find the lovastatin quantities in the various red rice yeast products available? Red rice yeast is still available, but it's effectiveness in lowering cholesterol depends on the amount of lovastatin contained. I've been frustrated in trying to figure out which products have the most lovastatin and how much each product contains. Anyone know where I can get this info without paying for it. Thanks!!!!

Answer: Have you got high cholesterol? If so go onto a low fat diet. It is safest and can't kill you like statins may do, they kill off the michochondia and so the cells die. The liver makes all the cholesterol you need anyway. G

Question: Is it safe to take red rice yeast while on levoxvyl and verapamil? I have high cholesterol and my research has shown that most statins are not safe to take because of my use of levoxyl and veraamil. Is red rice yeast safer than prescription statins with these two prescriptions?

Answer: I am not trying to be rude, just trying to help...this is NOT webmd. You should research this someplace more reliable. Call your physician please!!

Question: Does Red Yeast Rice help reduce High Cholesterol? Some people say that Red Yeast Rice reduces your Triglycerides. Is this true?

Answer: Red Yeast Rice has been clinically shown to help Cholesterol support... that's exactly why the drug companies made several Statin drugs based on that. The Statin is the naturally occurring nutrient in Red Yeast Rice that gives the primary cardiovascular benefits. In other words, if it didn't work, the drug companies wouldn't have spent so much money to isolate the Statins and market the drugs. You can also find out more info about Red Yeast Rice at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_yeast_rice and more about Statins at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statin Good luck and I hope I helped!

Question: red yeast rice - can someone help me choose? I saw something in the news about how red yeast rice lowers cholesterol but need a reputable brand to get. I learned some brands are either contaminated or aren't very good. Can someone recommend a good brand?

Answer: Truth be told, any answer given here will just be personal opinion (I can give you my opinion if you'd like). There are many higher quality companies out there that are readily available and well priced... just make sure the company has a good rating with either the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) or USP (U.S. Pharmacopoeia), as those are the main quality assurance organizations (USP is for the U.S., GMP is for the U.S. and worldwide). However, RYR (Red Yeast Rice) adds another dimension more than just quality... there's also quantity of the Statins. Now, RYR naturally has Statins occurring in it (which is where the Statin drugs got the idea from), but because of a long story (I can tell you the whole thing if you E-mail me), there are some companies that make an extract of RYR with a higher quantity of the Statins and some that can only make a full-spectrum RYR (which would have less Statins). So you'll want to call the company to see if they have an extract of RYR or not if they don't say it on the bottle. Also, if you can't take Statin drugs (eg. you get muscle pain or weakness), you'll want to stay away from RYR because that is actually an allergic reaction to the Statins. Good luck and I hope I helped!

Question: is there a benefit to taking red yeast rice as opposed to a prescribed drug like lovostatin? I am concerned about taking a prescribed medication, in this case Mevcor, that may lead to memory loss.

Answer: This isn't a logical way of thinking. You are committing the logical fallacy "appeal to nature" by assuming that something is better and safer simply because it is natural. This does not follow. Red yeast rice contains statins and has the ability to cause the exact same side effects. I am not sure what you are trying to gain here, the active ingredient is identical to lovastatin, the drug you are taking but in a lower potency. RYR also contains other active components which can be harmful and may interact with any other drugs you are taking. Natural products are more effective and safer with scientific development. The good thing about science is that the useful ingredient is isolated and standardised. Basically "big Pharma" produces the drug with just those specific chemicals in them and in much higher amounts. This makes the drug safer and more effective. The most important thing to remember is that red yeast rice is essentially an unregulated drug. Its not a reliable way of taking a statin because you don't know exactly how much you are taking and what you are taking. It may cause more unknown side effects including the ones you are experiencing. Also the dose is much less than Lovostatin, therefore you will unlikely get the desired effect. If you are having problems with side effects, ask your GP to change you to another statin. Memory loss is pretty rare, however I do accept that there are some people who do have problems when taking statins, sometimes a change in drug can help. Have a read of this article, it's quite interesting http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1758 ========================================== @oldtimekid2: Yes like with all drugs, statins have the ability to cause side effects, but the vast majority of people do not experience all of them, memory loss is very rare. Of all statins, Lovastatin is generally well tolerated. All statin drugs, can RARELY cause myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. You need to understand that cholesterol lowering drugs do not completely remove cholesterol from the body, more than enough cholesterol is left for normal bodily functions. You said, “...but it also has other constituents that help to temper the side effects that the Statins can cause... that's one reason there aren't as many side effects listed on RYR than on the Statins. There is no credible evidence to support that statement. RYR may cause less side effects, this is likely because it is not as potent and for the same reason, it's as effective either.There is no logical reason to assume that RYR contains other chemicals that have protective effects. RYR is an unregulated drug. It is not standardized. Also, “In one study of 9 brands, the amount of active ingredient in red yeast rice varied from 0% to 0.58%” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11327519?ordinalpos=13&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum EDIT @oldtimekid2: Could you please provide links to these studies? I cannot find any credible reference. Another point is that patients who take any kind of statins need to have their LFTs periodically monitored. Another reason for patients to stay in regular contact with their GP and not pursue AltMed. I found a few studies that showed people who took RYR had less side effects BUT only 30% of the patients taking RYR achieved thier cholesterol targets when taking RYR. Why? because RYR is less potent and we know what muscle pain risk increases with dose.The lack of difference between the groups could be due to the fact the dose was too low or that the study was just too small to detect a big difference. The point you are missing is that there is no evidence that the reason patients experienced less side effects with RYR is due to other chemicals present in RYR which protect against side effects. You are assuming.

Question: What factors influence pigment production of Monascus purpureus in red yeast rice production? What are some other factors besides temperature and pH. Any detailed elaboration would be helpful. Thanks!

Answer: Rain , humidity, nutrients i the soil, insects & bird destruction, fertilzer used.

Question: Does anyone in Canada know if it is legal to import Red yeast Rice? I would like to find and use it for lowering cholestrol. I have asked my Pharmacist and a herbalist but they have not been able to obtain it.

Answer: The trouble with red yeast rice is that it often originates in China. It can be fake, using a carcinogenic food color, or it can be adulterated with statin drugs. Avoid buying it over the internet; see link below.

Question: Does Red Yeast Rice, Lecithin, and Flax Seed Oil really lower Bad Cholesterol (Triglycerides)? I have high Cholesterol and was told that Flax Seed Oil, Red Yeast Rice, and Lecithin lowers the Triglycerides. Does anyone know if this is true?

Answer: Yes and so do oats

Question: What is red yeast rice used for in home remedies?

Answer: See this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_yeast_rice#Modern_Medicine This link also provides some good information: http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/redyeastrice.htm I would be careful about using it, judging by the information gleaned, it's possibly prescription level.

Question: Are medical doctors recommending red yeast rice to lower cholesterol?

Answer: No. As a rule, medical doctors are the last to recommend unknown or new treatments. Medical doctors require extensive scientific data before making recommendations.

Question: side effects of red yeast rice and niacin non flush? I get horrid headaches since I started red yeast rice and Niacin non- flush. Is this a normal side effect? I only stared taking this via Dr'.s reccomendation instead of Lipator. it's only been 3 days. Will these headaches go away, as my body adjusts to this? I follow the rec dosage too. I am awaiting my Dr.s call re this

Answer: The side effects listed for red yeast rice are an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, hives), unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Other less serious side effects are upset stomach, heartburn, flatulence, or other digestive or gastrointesinal symptoms, and dizziness. DO NOT drink alcohol while taking red yeast rice! It is also advised to not take Niacin with red yeast rice. I looked up the side effects of non-flushing niacin and there wasn't anything listed about headaches. But, when I looked up the side effects of niacin it does state headaches. I have used the regular niacin and did not get headaches and I took it with the red yeast rice also. You might want to talk to your doctor or keep trying for a few more days and see if your body adjust to this supplement.