There is much talk about red yeast rice in lowering cholesterol. Let's clean up the story a bit. There are many statin type drugs on the market today such as Mevacor, Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor. These reduce two risk factors for cardiovascular disease: inflammation and high cholesterol levels. Statins lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which is needed to produce cholesterol in the liver.
It’s less clear how statins reduce inflammation, but research suggests that this once-overlooked property may be as much or more responsible for these drugs’ apparent – if oversold – cardiovascular benefits. Inflammation is the key more than just lowering the number. It is not about a number. It is about particle size of both the LDL (bad) and the HDL (good) choelsterol.
You must realize that statins are simply synthetic, patentable versions of the active compounds in red yeast rice … a traditional Chinese remedy that dates back to the Tang Dynasty, circa 800 A.D. Red yeast rice is not to be confused with yeast. Red yeast rice is a plant. If you are following a yeast-free diet you can take red yeast rice to lower your cholesterol. I have used red yeast rice for years in my practice. I find it very effective with fewer side effects than statins. Remember some of the major statin side effect are increased liver enzymes on a blood test, muscle aches, cramps, fatigue, insomnia and decreased sex drive.
Red yeast rice (RYR) contains several compounds collectively known as monacolins, known to reduce cholesterol synthesis in the liver by inhibiting the same enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that statins interfere with. When Japanese scientists discovered that red yeast rice lowers cholesterol very effectively, western drug companies rushed to patent synthetic versions of its monacolins, which became known as “statins”. So again, pharmaceutical companies jumped on the band wagon of natural plant therapies.
Red yeast rice extract has been sold as a natural cholesterol-lowering agent in over the counter supplements, such as Cholestin™. Originally the pharmaceuitcl company that made Mevacor had a legal suit against the red yeast rice companies. Red yeast rice was not sold for some years, but now it is available again. Conventional doctors sometimes recommend it to patients who can't tolerate statin drugs, and some people see red yeast rice extract as a safer natural alternative to statins. Has your doctor recommemded red yeast rice? There has been a battle with the FDA over the legal status of red yeast rice (drug or dietary supplement?), and the producers of pharmaceutical statins have sued to halt sales of red yeast rice supplements. Not all red rice yeast is the same. The American Jounral pf Medicine studied various supplements of RYR
The researchers began their report by affirming that red yeast rice can be an effective alternative to statin drugs, in terms of lowering blood levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol: “Several studies have shown that specific formulations of red yeast rice reduce LDL cholesterol significantly compared with placebo. This is likely related to the effects of monacolin K and the 13 other monacolins in the supplement, which … lower the production of cholesterol in the liver.” (Gordon RY et al. 2010) So why not try red yeast rice (Monecus purpurus)?
There are other herbs/supplements that i have used to lower cholesterol These include the herb, Globe Artichoke and Bergamot I have also used omega 3, guggulipids and policosinol. Order the right supplements at www.botanicalbounty.org
Consider al of these supplements and seek out a natural health care practitioner.
Until tomorrow