Red Yeast Rice Extract will, indeed, lower one's cholesterol. It is essentially a naturally occurring "statin-like" compound. It is effective and is "natural". What people don't realize is that is has the same "potential" side-effects as the "man-made" prescription statins. One should monitor their liver enzymes (AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin) as well as their muscle enzymes (CPK - creatinine phosphokinase) periodically, just as one should who is taking a prescription medication to be careful. Also, if one is taking a prescription STATIN, one SHOULD NOT add red yeast rice extract as you will simply be increasing the effective "statin" dose and thus, would be increasing the likelihood of potentially harmful side-effects. The soluble fiber in Benefiber is harmless if not "over-done". Good luck.