Red yeast rice may help those who can't take statins

(HealthScout) UPDATED 2009-06-15

In a new study, Pennsylvania researchers found that a commercially available red yeast rice product significantly decreased the cholesterol in 62 patients with high cholesterol. All of the patients had stopped taking statins because of side effects, and all followed a lifestyle-change program in addition to taking the supplement. After 12 weeks, investigators found these patients' cholesterol levels dropped an average of 43 points, compared to 11 points in the placebo group. But there are complications related to red yeast rice because it contains a natural statin, lovastatin, sold as a prescription drug named Mevacor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sought to block the sale of these products, saying they contain an unlicensed drug. Read full story >

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