Red yeast rice extract, a compound used in traditional Asian cuisine, has been found to lower cholesterol levels. It is sold as a dietary supplement, but some regulatory organizations suggest it should be treated like a drug due to potential side effects. Chemical analysis shows it inhibits cholesterol formation, but its use is less reliable than statins and can cause bloating, nausea, and liver damage.
Red yeast rice extract is a compound extracted from red yeast rice, an Asian specialty that has been produced and consumed for centuries. Studies on red yeast rice and red yeast rice extract have shown that it can lower cholesterol levels. In fact, some of the active compounds in red yeast rice appear in prescription drugs designed to lower cholesterol. This extract is sold as a dietary supplement, although some regulatory organizations have suggested that it should be treated like a drug.
In Asia, red yeast rice is eaten with a variety of dishes, and is an essential part of some traditional recipes. It is made by growing a yeast known as Monascus purpureus on polished rice, allowing the rice to become covered in a thick layer of reddish yeast. Once the yeast has been cultured, the rice can be packaged for sale and eventual cooking, or it can be treated to make red yeast rice extract, which can be sold in liquid or capsule form.
Chemical analysis of red yeast rice has indicated that it contains compounds that inhibit cholesterol formation, thus lowering cholesterol levels. In scientific studies, red yeast rice extract appears to have no impact on good cholesterol levels, but instead works to lower triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Some researchers have suggested that red yeast rice consumption may explain traditionally low cholesterol levels in Asian populations, although this may also be related to dietary trends and exercise habits.
Red yeast rice extract may act as a statin or cholesterol-lowering drug, and is recommended by some alternative medicine practitioners for patients with high cholesterol levels. However, there are some caveats involved. Statins should be used under medical supervision, with regular blood tests to monitor cholesterol levels, and many medical professionals believe that red yeast rice extract should be treated in the same way, as it is chemically similar to pharmaceutical drugs.
The use of red yeast rice extract is also less reliable than the use of a statin, as it is not formulated and compounded in a laboratory, which means that levels of cholesterol-lowering compounds can vary from dose to dose. . Therefore, it is difficult to arrive at dosage recommendations. Patients can also experience bloating, nausea, and all the symptoms with statin use, and red yeast rice extract has also been linked to liver damage, so it shouldn’t be used by people with chronic liver conditions.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
