Red Yeast Rice: Statin Alternative or Natural Statin

A study recently published in the Mayo Clinic Proceeding has confirmed the power of natural alternatives for cholesterol management. The study, authored by group of doctors and researchers associated with University of Pennsylvania, found that a combination of the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) of the National Institutes of Health coupled with red yeast rice and fish oil supplements led to a more substantial reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol than did simvastatin, a statin medication sold by Merck Drug under the brand name Zocor.


The authors wrote “our study was designed to test a comprehensive and holistic approach to lipid lowering…. These results are intriguing and show a potential benefit of an alternative, or naturopathic, approach to a common medical condition, hyperlipidemia”

Statin Alternative or Natural Statin

The media reported the study as an “alternative to statins.” In reality, the choice is between a prescription, controlled statin and a natural source of statins. The active ingredient in red yeast rice supplements is a naturally occurring statin. It is chemically similar to the prescription lovastatin sold by Merck under the brand name of Mevacor. In short, red yeast rice does not represent a statin alternative, but rather a natural source of statins.

For those of us with a predisposition to natural products, this may seem like an intriguing option, but red yeast rice supplements face some important challenges. The authors of this study outlined the issues:
• In 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration determined that red yeast rice with a controlled level of the lovastatin was a drug, not a dietary supplement.
• As a result, the supplement manufacturer cannot control or test for the active compounds in red yeast rice supplement. While the chemical composition of the red yeast rice supplement used in the study was known and controlled, the composition of various products and the batch consistency between lots from the same source make recommending red yest rice supplements difficult.
• Taking red yeast rice without a physician’s supervision could also have unknown risks. The lovastatin component can cause the same side effects as any statin, and a potentially dangerous metabolite, citrinin, can form in poorly manufactured preparations.

Statin Alternative Do Exist

The American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Preventive Medicine and many other health and medical organization participated in developing the NCEP recommendations. The recommendations emphasize that “many people will be able to lower their LDL enough” with lifestyle and nutritional changes alone. The NCEP reports that “if your LDL needs more lowering, you may have to take a cholesterol-lowering drug” in addition to the lifestyle changes . “However, by staying on the TLC Program, you’ll be keeping that drug at the lowest possible dose. “

The Kardea website provides an extensive amount of information about TLC. It also addresses some of the nutrients not specifically recommended by the NCEP, but widely reviewed by the medical community. The important point: before taking a statin----from a prescription or an herbal supplement---consider your alternatives.