Can we really lower cholesterol naturally? As always, I look at the research and red yeast rice is one product that intrigues me. What is red yeast rice anyways? Red yeast rice (RYR) or Monascus purpureus is fermented rice that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It contains several naturally occurring compounds called monacolins that block the production of cholesterol. In fact, monacolin K has the same chemical structure as the drugs lovastatin and mevinolin which are in fact STATINS.
Merck & Co., the pharmaceutical manufacturer of Mevacor‚ (lovastatin), claims that this is a patented pharmaceutical. However, red yeast rice contains a family of nine different monacolins, all of which have the ability to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and there are many other active ingredients including sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids.
According to Mayoclinic.org, “Studies suggest that RYR use may lead to a 10-33% reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad/lousy”) cholesterol…RYR extract has been sold in over-the-counter supplements to lower cholesterol.” One such natural product is Cholestene. Research suggests that this product may treat high cholesterol and triglycerides in both humans and animals.
Recommendations
What cholesterol level is healthy? This number is always changing, but a good check is to know your ratio of HDL “good/healthy” cholesterol and your total cholesterol. Simply divide your HDL level by your cholesterol. That percentage should ideally be above 25 percent according to Dr. Mercola. There are no known side effects for having too high of HDL good cholesterol.
As always, you should seek the advice of your physician and be under his or her directive. But if you would rather try a more natural cholesterol alternative than a synthetic one, this one may be for you. My suggestion would be to definitely talk about this option with your doctor.
Side Effects and Toxicity
Toxicity evaluations of red yeast rice in animals for as long as four months have shown no toxicity. Human trials have not shown elevations of liver enzymes or renal impairment. Side effects have been limited to headaches and gastrointestinal discomfort. Do not take with grapefruit supplements or juice and avoid if pregnant or nursing.
Note: Synthetic Statins are known to increase one’s chances of Alzheimer’s Disease. Read more about it here.
Dosage
No dosage standards have been established for red yeast rice. Adult dosages used in clinical studies range from 1.2-2.4 g per day. Dr. Axe recommends 1200 mg twice daily. He also recommends that you take it with CoQ10 (200-300 mg daily) to prevent deficiency because these medications decrease levels of this important enzyme.
In Asian countries the average daily intake of red yeast rice is 14-55 grams.
One more recommendation….Bergamot! In a clinical trial, bergamot helps support healthy blood sugar levels with improvements in just 30 days.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1761143/
- http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/9/2/208.pdf
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531797002017
- http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/red-yeast-rice
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