Red Yeast Rice – are these supplements safe?

Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice is a traditional Chinese culinary and medicinal product. In the United States, dietary supplements containing red yeast rice have been marketed to help lower blood levels of cholesterol and related lipids. However, these products may not be safe. Some red yeast rice products contain substantial amounts of monacolin K, which is chemically identical to the active ingredient in the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin. These products may lower cholesterol levels, but they may also cause the same types of side effects and drug interactions as lovastatin. Red yeast rice may also contain a contaminant called citrinin, which can form if the culturing process isn’t carefully controlled. Citrinin may be harmful to the kidneys. Find out more