['Red yeast rice' as a cholesterol-lowering substance?Caution is warranted].
[Article in Dutch]
- 1Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Unit PharmacoTherapie-Epidemiology & Economics (FTEE), Groningen.
Abstract
-
In various non-medical publications, red yeast rice (red fermented
rice, RYR) is recommended as a cholesterol-lowering substance. This
supplement contains a naturally occurring statin, namely monacolin K.-
Patients who wish to use RYR should be advised to only take products
from reputable pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacists can provide advice
on this.- Users of RYR should be alerted to the potential drug
interactions and serious risks associated with its use during
pregnancy.- RYR appears to be better tolerated than statins. This
difference in tolerance can be traced back to the applied dosages. On
average, the daily RYR dosage contains less statin than the standard
dosage for statins.- The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety
Authority should urgently test the RYR supplements available in the
Netherlands to gain more insight into the quality of said products.-
Mandatory registration of RYR as an herbal medicine appears necessary to guarantee the quality of, and monacolin levels in, the products and to reduce health risks.
