What you should know about red yeast rice side effects?
Yet, like a statin, it can cause several unwanted side effects, including:
- Liver damage
- Muscle damage and pain
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Gas and bloating
Why you should avoid red rice yeast?
- any type of infection (viral, bacterial, or fungal), including HIV or tuberculosis;
- arthritis, including gold injections;
- cancer;
- depression or a psychiatric disorder;
- high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a heart condition;
Do red yeast rice benefits outweigh the side effects?
There is an expected decrease in the side effects, unlike other medications for treating high cholesterol. A review showed that when combined with statin drugs, red yeast rice is effective in lowering levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure, and triglycerides.
Does red rice yeast still work like a statin?
Very rarely, statins may even cause potentially deadly muscle damage and/or liver problems. They also interact with many other prescription drugs. While people may turn to red yeast rice supplements to avoid these side effects, it should be noted that they work in the same way and can therefore cause similar problems.
Is red yeast rice good for kidney?
Additionally, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns that red yeast rice products may contain citrinin, a toxin that can lead to kidney failure. It adds that people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking statins should avoid red yeast rice.
Why is red yeast rice bad for you?
Red yeast rice might contain monacolin K, which can cause liver damage in some people. Taking red yeast rice with these types of drugs, herbs and supplements could increase the risk of liver damage. Niacin. Taking red yeast rice with high-dose niacin might increase the risk of myopathy.
What should you not take with red yeast rice?
Anticoagulants (blood-thinners): Red yeast rice may increase the risk of bleeding. Blood thinners include warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and daily aspirin. Grapefruit juice: If you take a statin, grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase the amount of the drug in your blood.
Is red rice yeast safer than statins?
But that doesn't mean red yeast rice supplements are safer than prescription statins. They aren't. “Like statins, red yeast rice can cause exactly the same side effects as statins, and that includes muscle, liver, and kidney problems,” Lipman says.
What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?
7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statinsFibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ... Plant stanols and sterols. ... Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ... Niacin. ... Policosanol. ... Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ... Natural products.
Does red yeast rice unclog arteries?
Improves Blood Circulation Plaques in blood vessels also clog arteries and reduce circulation. Red yeast rice has been shown to help improve circulation, allowing wounds to heal more quickly and letting your body function at its best.
What is the best time to take red yeast rice?
Take the red yeast rice supplement before you go to bed, whether your belly is full or not. Because the body naturally produces more cholesterol at night, you'll wind up benefiting more from the supplement this way.
What is the best natural supplement to lower cholesterol?
Natural Supplements to Lower CholesterolNiacin. Niacin, which is also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble nutrient that supports more than 400 enzyme reactions in the body. ... Plant sterols. ... Soluble fiber. ... Psyllium. ... Red yeast rice. ... Soy. ... Fish oil.
How long does it take for red rice yeast to lower cholesterol?
In particular, its effectiveness is directly related to the amount of monacolin K within the extract (up to 10 mg/day). Consuming monacolin K on a daily basis reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol plasma levels between 15% and 25% within 6 to 8 weeks.
Can red yeast rice raise blood pressure?
May promote heart health One review of 21 studies found that red yeast rice was effective at reducing levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as triglycerides and blood pressure, when combined with statin drugs ( 6 ).
Will 600 mg of red yeast rice lower cholesterol?
Studies have shown that certain red yeast rice products that contain statin can significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and specifically LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. One showed that taking 2.4 grams per day reduced LDL levels by 22% and total cholesterol by 16% in 12 weeks.
Do you need to take CoQ10 with red yeast rice?
Because of their similarity, some concern exists that red yeast rice could also alter CoQ10 levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Taking a supplement along with your red yeast rice treatment can prevent this problem.
Does red yeast rice cause inflammation?
Studies show that supplementing with red yeast rice may help reduce inflammation and promote better health in the long term.
How long does it take for red yeast rice to lower cholesterol?
In particular, its effectiveness is directly related to the amount of monacolin K within the extract (up to 10 mg/day). Consuming monacolin K on a daily basis reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol plasma levels between 15% and 25% within 6 to 8 weeks.
What is the best natural supplement to lower cholesterol?
Natural Supplements to Lower CholesterolNiacin. Niacin, which is also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble nutrient that supports more than 400 enzyme reactions in the body. ... Plant sterols. ... Soluble fiber. ... Psyllium. ... Red yeast rice. ... Soy. ... Fish oil.
Why is red rice bad?
Consumption of red rice Though red rice is great food for weight-watchers and can be easily included in your daily diet, try not to go overboard with its consumption. Because although there are no side effects of consuming red rice, excess of it can lead to indigestion, according to Dr. Aithal.
What is the cause of kidney failure in red yeast rice?
Some red yeast rice products contain a contaminant called citrinin, which can cause kidney failure.
What is red yeast rice?
Red yeast rice is made by culturing rice with various strains of the yeast Monascus purpureus. Some preparations of red yeast rice are used in food products in Chinese cuisine, including Peking duck. Others have been sold as dietary supplements to lower blood levels of cholesterol and related lipids. Some red yeast rice products contain substances ...
Does red yeast rice lower cholesterol?
Red yeast rice products that contain substantial amounts of monacolin K can lower blood cholesterol levels. Researchers have not reported results of any studies of red yeast rice products that contain little or no monacolin K, so whether these products have any effect on blood cholesterol is unknown.
Does red yeast rice have monacolin?
Key Facts. 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 blood cholesterol levels and can cause the same types of side effects and drug interactions as lovastatin.
Is red yeast rice safe?
In the United States, dietary supplements containing red yeast rice have been marketed to help lower blood levels of cholesterol and related lipids. Red yeast rice products may not be safe; some may have the same side effects as certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, and some may contain a potentially harmful contaminant.
Can you take red yeast rice as a supplement?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that red yeast rice products that contain more than trace amounts of monacolin K are unapproved new drugs and cannot be sold legally as dietary supplements . Some red yeast rice products contain a contaminant called citrinin, which can cause kidney failure.
Is red yeast rice a dietary supplement?
In 1998, the FDA determined that a red yeast rice product that contained a substantial amount of monacolin K was an unapproved new drug, not a dietary supplement.
What is red yeast rice?
Red yeast rice is a type of fermented rice that is produced using a specific species of mold. It’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries for its powerful health-promoting properties.
What is the byproduct of red yeast rice?
Finally, red yeast rice that’s not carefully cultivated can contain a byproduct called citrinin. Citrinin is a mycotoxin, or a toxin that is produced by certain types of mold.
What is the active compound in red yeast rice?
Monacolin K is the active compound found in red yeast rice that is commonly extracted and used in cholesterol-lowering statins and medications. It’s typically credited with the majority of the health benefits attributed to red yeast rice, especially regarding its cholesterol-lowering properties.
How long does red yeast rice and olive extract help with inflammation?
For example, a study in 50 people with metabolic syndrome showed that taking a supplement containing red yeast rice and olive extract for 8 weeks reduced levels of oxidative stress — a key cause of chronic inflammation — by up to 20 percent ( 13 ).
Is red yeast rice good for cholesterol?
Today, red yeast rice is commonly sold as an over-the-counter supplement marketed to help manage cholesterol and improve overall health. Summary. Red yeast rice is produced by fermenting rice with a specific species of mold. It contains the same active ingredient as cholesterol-lowering medications and has been studied for other benefits as well.
Does red yeast rice lower blood sugar?
Another small, 18-week study found that a supplement containing red yeast rice was able to reduce blood sugar, insulin levels and systolic blood pressure (the top number of a reading) in people with metabolic syndrome ( 10. Trusted Source. ).
Is red yeast rice safe?
Several studies have found that red yeast rice may help treat some of these risk factors and could be used as a natural treatment to aid in their prevention ( 9 ).
What should I avoid while taking red yeast rice?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while you are taking red yeast rice.
What is red yeast rice?
Red yeast rice is a product that is made by fermenting red rice with a certain type of yeast. Red yeast rice is also known as Cholestin, Hypocol, Xuezhikang, or Zhitai.
What other drugs will affect red yeast rice?
Do not take red yeast rice without medical advice if you are using a medication to treat any of the following conditions:
How long is red yeast rice good for?
Although not all side effects are known, red yeast rice is thought to be possibly safe when taken as directed for up to 4.5 years.
Is red yeast rice good for high blood pressure?
Red yeast rice has also been used as a possibly effective aid in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ). Red yeast rice has been used to treat high blood pressure. However, research has shown that red yeast rice may not be effective in treating this condition.
Is red yeast rice good for cholesterol?
Red yeast rice has been used in alternative medicine as a likely effective aid in reducing levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood . Red yeast rice has been used as a possibly effective aid in reducing the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, or death in people with a history of heart attack.
Is red yeast rice illegal?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers red yeast products that contain more than trace amounts of this statin-identical ingredient to be illegal and unapproved drugs. Red yeast rice products sold within the United States are formulated not to contain high levels of monacolin K.
When did red yeast rice stop being sold?
Since the FDA pulled red yeast rice off store shelves in 2007, there has been much curiosity about red yeast rice and its potential dangers.
How do you know if you have yeast allergy?
Common symptoms of yeast allergy are hives, difficulty breathing and swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. Depending on the severity of the allergy, an allergic reaction could be minor or extremely severe.
Can you overdose on red yeast rice?
However, red yeast rice has many properties similar to prescription drugs. Unaware of these similarities, consumers may not use red yeast rice appropriately—specifically, if red yeast rice is consumed in large quantities, leading to overdose.
Is red yeast rice bad for you?
Consuming red yeast rice can be dangerous for those who suffer from liver disease. It can be particularly dangerous if consumed with alcohol and could lead to potential liver damage or failure if consumed regularly.
Is red yeast rice safe for pregnant women?
Red yeast rice products are not recommended for pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant. Because of the severe damage red yeast rice can do to internal organs, it may be harmful to an unborn baby. The effect red yeast rice has on breast milk is unknown.
Can you take red yeast rice with other drugs?
Red yeast rice should not be consumed with other prescription drugs, as there might be medicinal complications. Some of these drugs include cyclosporine, antibiotics, other cholesterol lowering or HIV medications. Because the list is extensive, it is recommended that you speak with a doctor before consuming any red yeast rice products or capsules.
