Red rice yeast instead of statin can reduce cholesterol, report says

As the baby boomer population ages, more people are being diagnosed with high cholesterol levels. Many doctors prescribe statins to reduce choesterol, but some patients have complained of muscle weakness and other effects from statins. Those looking for an alternative may find success with the supplement red rice yeast, used for years in Asia, according to ABC News. A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports that after 12 weeks, study participants who took 1,800 mg of red rice yeast supplements saw LDL, the "bad cholesterol," drop by 27 percent. Those who did not take the red yeast rice supplements saw their LDL drop by only 6 percent. All participants were counseled on nutrition and exercise during the study. One doctor who co-authored the study said he was pleasantly surprised at the lowering effect and the fact that there were fewer side effects than expected. For those who have had problems with statins or who will not take prescription drugs, this might be an interesting alternative. The only problem is the supplement is not regulated by the FDA and, as with many other supplements, it's hard to know which brand has the most appropriate active ingredient amount, without contamination, but some Internet sites are cropping up that evaluate supplements and objectively list those that are top of the line. Beware of the sites that are just trying to hawk their own versions of the product, based on your keyword search.