By the way, doctor: Does red yeast rice reduce cholesterol?
In studies of people with elevated cholesterol, red yeast rice taken for two to three months has been shown to lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. The only long-term study of its impact on cardiovascular risk is a trial from China in which 5,000 participants with a history of heart attack took either red yeast rice extract or a placebo. Over five years, the red yeast rice takers were less likely to have another heart attack or to die from one and were less likely to need angioplasty or heart surgery. The red yeast rice extract tested in this study contained less than half the monacolin-K found in Mevacor. Experts think its effectiveness may be due, in part, to the nine other monacolins in red yeast rice, including lovastatin's potent hydroxy acid form.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.