What does red yeast rice do?

Red yeast rice is a supplement that has grown in popularity among individuals with high cholesterol levels. This natural ingredient not only enriches the color and flavor of many dishes but also offers several health benefits. Read on to find out what red yeast rice can do!

What Is Red Yeast Rice?

First things first, what is this fascinating substance? Red yeast rice (RYR) is made from fermenting white rice with Monascus purpureus yeast strains. As a result, it acquires its characteristic reddish-brown hue, unique sour taste and pungent fragrance.

A Brief History

RYR originates from China, where it served as both food and medicine for centuries. Ancient Chinese pharmacopoeias described RYR’s potential benefit in ameliorating digestive ailments along with mending bruises.

However, modern research primarily focuses on how the supplement wields influence over cholesterol composition itself — but more about that later!

Nutritional Value

Although one tablespoon or 10 g of red yeast powder contains zero fat, fiber or protein; it does supply trace amounts of some vitamins such as vitamin K (0-9mcg), riboflavin (0-3mg), thiamin (trace amounts), niacin (<0.05mg) and minerals like iron (~1 mg). However, these contributions are negligible when consuming therapeutic dosages – usually between 1200mg-2400mg per day.

How Does It Work?

Wondering how RYR functions at lowering cholesterol levels? The answer lies within its active compound: monacolin K – which lends itself much importance.

Monacolin K [aka Lovastatin] mimics our body’s “statins” by blocking the production of an enzyme required for making LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.1

Thus, RYR tames the negative effects of LDL cholesterol by reducing its production in our liver. Furthermore, it inhibits the absorption of lipids (fatty acids) from gut into bloodstream through micelle formation and bile acid sequestration.

Nevertheless, this mechanism also requires some caution; excessive usage could lead to unexpected deleterious effects too.

Benefits of Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice has extensive admiration for its healing properties concerning lowering cholesterol levels. Here are some potential benefits:

Regulate Cholesterol Levels

This supplement is best known for aiding with moderately high blood cholesterol concentrations; so much so that researchers refer to RYR as ‘Nature’s Statin’.2

Moreover, a meta-analysis drawing out outcomes from randomized trials accounted that consuming red-yeast-rice supplements reduced total blood-cholesterol along with other major lipid remodelling such as LDL-C while modestly augmenting beneficial HDL-C.3

Promotes Blood Circulation

Regular intake of one capsule can foster healthful circulatory function. The nitric oxide produced enhances endothelial function via opening up and dilating vessels leading to greater amounts of oxygen and nutrients reaching cells perhaps improving performances in physical activities which require such stamina.

In addition, a review paper, indicating placebo-controlled test subjects sought improved peripheral circulation compared to their counterparts who were randomly administered placebos.

Improves Digestion

RYR (esp. organic) may restore heterogeneous environments inside bowel’s micro flora which then improve functions related to dietary fiber digestion – influencing insulin levels balancing glucose tolerance.4 A study rats demonstrated enhanced production short-chain fatty-acids acetic-and-propionic- which promote better signalling at metabolic level.

Furthermore, red yeast rice trains undigested fiber towards bacteria more responsible for acetate oxidation culture than those inducing butyrate or lactic acid production.

Possesses Anti-Inflammatory Effects

One study assessed patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who were either consuming RYR or placebo for two months. Results indicated a noticeable difference between plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-6(IL-6)5 suggesting that fermented red yeast might have immune-modulatory effects on metabolism.

Useful tip: Apoptosis-inducing properties of red-mould together promotes anticancerous activity observed in the aforementioned study concerning TNF-a & IL-6.

Side Effects

While there are some notable benefits to taking Red Yeast Rice, before starting this supplement regimen, one must understand its potential adverse effects:

Muscle Pain and Injury

Because Monacolin K limits cholesterol synthesis by blocking an enzyme used in forming mevalonic acid pathway which also leads to coenzyme q10 ubiquitination.1 This means adopting irrelevant dosages may exert myopathy inducing severe muscle ache – notably noticed during prolonged activities like exercising.

Therefore, if you’re using statins already for controlling lipids concentrate evaluating dose-adjustments when embracing RYR as another natural aid to such therapy monitoring equally crucial.

Liver Complications

For certain individuals; lower doses of more than 10mg monacolins can temporarily elevate serum AST or ALT indicating better hepatic profilings but higher amounts could cause documented serious impairment. 2

There is a chance that RYR will interfere with other supplements or medications taken simultaneously resulting in unfavorable bodily reactions mainly when taking pharmaceuticals directed at reducing LDL-C levels.

     | Pregnancy   | Breastfeeding|

——–|——|—————|
Safety | Avoid use | Topical application is safe; oral use not studied enough|

How To Buy And Use Red Yeast Rice Supplements?

When it comes time to purchase red yeast rice supplements for consumption, there are a few things to consider:

Potency & Quality

Good practice demands quality control in which relying on brands with stringent, reputable and verified sources comes highly recommended. Look out for RYR preparations that provide standardised amounts of active molecules per dosage.[^6]

Moreover, administer synergistic compounds like Ginseng or CoQ10 concurrently as opposite effects referred t o adverse events.

Dosage

Start at lower dose while gauging need for higher one after incorporating changes into lifestyle helping improve cholesterol levels: lose weight, avoid smoking/drinking excessively; consume more fibrous food items get regular exercise.

On the other hand, take note – therapeutic dosages should only be administered under professional supervises ensuring desirable outcomes- especially when considering patient circumstances where lipid concentrations already too low.

Conclusion

Red yeast rice can have a beneficial effect on our health by promoting healthy blood flow and digestive function. However, despite being natural nutrition, it’s still vital to ensure you’re taking an adequate amount depending upon what your body needs beforehand thoroughly researched by experts.

This supplement should always be taken with caution instead of replacing prescribed medication – particularly statins without seeking medical advice before making drastic changes.

Remember! Red yeast rice is not a miracle cure-all – yet another tool one can add to traditional treatments aimed at reducing high cholesterol that has been found useful in providing improvement – so don’t expect wonders!

\Footnotes:


  1. Endo A., Kuroda M., Tsujita Y. `ML-236A,\` ML-236B”, pimagedine” and related compounds as competitive inhibitors of cholesterogenesis.BiochimeBiophysActa 1976; 431: 192–196 

  2. Halbert S.C., French B., Gordon R.Y.(2010). “Red Yeast Rice Effectively Lowers Total Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol Levels in Patients With Hypercholesterolemia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.”Pharmacotherapy 2005 May;25(5 Pt 1):605-14. 

  3. Becker, D.J., Gordon, R.Y., Halbert. S.C.. “Red yeast rice for dyslipidemia in statin-intolerant patients”.American Journal of Cardiology 2009 Aug 1;104(3):415-6 

  4. Shen YC Wu SD Wang YP Lin HY , et al.(2010).”Short-term effect of red-mold fermentate on blood glucoseand lipid levels in diabetes mellitus type II” patients” Engl JMed1998 ;319:536–41. 

  5. Zeng C.P., Zhang B.L.(2012) Statins may reduce risk of liver cancer recurrence after surgery. Medical Hypotheses78 (109–112).
    [^6] Li L., Tu X.A.McClure Ml Are randomized controlled trials needed to prove arrhythmia free survival benefit from monacolin K? Pharmacol Res. 2010 Jul;62(1):70-4 

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