Red Yeast Rice: Lipid Lowering Properties and Safety Considerations

Red yeast rice is a traditional Chinese culinary and medicinal herbal ingredient. The use of red yeast rice dates as far back as the reign of the Tang Dynasty (approximately 800 ad). Over the past several centuries, red yeast rice has been used to improve the digestive process, lower cholesterol, and enhance blood circulation. Over the past few years, red yeast rice has been proffered as an alternative to statin therapy for patients with dyslipidemia. The safety and side-effect profile of red yeast rice product use is not well established.