 
Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol
Red Rice Yeast has been used in China for centuries as both a food and as a medicinal
substance. It is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. In Chinese
medicine, red yeast rice is used to promote blood circulation, soothe upset stomach, and invigorate the
function of the spleen, a body organ that destroys old blood cells and filters foreign substances.
In
Asia, red yeast rice is a dietary staple and is used to make rice wine, as a flavoring agent and to preserve
the flavor and color of fish and meat.
Red Yeast Rice forms naturally occurring HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitors known as monacolins. The medicinal properties of red yeast rice favorably impact lipid profiles of
people with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemic patients).
Red Yeast Rice contains a family of nine
different monacolins, all of which have the ability to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase which inhibits the
production of cholesterol. Other active ingredients in red yeast rice include sterols, isoflavones, and
monounsaturated fatty acids.
In a study conducted at UCLA School of Medicine, by David Heber, 83
people with high cholesterol levels received red yeast rice over a 12-week period. The study concluded that
red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total triglyceride
concentrations when compared to those who received a placebo.
In a study involving 187 patients with
elevated cholesterol were treated with red yeast rice daily for eight weeks. At the end of this eight-week
trial, total cholesterol decreased by 16%, LDL by 21%, triglycerides by 24%. HDL cholesterol also increased
by 14%.
In another 8-week trial involving a 324 people with high cholesterol levels, those who
received red yeast rice experienced a significant drop in cholesterol levels compared to those who received
placebo. Total cholesterol fell by 22.7%, LDL by 31%, and triglycerides by 34% in the red yeast rice group.
HDL cholesterol increased by 20% in the red yeast rice group as well.
Not all Red Yeast Rice is the
same and the source of the ingredient needs to be analyzed for purity of content. LipidShield™ has the purest
form available. LipidShield addresses heart health and cholesterol levels much more comprehensively and
effectively than red yeast rice alone.
Red Yeast Rice alone is good for fighting high cholesterol, but
LipidShield is a GREAT combination for lowering cholesterol and overall heart health.
- Altern Med Rev. 2004 Jun;9(2):208-210. The medicinal properties of red yeast rice
favorably impact lipid profiles of hypercholesterolemic patients.
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 69, No. 2, 231-236, February 1999. Center
for Human Nutrition, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA: David
Heber, Ian Yip, Judith M Ashley, David A Elashoff, Robert M Elashoff and Vay Liang W Go.
Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement.
- Nutr Res 18, 71-81 (1998). Li, C et al. (1998). Monascus purpureus-fermented rice (red
yeast rice): A natural food product that lowers blood cholesterol in animal models of
hypercholesterolemia.
- American Heart Association. 39 th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease
Epidemiology and Prevention, Orlando, Fl. March 1999. Bonovich, K, Colfer H, Davidson M,
Dujovne C, Greenspan M, Karlberg R, et al. A Multi-Center, Self-Controlled Study of
Cholestin In Subjects With Elevated Cholesterol.
- Cur Ther Res. 1997;58:964-978. Wang J, Lu Z, Chi, et.al.; A multi-center clinical trial
of the serum lipid-lowering effect of Monascus purpureus (red yeast) rice preparation from
TCM.
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LipidShield addresses heart health and cholesterol levels much more comprehensively and
effectively than red yeast rice alone.
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