Month: April 2009

Look Out For Red Yeast Rice Products That Contain Lovastatins

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Red yeast rice has been proven to be very effective at controlling and reducing levels of high cholesterol. Studies have shown that this over-the-counter supplement was as effective as statins when it comes to the reduction of cholesterol. The reason why red yeast rice was so effective is that it contained a natural ingredient called lovastatin which is the same as statin drugs. Statin drugs are all originally derived from yeast products and the lovastatin in red yeast rice occurs naturally. However, when the Food and Drug Administration FDA found out that that red yeast rice contains a substance that is regulated, the product was banned, unless the lovastatin was removed from it.

The red yeast rice products that still contained lovastatin were banned and taken off the market. The ones that were left were nowhere as effective, as they were missing a key ingredient. The FDA did some investigation and realize that there were still red yeast rice products that contained lovastatins. It was then that an warning was issued to consumers to avoid those products.

Right now the red yeast rice products available in the United States are not effective at reducing cholesterol. If an individual is interested in a way to reduce their cholesterol levels they should speak to their doctor about generic statin drugs. These drugs can be very effective in treating high cholesterol levels and they can be controlled more effectively by the doctor.

Red Yeast Rice Dosage

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People who are currently taking or thinking of taking red yeast rice often wants to know what the effective dosage amount is.

When it comes to treating high cholesterol, the dosage of red yeast rice that is recommended often depends on the amount of lovastatin that is contained in the supplement. Lovastatin is naturally produced in red yeast rice during the process where it is fermented. The lovastatin that is contained in the red yeast rice is very effective for reducing high cholesterol levels.

It should be noted that lovastatin is not contained in all red yeast rice products. Red yeast rice that is often used in foods has very little to no lovastatin. The production of red yeast rice is a result of fermenting a special type of yeast. It is during this fermentation process that manufacturers are able to control the levels of lovastatin that is contained in the red yeast rice. It is for that particular reason why these supplements are created to help lower cholesterol.

Dosage of Red Yeast Rice for High Cholesterol

The correct dosage of red yeast rice to treat high cholesterol was based on a study that was conducted. In the study the subjects were given a dosage of 1200 mg, 2 times a day. It should be noted that the study also had the subjects taking between 7-8mg of lovastatin per day.

It should be noted that lovastatin is an unapproved drug by the FDA. Many supplements do not contain this product that is key for reducing cholesterol. As a result of this the ones that do not contain lovastatin may not have any effect of cholesterol.

There is no real way to tell which product contains lovastatin as many companies are unwilling to put that information on their products due to the FDA banning its use.

Is Red Yeast Rice Without Lovastatin Effective?

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Red yeast rice is a popular supplement that is used to treat high cholesterol. There have been many research studies that have proven the effectiveness of the supplement. It should be noted that during these studies the red yeast rice contained lovastatins which are proven to help lower cholesterol. The FDA has banned products containing lovastatins as they are not an approved drug.

As a result of this, are most red yeast rice supplements that are currently being sold effective? without the lovastatin’s, the red yeast rice supplements are considered to be useless. The supplements can be sold as long as they do not contain lovastatin according to the FDA, however most manufacturers know that their products won’t work unless they contain it.

Lovastatin is a prescription statin is a prescription medication that is used to treat high cholesterol. It occurs naturally in red yeast rice and that is why it is effective. Many people are unaware that the product contains a statin, as a result they need to be aware of what they are taking.

People who have health problems should consult with their doctor before they take red yeast rice.

Red Yeast Rice and Fish Oil For The Treatment of High Cholesterol

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It is widely known, based on scientific evidence that statins (cholesterol-lowering medications) are very effective at stopping coronary artery disease. However, according to a new study taking red yeast rice supplements, fish oil and proper exercise and diet can also be just as effective to help in reducing cholesterol like the statins.

There was a study that was conducted to show the effectiveness of taking red yeast rice and fish oil supplements along with proper diet and exercise when it comes to treating individuals with high cholesterol.

Red Yeast Rice & Fish Oil Study

In this study 74 people who had high cholesterol were used as subjects. They were divided into two equal groups where one half took red yeast rice and fish oil supplements, while the others took Zocor a statin drug. This trial was conducted over a period of 12 weeks.

Red yeast rice comes from yeast grown on rice and it is extremely popular in China for the treatment of many medical conditions. The red yeast rice contains many different compounds that are known to stop the production of cholesterol in the body. Triglycerides in the body of also been shown to be lowered by fish oil.

During the course of the study, the group who took Zocor on a daily basis for a given 40 mg of the medication and also receive counseling and reading material related to exercise and diet.

The other group was given three fish oil capsules two times a day. It was also noted that people who had LDL cholesterol that was higher than160 mg/dL were also given 3.6 g of red yeast rice a day. For individuals who had LDL cholesterol lower than160 mg/dL they were given 2.4 g of red yeast rice a day.

The group who also took supplements also participated in meetings that focused on exercise and diet. This group was also encouraged to follow a strict that and do more exercise.

The Results of the Study

After three months of participants in the study had their bad cholesterol levels checked. In both groups the levels had decreased almost the same. The group that took Zocor noticed a reduction in their LDL cholesterol by 39%. The group that the supplements noticed a 42% drop in theirs.

It was also noted that the group who took the fish oil and red yeast rice supplements also lost on average about 10 pounds in 12 weeks. The group who took Zocor did not see any significant reduction in their weight.

The lead researchers are likely that the results of the study showed that taking supplements can reduce cholesterol levels if mixed with a proper diet and exercise regimen.

The researchers note that there needs to be a bigger, longer and more diverse trial that will be able to show long term benefits associated with the use of these supplements.

Red Yeast Rice Important Information

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Despite the potential benefits that are associated with the use of red yeast rice, there are some things that need to be known about the product.

What to Do Before Taking Red Yeast Rice

It is very important that before taking red yeast rice supplements that you consult with a doctor. The doctor will be able to advise you about the product and how it can affect your condition and your health.

The doctor should also tell you about the risks, especially if you have specific medical conditions. People who have kidney disease, asthma, drink alcohol on a regular basis and pregnant should all not use red yeast rice. The danger of this product is increased if you suffer from the above mentioned conditions.

If you are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant then the red yeast rice should be avoided. There is no research that shows how the product can affect an unborn child and if you are breast-feeding.

People should be aware that if they take red yeast rice, it can result in a condition that causes the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. When this occurs, it can cause kidney failure.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as muscle tenderness, muscle pain, fever, weakness and dark urine, then you should consult a doctor immediately.

 

Red Yeast Rice Important Information

 

People should be aware that the FDA has not approved red yeast rice for the treatment for any medical conditions. For that reason it should not be substituted for medications that are prescribed by doctors.

The FDA has not tested red yeast rice for effectiveness and safety when it comes to the treatment of medical conditions. As a result of this the potential risks might not be known. Certain red yeast rice products that are available on the market have been shown to contain toxic metals. To reduce the risk of contamination it is always good to purchase the product from a reputable source.