The ingredient in Red Yeast Rice Extract Powder that inhibits cholesterol synthesis is Monacolin. Among them, Monacolin K is now called lovastatin. Simvastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin and other statins are currently the most effective lipid-lowering drugs.
How Does Red Yeast Rice Work for Lowing Cholesterol?
Since the 1980s, the mona-colin compounds in functional red yeast rice have been successively discovered and confirmed to have the activity of significantly inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in vivo. Mona-colink K is a class of highly effective lipid-lowering drugs among the monacolin compounds. It can effectively inhibit the activity of the cholesterol synthesis rate-limiting enzyme HMG-Coa reductase and reduce the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol in humans. It reduces the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) in the blood. Therefore, the health care and pharmacological effects have been recognized.
Natural statins can be extracted from red yeast rice, mainly lovastatin. The lipid-lowering effect of red yeast rice requires certain temperature and humidity conditions to allow the fermentation of Monascus. When Monascus reaches a certain amount, it can induce red yeast rice to produce lovastatin, thereby making a lipid-lowering effect.
Can Red Yeast Rice Replace Lipid-Lowering Drugs?
Red yeast rice has limited efficacy in lowering blood lipids and cannot replace statins at all. However, it can indeed lower blood lipids. It would be help if you decided whether you can use non-drug treatments such as red yeast rice according to your specific condition. Suppose the patient only has high blood lipids and does not have other diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc. In that case, red yeast rice can be taken to reduce blood lipids—especially hypercholesterolemia with elevated cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. If non-drug treatment methods are ineffective, or do not achieve the expected results, you should still take lipid-lowering drugs under the guidance of a doctor.
Attention
Monacolin K in Red Yeast Rice Extract Powder is the same active chemical as the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin and therefore carries the same risk of liver damage.