What is Cholestin (red yeast rice)?
Red yeast rice is a product of yeast that is grown on rice. It is marketed as Cholestin, Monascus, Zhi Tai, hong qu, red koji, red rice, Xue Zhi Kang, and others. Red yeast rice has been used with diet, exercise, and medical care to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It may reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, and may also increase levels of “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL). Red yeast rice has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications. Red yeast rice has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of red yeast rice may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purcha
