Red yeast rice for statin-intolerant patients? Whoa!

“Many patients cannot tolerate statins (like Lipitor, Crestor, and simvastatin) because of muscle aches. One potential option for these patients is an herbal preparation, red yeast rice, which has been shown to decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Investigators conducted a randomized, controlled trial in 62 adults with high cholesterol who discontinued statin therapy after experiencing myalgias (muscle aches), which could signal a rare but dangerous break-down disorder of muscle. In the red yeast rice group, the LDL level was reduced by 21.3% at week 24. The corresponding reduction in the placebo group was 8.7%. Muscle aches were about the same in the two groups.

“But we do not know whether using red yeast rice to lower LDL will also lower patients’ risk for cardiovascular events. Toxic contaminants and varying amounts of actual red yeast rice in doses from different suppliers could be a problem too.”   Published in Journal Watch Cardiology June 17, 2009.  Original article: Becker DJ et al. Red yeast rice for dyslipidemia in statin-intolerant patients: A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2009 Jun 16; 150:830.

Hold on!

Red yeast rice contains substances called monacolins, which  act like statins by decreasing liver production of cholesterol. Great.  But one of those compounds is actually a statin (lovastatin).  So the same potentially serious muscle problem could threaten users.  It also costs 3 to 6 times as much as generic statins. Follow your doctor's advice on this one!