Wide Variations Found in Red Yeast Rice Supplements

Oct. 25, 2010— -- Researchers have found wide variations in the amount of active compounds known as monacolins -- related to prescription drugs called statins -- in different brands of the popular dietary supplement red yeast rice.

Independent testing found that levels of total monacolins in 12 brands of red yeast rice ranged from 0.31 mg to 11.15 mg per capsule, according to Dr. Ram Y. Gordon, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues.

Therefore, "physicians should be cautious in recommending red yeast rice to their patients for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease," the authors warned in their Oct. 25 report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Use of red yeast rice in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years, rising by 80 percent between 2005 and 2008. Long valued for its medicinal properties in China, it is produced by culturing the yeast Monascus purpureus on rice.

Studies of some formulations have suggested that consumption of red yeast rice can have beneficial effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol -- with one trial finding decreases of more than 20 percent, according to the report.

"Our group has reported that red yeast rice, when combined with fish oil and lifestyle changes, is as effective as a moderate dose of simvastatin in lowering LDL-C levels," Gordon and colleagues wrote.

Because it is a dietary supplement and not regulated by the FDA, manufacturers generally do not provide detailed information about the levels of active ingredients in their products and are not permitted to make therapeutic claims for them.

In fact, the FDA has warned a number of red yeast rice manufacturers against making such claims or selling products containing high levels of lovastatin -- but many products remain easily available.

To determine the typical content of commercially available formulations, Gordon's group purchased 12 products which were analyzed for monacolin levels as well as for contamination with lead and the mycotoxin citrinin.