Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Vegetarians Unite! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (288)	8/4/2001 11:25:43 PM
From: Didi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2067

Hi GZ, Thanks much for sharing. I'm not familiar with red yeast rice. Please comment on the below excerpts. TIA. Di ============================================= mailman.mc.duke.edu Selected highlights. >>> CHOLESTIN Cholestin is a fermented product of rice on which red yeast is grown. This "red rice yeast product" has been used for centuries in China and contains starch, protein, fiber and at least eight statin compounds, which function as human menopausal gonadotropin coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors. Chinese studies claiming that this product decreased total cholesterol levels by 11 to 32 percent have recently been verified by U.S. studies. In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study(25-27) involving 83 patients with hypercholesterolemia, total cholesterol levels decreased by about 15 percent and LDL levels decreased by about 22 percent in the patients receiving cholestin. As expected, these results are similar to those obtained with commercially available "drug statins" because the active compounds are essentially the same. Cholestin may be a cost-saving option for patients who require lipid-lowering medication but who are unable to afford the more expensive, commercially available medications. Although no adverse effects have been reported with the use of cholestin, it would be prudent to monitor liver function as well as creatine kinase just as would be done when administering commercially available statins.<<< ========================== tnp.com >>> How effective is red yeast rice for lowering my cholesterol? By Marian Broida, R.N. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Red yeast rice seems to be one of the most promising natural treatments for lowering cholesterol. A traditional Chinese food, red yeast rice is made by fermenting Monascus purpureus, a type of yeast, over rice. The Chinese have used red yeast rice medicinally for more than a millennium to treat indigestion, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Recently, this ancient Chinese preparation has been found to contain more than 11 naturally occurring substances closely related to today's leading cholesterol-lowering drugs, the statin drugs. Based on this discovery, as well as some studies, red yeast rice has become a popular over-the-counter cholesterol-reducing agent. What Is the Scientific Evidence? One double-blind study of red yeast rice was recently completed in the United States. This study examined 83 individuals with an average total cholesterol of 255 mg/dL. Half of the group took 2,400 mg of red yeast rice daily, and the others took an equivalent amount of placebo. At the end of 12 weeks, the group taking red yeast rice had a dramatic reduction in total cholesterol. They saw an average of a 46-point drop in their cholesterol (18%), while the cholesterol of the placebo group did not change significantly. Other well-designed studies have been reported as well, and several are currently underway. Dosage The standard dose of red yeast rice is 600 mg twice a day. Red yeast rice is widely available in capsule form at pharmacies and health food stores. Safety Issues While there have been no serious adverse reactions reported in the studies of red yeast rice, some minor side effects have been reported. In a study of 446 people, the most common side effects were heartburn (1.8%), bloating (0.9%), and dizziness (0.3%). These numbers are quite small, and are quite consistent with the types of problems often reported by people given placebo. Warning: There is a very real possibility that red yeast rice can cause the same adverse effects seen with the statin drugs, including elevated liver enzymes, damage to muscles and kidneys, and possibly even an increased risk for cancer. For these reasons, it is important to take red yeast rice only under a doctor's supervision. There are no known drug interactions with red yeast rice. However, until more is known, it makes sense to apply the same cautions as with the statin drugs: avoid taking red yeast rice with niacin, erythromycin, cyclosporine, and fibrates. You also should not combine it with prescription statin drugs. Red yeast rice should not be taken by pregnant or nursing mothers or people with severe liver or kidney disease, except with a physician's advice. <<<