Your body requires cholesterol to produce vitamin D, forming cell membranes, and certain hormones. That being said, having excessive cholesterol levels can negatively impact your health.
The CDC estimates that nearly 38% of the adult US population has high cholesterol. Sadly, this issue can lead to conditions like atherosclerosis, stroke, and even heart attack.
The good news is that you can lower your cholesterol levels and improve your overall health. Common methods for reducing cholesterol include dietary changes, medication, and even nutritional supplements.
In particular, people often turn to supplements containing red yeast rice. Keep reading to learn more about red yeast rice, and how it compares to cholesterol-lowering medications called statins.
How Do Red Yeast Rice and Statins Compare?
While most people view medications as inherently artificial, not all drugs are created in sterile labs. In fact, some medicinal ingredients are found in nature. One such ingredient is red yeast rice – which contains a molecule known as monacolin K – the active ingredient in a cholesterol-lowering medication known as lovastatin.
While these two share a similar active ingredient, they are quite different in terms of manufacturing, regulation, and more. Below is a closer look at red yeast rice and the drug lovastatin and how they differ.
Red yeast rice
Red yeast rice is a type of rice that’s fermented with the yeast strain Monascus purpureus. This yeast provides the rice with its distinguishable red color. It’s also responsible for producing monacolin K, the compound found within the red yeast rice.
Commonly used in Asian culinary cuisine, red yeast rice is best known for its uses in traditional Chinese medicine. Specifically, this ingredient is used to aid digestion and revitalize blood.
In the 70s and 80s, scientists discovered Monascus purpureus produced monacolin K – a chemical that is chemically identical to the active ingredient of statin drugs like lovastatin. Because of this, red yeast rice became a popular ingredient in natural cholesterol-lowering supplements.
Today, red yeast rice products include red yeast rice supplements and red yeast rice extract. While red yeast rice supplements may contain monacolin K, the exact levels are unclear because these products are loosely regulated.
This looser regulation can pose several risks, including inconsistent monacolin K concentrations and contaminations with substances like citrinin. For this reason, the FDA banned the distribution of red yeast rice products with more than trace amounts of monacolin K. Products with higher amounts of monacolin K are classified as drugs.
Statins
Statins are a class of drugs aiming to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood. Statins work by inhibiting a key step in the cholesterol production pathway. There are a number of statins out there, and some of them include lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and pravastatin.
Statins are typically prescribed to individuals with high cholesterol levels (hyperlipidemia) that are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Lowering blood cholesterol levels with statins can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Statins can be a helpful tool for those experiencing hypercholesterolemia, but it isn’t a fix-all solution. Pairing statins with healthy lifestyle modifications can help people achieve the best long-term outcomes.
While statins are effective, they come with their fair share of side effects. These can include muscle pain, digestion problems, sleep problems, muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), and liver damage. Despite their potential side effects, statins remain one of the most effective drugs for lowering cholesterol levels.
What Happens When You Have High Cholesterol?
High levels of Low-density lipoprotein (LDl) cholesterol (sometimes referred to as “bad” cholesterol) can be bad for your health. Over time, it can accumulate on the walls of your arteries and inhibits healthy blood flow.
As time goes on, high LDL levels can contribute to a condition known as atherosclerosis – the hardening and narrowing of your arteries. This reduction of blood flow can contribute to a number of issues, including erectile dysfunction.
Untreated, plaque buildup in your arteries can cause a clot that completely inhibits blood flow. If the blockage travels to the heart or brain, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.
What are Other Ways to Improve Cardiovascular Health?
Statins are one of the most common classes of drugs prescribed in the US. While they can be helpful, there are many other ways to lower cholesterol levels. Below is a closer look at some ways you can help lower cholesterol levels.
Make healthy food choices
High cholesterol levels tend to come as a result of poor dietary habits. Foods high in saturated fats and trans fats can contribute to high LDL cholesterol levels. “Bad cholesterol” foods include bacon, dairy, doughnuts, fried foods, and highly processed foods.
Avoiding these foods and eating more “heart healthy” foods like soluble fiber can greatly impact your blood cholesterol levels and can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular illness.
Stay active
Staying active is an important aspect of your overall wellness but can also be beneficial for your cholesterol levels. Working out can help to lower LDL levels and elevate HDL cholesterol. Additionally, working out can help you lose excess weight, which can positively impact your cholesterol levels and heart health.
Ditch the vices
Smoking and excessive drinking are hard on your body. Excessive drinking can elevate cholesterol levels because alcohol is converted into triglycerides in the liver. Additionally, smoking can elevate LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Smoking cessation programs can be immensely helpful in getting your cholesterol under control.
How Rex MD Can Help
High cholesterol is a common problem. While red yeast rice might seem like an attractive alternative to lowering cholesterol with statins, this approach has some serious drawbacks. Supplements containing red yeast rice are not regulated like prescription medications, and may not contain a sufficient amount of monacolin K.
Alternatively, statins are highly regulated and have been shown to prevent serious health complications like stroke and heart attack. For that reason, they may be more effective than supplements containing red yeast rice.
If you have high cholesterol, talk to a licensed medical professional to find a solution that works for you. With the right plan, you can reduce cholesterol levels and improve your overall health.
