¤ Red yeast rice has been part of the Chinese diet for hundreds of years and is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Red yeast rice is produced by fermenting a specific strain of red yeast (Monascus purpureus) over rice. The first detailed description of its production and cardiovascular health benefits is found in a pharmacopoeia dating from the Ming dynasty.

¤ Red yeast rice naturally contains a group of substances called monacolins which enable it to act as an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that regulates cholesterol production in the liver. It also contains sterols (beta-sitosterols, campesterol, stigmasterols and sapogenins), isoflavones and monounsaturated fatty acids.

¤ Studies suggest that red yeast rice extract benefits individuals with raised levels of total cholesterol :
- in subjects with total cholesterol equal to or higher than 230 mg/dl, supplementation with 1.2 g red yeast rice extract a day for 8 weeks lowered blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increased levels of HDL cholesterol ;
- a study comparing the effects of three months' administration of statins, with those of red yeast rice and fish oil supplementation combined with a 12-week multi-disciplinary programme, showed slightly better results for the latter : a decrease in LDL cholesterol of 42.4% compared with 39.6% for the statins, as well as a reduction in tryglycerides and greater weight loss ;
- in subjects who had stopped taking statins due to associated muscle pain, supplementation with 1.8 g of red yeast rice extract a day for six months, combined with a programme of dietary changes, physical exercise and stress management, produced a greater decrease in LDL cholesterol than was seen in a control group.

Combined with CoQ10 or ubiquinol HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors generally lower production of CoQ10. It is therefore a good idea to take a supplement of CoQ10 or its reduced form, ubiquinol, alongside Red Yeast Rice Extract. CoQ10 is an antioxidant which plays a particularly important role in protecting mitochondria and cell membranes from free radical damage.