Food supplement of red yeast rice for the blood

With its unique composition of natural statins, our nutritional supplement Red Yeast Rice Extract represents an effective option to buy for combatting ‘bad' cholesterol and hypercholesterolaemia. The effect of its natural statins helps prevent the development of, amongst others, cardiovascular disease.

How is Red Yeast Rice Extract obtained?

Our dietary supplement Red Yeast Rice Extract is obtained by drying and crushing a microscopic red yeast called Monascus purpureus, grown on fermented rice. Much-prized in China, this product is now sold across the world in dietary supplement form, offering the opportunity to benefit from the many attributes of this species of yeast. It has been grown in China for many years, and is widely used in Asia as a natural food colourant for certain dishes or to add flavour. It is also included in the Chinese pharmacopoeia for its health benefits.

What are the health benefits associated with Red Yeast Rice Extract?

The therapeutic potential of red yeast rice extract has a long history, with records documenting its medical use as long ago as the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

• In traditional Chinese medicine, red yeast rice is recommended for promoting good circulation and for relieving gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion and diarrhoea. As a result, red yeast rice has been the subject of a number of scientific studies in recent years. Scientists have shown it has a very specific composition, affording it several health benefits, particularly for the cardiovascular system.
• Red yeast rice health benefits are thus due to its composition, which is particularly characterised by its content in monacolins. These substances act as inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme which regulates cholesterol production in the liver.
• They are thus considered natural statins, molecules used to treat hypercholesterolaemia - high levels of cholesterol in the blood. To prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in the body, a number of laboratories have developed synthetic statins such as lovastatin. As a natural source of statins, red yeast rice would thus seem to be a desirable alternative.
• One of its constituents, monacolin K, is actually chemically identical to lovastatin. Red yeast rice also contains other compounds beneficial to cardiovascular health such as sterols (beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and sapogenin), isoflavones and monounsaturated fatty acids.
• In addition to its traditionally recognised benefits for improving circulation and digestion, red yeast rice has a positive effect on the lipid profile. Due to its monacolin content, the yeast has been used for more than a decade for controlling hypercholesterolaemia and dyslipidaemia.
• A number of scientific studies have found it restricts the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Supplementation with the yeast lowers levels of triglycerides and ‘bad' LDL-cholesterol and raises levels of ‘good' HDL-cholesterol.
• These positive effects on the lipid profile also help prevent certain cardiovascular problems. As a result, red yeast rice is sometimes recommended for patients at risk of stroke. This product from the Chinese pharmacopoeia is also suggested as a natural alternative for patients suffering muscle pain as a side-effect of synthetic statins.

A supplement standardised to 2% monacolins

To optimise this product's benefits, it is formulated in vegetarian capsules, each containing 125 mg of red yeast rice extract, standardised to 2% monacolins, to provide a beneficial intake of natural statins. This formulation means the recommended dose is one capsule twice a day, to be taken with the two main meals of the day. As there are certain contraindications for this product, particularly for those suffering from liver disease, it is advisable to consult your therapist or doctor before beginning supplementation with red yeast rice extract.

Buy Red Yeast Rice Extract to promote good circulation and improve cardiovascular health. To fight against excess cholesterol and cardio-vascular diseases, other natural products from the Supersmart catalogue may also be of interest to you: Sytrinol™ and Policosanol.