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Clinical Updates
Red Yeast Rice Supplements
HPF Cholestene Discontinued?
October 17, 2024
A CL member noted that the red yeast rice supplement HPF Cholestene is no longer sold on Amazon and asked us if it is discontinued. We explain what’s going on in our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick for red yeast rice.
Lower Cholesterol with Nattokinase?
August 26, 2024
Does taking nattokinase along with red yeast rice lower cholesterol better than red yeast rice alone? Find out what a recent study showed in the Lowering cholesterol section of our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick for red yeast rice.
Also see: Which supplements or foods can help lower cholesterol and keep my heart healthy? Are there any to avoid?
Also see: Which supplements or foods can help lower cholesterol and keep my heart healthy? Are there any to avoid?
Red Yeast Rice & Liver Cirrhosis
August 19, 2024
Are people who take red yeast rice less likely to develop liver cirrhosis than those who take lovastatin? See the results of a new study in the What It Does section of our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for red yeast rice.
Red Yeast Rice Linked to Deaths in Japan
March 29, 2024
Red yeast rice products in Japan have recently been recalled after being linked with kidney injury and four deaths. Get the details in our Red Yeast Rice Review, which includes our tests for citrinin (a potential kidney toxin in red yeast rice) and our Top Picks among products.
Red Yeast Rice
February 09, 2024
Be aware that some red yeast rice products in the U.S. are higher strength than what’s now permitted in Europe. For details, see our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick.
Justifying Bad Red Yeast Rice?
September 28, 2022
How can a major supplement company justify selling red yeast rice that ConsumerLab discovered to be contaminated and provide barely any active compound? Find out what a CL member was told when she asked the company.
Who Should Use Red Yeast Rice
July 29, 2022
An international panel of experts recently published guidelines for use of red yeast rice. See the details in the ConsumerTips section of our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review.
Supplement Company Reacts to Our Red Yeast Rice Review
June 10, 2022
The distributor of a red yeast rice product that was Not Approved in our recent tests has written that it disagrees with our conclusions and recommendations. Learn why and our response to its requests.
Low-Dose Red Yeast Rice for Cholesterol?
October 01, 2021
Can a low dose of red yeast rice significantly lower cholesterol levels? See what a recent clinical study found in the What It Does section of our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review. Also see our Top Pick among red yeast rice supplements.
Cholestene Update
July 24, 2021
The FDA recently advised consumers not to use the popular red yeast rice product, Cholestene, based on its testing. We asked the FDA what it actually found in Cholestene. Find out what we learned in the Update to our Red Yeast Rice Review.
A Different Red Yeast Rice
November 10, 2020
A CL member asked about a newer type of red yeast rice known as Ankascin 568-R Plus. We’ve added information about it to our Red Yeast Rice Review. Also see our Top Pick for red yeast rice.
Side Effects of Red Yeast Rice
October 22, 2020
As with prescription statin medications for lowering cholesterol, serious side effects can occur with red yeast rice. See what a new review of reported side effects showed in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review. Also see our Top Pick for red yeast rice.
Red Yeast Rice and Diabetes?
February 07, 2020
The use of statin drugs, like lovastatin (Mevacor) is associated with an increase in the risk of developing diabetes. But does red yeast rice carry the same risk? See what a large study found in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Red Yeast Rice Review. Also see our Top Pick for red yeast rice.
Red Yeast Rice & Liver Injury
March 25, 2019
Hepatitis was recently reported in a woman in the U.S. who was taking a red yeast rice supplement. Other cases have been reported. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review. Also see our Top Pick among products.
Extra Help From Red Yeast Rice?
October 25, 2018
Can red yeast rice lower cholesterol levels in people already taking the non-statin medications evolocumab and ezetimibe? Find out in our update to the What It Does section of the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Pick for red yeast rice.)
Red Yeast Rice and Diet
August 13, 2018
Can taking red yeast rice lower cholesterol levels on top of reductions achieved by switching to a Mediterranean diet? See what a new study showed in the What It Does section of the Red Yeast Rice Review.
Also, be aware that red yeast rice may aggravate symptoms of a neurological disorder, as described in a recent case report noted in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Red Yeast Rice Review.
Also, be aware that red yeast rice may aggravate symptoms of a neurological disorder, as described in a recent case report noted in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Red Yeast Rice Review.
Red Yeast Rice Variability
June 23, 2017
While red yeast rice can significantly reduce high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, a recently published analysis of 28 brands re-emphasized the fact that amounts of active, cholesterol-lowering compounds can range from none to potent levels, yet this information is not found on labels. Read about the recent study and find out which products ConsumerLab has identified as the least and most potent in the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review >>
Red Yeast Rice Better Than Statin?
May 25, 2017
Red yeast rice lowered cholesterol as well as a statin drug but with a lower rate of muscular side-effects, according to a new study. Other studies have shown similar results. But is red yeast rice right for you? There are pros and cons. See the "What It Does" section of the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review for more details. Also see "What CL Found" when popular brands of this supplement were tested.
Red Yeast Rice Concerns
January 16, 2017
A review of adverse events associated with the use of red yeast rice products in Italy led researchers to suggest monitoring for signs of muscle and liver injury when using red yeast rice. For more details, see the "Cautions and Concerns" section of the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review (which includes our tests of products) >>
Red Yeast Rice with Sterols?
May 26, 2013
It is well known that taking a red yeast rice supplement can cause large reductions in LDL "bad" cholesterol and that sterol or stanol esters can lead to modest reductions. But does combining them result in greater benefits than using either alone? A new study says no. It's unclear, however, whether this is always the case. Get details in the updated Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review >>. Also see the updated, Cholesterol Lowering Supplements Review >>
Red Yeast Rice Supplements Unchecked
February 23, 2013
University researchers recently asked the FDA whether it was testing or keeping track of red yeast rice supplements -- which can lower cholesterol levels. The answer was no. However, the researcher noted, ConsumerLab.com periodically tests these products, checking for levels of active compounds as well as a potential toxin which can occur in red yeast rice. Get more details and results of our product tests in the Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review >>
