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Product Review

Red Yeast Rice Supplements Review

50% of Red Yeast Rice Supplements "NOT APPROVED" in CL Tests

Clinical Update

7/25/2021

Cholestene Update

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.

CL Answer

My doctor warned me that red yeast rice can cause liver damage - is that true?

Can red yeast rice cause liver damage? More information on its effects, including possible danger to the liver and kidneys.

Red Yeast Rice Tablets on White Background

Clinical Update

10/17/2024

HPF Cholestene Discontinued?

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.

Also see: Which supplements or foods can help lower cholesterol and keep my heart healthy? Are there any to avoid?

News Release

February 25, 2024

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2024 Based on Consumer Satisfaction

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2024 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on over 10,000 responses collected in November/December 2023.

News Release

February 25, 2023

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2023 Based on Consumer Satisfaction

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2023 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 8,600 responses collected in November/December 2022.

Product Review

Saffron Supplements Review

See How Saffron Supplements Compare and What They Do

CL Answer

Should you take olive oil as a supplement?

Although extra virgin olive oil has many possible health benefits, such as reduced risk of heart disease and improved blood sugar control, these and other benefits have been demonstrated when olive oil replaces for saturated fats in the diet, not when taken as a supplement, as we explain.

Olive oil being poured into a spoon being held over a bowl

CL Answer

What are the side effects of red yeast rice?

Find out which side effects can be caused by red yeast rice supplements that are taken to lower cholesterol levels. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

News Release

May 26, 2022

50% of Red Yeast Rice Supplements Fail ConsumerLab Tests

  White Plains, New York, May 26, 2022 — Red yeast rice naturally contains cholesterol-lowering lovastatin compounds. However, recent ConsumerLab tests of popular red yeast rice products on the market revealed many did not contain any detectable lovastatin.

News Release

February 25, 2022

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2022 Based on Consumer Satisfaction

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2022 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 8,049 responses collected in November/December 2021.

News Release

February 25, 2021

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2021 Based on Consumer Satisfaction -- Results of the ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2021 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 9,647 responses collected in November 2020.

News Release

February 25, 2020

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2020 Based on Consumer Satisfaction -- Results of the ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2020 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 9,782 responses collected in late November and early December 2019.

News Release

February 25, 2019

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2019 Based on Consumer Satisfaction -- Results of the ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2019 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 10,931 responses collected in late November and early December 2018.

CL Answer

When taking a statin drug like Lipitor or Crestor, are there supplements I should avoid or take?

Learn about the interactions between certain supplements and atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and other cholesterol-lowering statins.

Statin Interactions With Supplements -- close-up of statin medication box and tablets

News Release

August 24, 2018

Few Red Yeast Rice Supplements Provide Enough Cholesterol-Lowering Compounds to Likely Be Effective, ConsumerLab Tests Reveal

White Plains, New York, August 24, 2018 — Research shows that red yeast rice, which contains naturally-occurring lovastatin compounds, can lower "bad" LDL cholesterol.

News Release

February 25, 2018

Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2018 Based on Consumer Satisfaction

White Plains, New York, February 25, 2018 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 11,446 responses collected in late November and early December 2017.

News Release

May 23, 2011

Red yeast rice supplements weaker now than in 2008; Wide variation among brands and contamination discovered by ConsumerLab.com -- Popular cholesterol-lowering supplements tested and compared

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — MAY 23, 2011 — ConsumerLab.com announced today that tests of eleven red yeast rice supplements revealed enormous differences in levels of cholesterol-lowering statin compounds. Statin levels fell dramatically among brands previously tested in 2008.

News Release

July 01, 2008

Tests of ten red yeast rice supplements by ConsumerLab.com reveal significant statin levels, but some pills contaminated -- Popular cholesterol-lowering supplements compared in new report

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — JULY 1, 2008 — ConsumerLab.

Recalls & Warnings

January 02, 2012

Manufacturing Violations for Multivitamin, Vitamin K and Other Supplements

On December 19, 2011, the U.S. FDA sent a Warning Letter to Milk Specialties Global regarding manufacturing violations. Affected products include PrimaForce Proliver Capsules, Dr. Mercola Vitamin K2, Active Women’s Multivitamin/Multimineral, Cremagnavol, Immune Support, and HPF Women’s Multi.

Recalls & Warnings

March 12, 2016

FDA Finds Problems at 58% of Supplement Manufacturing Sites in U.S. and Abroad

ConsumerLab.com has obtained results of the FDA's inspections in Fiscal Year 2015 (ending September 30) of 483 dietary supplement manufacturing facilities, showing that most -- 58.2% -- received letters indicating noncompliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).