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=== Western Medicine ===
=== Western Medicine ===
Red yeast rice when produced using the 'Went' strain of ''Monascus purpureus'' contains significant quantites of the [[HMG-CoA reductase]] inhibitor [[lovastatin]] which is also known as ''mevinolin'', a naturally-occurring [[statin]]. It is sold as an over the counter [[dietary supplement]] for controlling [[cholesterol]]. There is strong scientific evidence for its effect in lowering blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ("bad cholesterol"), and triglyceride (TG) levels. Because an approved drug is identical to the molecule it is therefore regulated as a drug by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA).
The active ingredient in red yeast is the same as the active ingredient in prescription drugs called statins used for high cholesterol. That’s why red yeast has all the possible side effects, drug interactions, and precautions associated with this type of drug. The American Heart Association warns against using red yeast until the results of long-term studies are in. Red yeast rice when produced using the 'Went' strain of ''Monascus purpureus'' contains significant quantites of the [[HMG-CoA reductase]] inhibitor [[lovastatin]] which is also known as ''mevinolin'', a naturally-occurring [[statin]]. It is sold as an over the counter [[dietary supplement]] for controlling [[cholesterol]]. There is strong scientific evidence for its effect in lowering blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ("bad cholesterol"), and triglyceride (TG) levels. Because an approved drug is identical to the molecule it is therefore regulated as a drug by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA).


In 1998, the U.S. district court in [[Utah]] allowed a product containing red yeast rice extract known as Cholestin™ to be sold without restriction, but this was reversed on appeal. Cholestin™ as a product continues to be marketed but no longer contains red yeast rice (RYR).  Other companies sell red yeast rice products but most of them use a different strain of yeast or different growing conditions, resulting in RYR with a negligible statin content.  The labeling on these new products often says nothing about cholesterol lowering.  As late as August 2007, FDA noted supplements being sold containing significant lovastatin levels.(FDA, 2007)
In 1998, the U.S. district court in [[Utah]] allowed a product containing red yeast rice extract known as Cholestin™ to be sold without restriction, but this was reversed on appeal. Cholestin™ as a product continues to be marketed but no longer contains red yeast rice (RYR).  Other companies sell red yeast rice products but most of them use a different strain of yeast or different growing conditions, resulting in RYR with a negligible statin content.  The labeling on these new products often says nothing about cholesterol lowering.  As late as August 2007, FDA noted supplements being sold containing significant lovastatin levels.(FDA, 2007)

Revision as of 14:27, 7 May 2013

Red yeast rice
Dried grain red yeast rice

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Red fermented rice; red kojic rice; red koji rice; ang-kak; beni-koji (Japan); akakoji (Japan); âng-chau (Taiwan)

Overview

Red yeast rice (Chinese: , ; Taiwanese: ), is a bright reddish purple fermented rice, which acquires its color from being cultivated with the mold Monascus purpureus. In China it is widely available under the brand name XueZhiKang (), and in Singapore it is available as Hypocol™.

Red yeast rice is sold in jars at Asian markets as a pasteurized wet aggregate, whole dried grains, or as a ground powder. It was a commonly used red food colouring in East Asian and Chinese cuisine prior to the discovery of chemical food colouring. It has also been used in Chinese herbal medicine.

Production

Red yeast rice is produced by cultivating Monascus purpureus on polished rice. The rice is first soaked in water until the grains are fully saturated. The raw soaked rice can then either be directly inoculated, or steamed for the purpose of sterilizing and cooking the grains prior to inoculation. Inoculation is done by mixing M. purpureus spores or powdered red yeast rice together with the processed rice. The mix is then incubated in an environment around room temperature for 3-6 days. During this period of time, the rice should be fully cultured with M. purpureus, with each rice grain turning bright red in its core and reddish purple on the outside.

The fully cultured rice is then either sold as the dried grain, or cooked and pasteurized to be sold as a wet paste, or dried and pulverized to be sold as a fine powder. China is the world's largest producer of red yeast rice.

Due to the low cost of chemical dyes, some producers of red yeast rice have tried to adulterate their products with the red dye Sudan Red G.

Uses

Culinary

The dried grain can be prepared and eaten in the same manner as white rice--a common practice among Asians. It can also be added to other foods.

Red yeast rice is used to color a wide variety of food products, including pickled tofu, red rice vinegar, Peking Duck, and Chinese pastries that require red food coloring. It is also traditionally used in the production of several types of Chinese wine, Japanese sake (akaisake), and Korean rice wine (hongju), imparting a reddish color to these wines.

Although used mainly for its colour in cuisine, red yeast rice imparts a subtle but pleasant taste to food.

Chinese Medicine

In addition to its culinary use, red yeast rice is also used in traditional Chinese herbology and traditional Chinese medicine. Its use has been documented as far back as the Tang Dynasty in China in 800 A.D. and taken internally to invigorate the body, aid in digestion, and remove blood blockages.

Western Medicine

The active ingredient in red yeast is the same as the active ingredient in prescription drugs called statins used for high cholesterol. That’s why red yeast has all the possible side effects, drug interactions, and precautions associated with this type of drug. The American Heart Association warns against using red yeast until the results of long-term studies are in. Red yeast rice when produced using the 'Went' strain of Monascus purpureus contains significant quantites of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin which is also known as mevinolin, a naturally-occurring statin. It is sold as an over the counter dietary supplement for controlling cholesterol. There is strong scientific evidence for its effect in lowering blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ("bad cholesterol"), and triglyceride (TG) levels. Because an approved drug is identical to the molecule it is therefore regulated as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In 1998, the U.S. district court in Utah allowed a product containing red yeast rice extract known as Cholestin™ to be sold without restriction, but this was reversed on appeal. Cholestin™ as a product continues to be marketed but no longer contains red yeast rice (RYR). Other companies sell red yeast rice products but most of them use a different strain of yeast or different growing conditions, resulting in RYR with a negligible statin content. The labeling on these new products often says nothing about cholesterol lowering. As late as August 2007, FDA noted supplements being sold containing significant lovastatin levels.(FDA, 2007)

In 2006 Liu et al published a meta-analysis of clinical trials. The article cited 93 published, controlled clinical trials (91 published in Chinese). Total cholesterol decreased by 35 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol by 28 mg/dl, triglycerides by 35 mg/dl, and HDL-cholesterol increased by 6 mg/dl. Zhao et al reported on a four-year trial in people with diabetes. There was a 40-50% reduction in cardiovascular events and deaths in the treated group. Ye et al reported on a four-year trial in elderly Chinese patients with heart disease. Deaths were down 32%. There is at least one report in the literature of a statin-like myopathy caused by red yeast rice.

Red yeast is used for maintaining desirable cholesterol levels in healthy people, reducing cholesterol in people with high cholesterol, for indigestion, diarrhea, improving blood circulation, and for spleen and stomach health.

References

External Links

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