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Botanical

Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice is rice fermented with the mold Monascus purpureus. It contains monacolin K, a compound chemically identical to the drug lovastatin.

Also listed as RYR, Red Rice Yeast, Red Rice Yeast Powder, Red Rice Yeast Extract

Essential HealthCardiovascular

Rice weight does not tell you the active dose

NCCIH reports a more than 60-fold variation in monacolin K among tested US products containing it. A milligram amount of rice therefore does not reliably reveal the amount of the pharmacologically active ingredient. 1

The EU health claim was removed

The EU removed the permitted monacolin K cholesterol claim in 2024. That regulation followed earlier restrictions and safety concerns; an old health claim should not be mistaken for a current assurance of safety. 2

Sources

  2. Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2041 European Commission, 2024