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I read online today about the recall of five products labelled as red yeast rice dietary supplements by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Kobayashi, as it was responsible for two deaths and more than a hundred people had to be hospitalised as a result of taking them.
Red yeast rice dietary supplements are products containing rice extract fermented by a specific strain of red yeast called Monascus purpureus.
This yeast produces a substance called monacolin K, which is similar to the statin drug used to lower cholesterol levels.
It has been shown that red yeast rice supplements can help reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels in some people.
However, they still have contraindications due to the side effects of the monacolin K present in them as it can interact with other medications, especially those used to control cholesterol.
They can also cause muscle aches, stomach upset and liver damage, so taking them lightly without medical supervision can be fatal.
Consequently I advise my patients not to take anything without consulting a specialist, in the case of these supplements everyone has a way to hire them to give them my opinion.