Originally Posted by
Randy Bosma
From what I've read and heard from some respectable alternative practioners, RYR works the same way in the human body as _____statin(s). It is a product of natural processes, and does have some of the same side effects (liver, muscle, etc.) as _______statin(s), although to a different degree; however YMMV. If _____statin is prescribed for me, I would try Red Yeast Rice first (with a stricter diet added to my cycling addiction, and if I could find a reputable manufacturer), prior to taking a man-made statin drug.
A google search will lead you to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_yeast_rice, and thousands of other pages. It seems this product sits on the divide between supplement and drug and has had a rather tumultuous decade.
Part of the "tumult" is because the drug companies don't like it when you can 'grow your own'. So they pressured the FDA to ban the stuff. And, if it works for you that's great. But another wrinkle is cost: Your insurance will probably pay for a statin but not for a "supplement". Plus, even if you don't have insurance, a few of the statins have gone generic so they have become pretty cheap. So, a manufactured statin may be cheaper for you than Red Rice Yeast. the main thing is to improve your cholesterol numbers. it's not a guarantee -- but it does improve your chances...