Alternative cholesterol-lowering red rot rice instead of statins?

The Bulletin on Drug Safety (BfArM and PEI) reports in its latest issue on effects and side effects of Red Rice products used to lower elevated cholesterol levels.

Image: Luis Echeverri Urrea - fotolia

Therapeutically, statins are used to lower the cholesterol level, but they have side effects and interactions. As an alternative, red fermented rice (red rice) is offered in the form of dietary supplements or supplemented balanced diets. This is also used in TCM.

The effective ingredient in preparations made of red rice is Monakolin K, which is identical to the drug lovastatin. So it is to be assumed that when taking products with red rice rice in addition to a comparable effect from similar side effects and interactions as with statins is to be assumed. Possible risks, in particular with regard to the marketing of these products as dietary supplements or dietetic foods, are currently being discussed.

The potential risks associated with the use of red rice rice products to reduce cholesterol levels are the lack of standardization of monacolin, the risk of adverse effects of Monakolin K, lack of medical control or other toxicologically harmful ingredients, the authors said. There is no systematic assessment of risks and corresponding assessment of undesirable effects, as in the case of authorized medicinal products, for food. The Bulletin on Drug Safety can be found here. (Pm)