Red Yeast Rice
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
Red Yeast Rice (RYR) is a rice product fermented by bacteria that contains the drug lovastatin, and is currently the most effective naturally occurring statin. It is able, like most statins, to reduce circulating cholesterol levels.
Red Yeast Rice is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
Note that Red Yeast Rice is also known as:
- RYR
Red Yeast Rice should not be confused with:
- Lovastatin (active ingredient)
- Monascus purpureus (mold used in processing)
Latest ResearchRead all studies
1.^Spady DK, Dietschy JMSterol synthesis in vivo in 18 tissues of the squirrel monkey, guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, and ratJ Lipid Res.(1983 Mar)
2.^Yokoyama M, Seo T, Park T, Yagyu H, Hu Y, Son NH, Augustus AS, Vikramadithyan RK, Ramakrishnan R, Pulawa LK, Eckel RH, Goldberg IJEffects of lipoprotein lipase and statins on cholesterol uptake into heart and skeletal muscleJ Lipid Res.(2007 Mar)
3.^Brown MS, Goldstein JLRegulation of the activity of the low density lipoprotein receptor in human fibroblastsCell.(1975 Nov)
4.^Osono Y, Woollett LA, Herz J, Dietschy JMRole of the low density lipoprotein receptor in the flux of cholesterol through the plasma and across the tissues of the mouseJ Clin Invest.(1995 Mar)
5.^Horton JD, Shimomura I, Brown MS, Hammer RE, Goldstein JL, Shimano HActivation of cholesterol synthesis in preference to fatty acid synthesis in liver and adipose tissue of transgenic mice overproducing sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2J Clin Invest.(1998 Jun 1)
6.^Mevinolin and colestipol stimulate receptor-mediated clearance of low density lipoprotein from plasma in familial hypercholesterolemia heterozygotes.()
7.^Seo T, Al-Haideri M, Treskova E, Worgall TS, Kako Y, Goldberg IJ, Deckelbaum RJLipoprotein lipase-mediated selective uptake from low density lipoprotein requires cell surface proteoglycans and is independent of scavenger receptor class B type 1J Biol Chem.(2000 Sep 29)
8.^Merkel M, Heeren J, Dudeck W, Rinninger F, Radner H, Breslow JL, Goldberg IJ, Zechner R, Greten HInactive lipoprotein lipase (LPL) alone increases selective cholesterol ester uptake in vivo, whereas in the presence of active LPL it also increases triglyceride hydrolysis and whole particle lipoprotein uptakeJ Biol Chem.(2002 Mar 1)
9.^Päivä H, Thelen KM, Van Coster R, Smet J, De Paepe B, Mattila KM, Laakso J, Lehtimäki T, von Bergmann K, Lütjohann D, Laaksonen RHigh-dose statins and skeletal muscle metabolism in humans: a randomized, controlled trialClin Pharmacol Ther.(2005 Jul)
10.^Levak-Frank S, Radner H, Walsh A, Stollberger R, Knipping G, Hoefler G, Sattler W, Weinstock PH, Breslow JL, Zechner RMuscle-specific overexpression of lipoprotein lipase causes a severe myopathy characterized by proliferation of mitochondria and peroxisomes in transgenic miceJ Clin Invest.(1995 Aug)
11.^Yagyu H, Chen G, Yokoyama M, Hirata K, Augustus A, Kako Y, Seo T, Hu Y, Lutz EP, Merkel M, Bensadoun A, Homma S, Goldberg IJLipoprotein lipase (LpL) on the surface of cardiomyocytes increases lipid uptake and produces a cardiomyopathyJ Clin Invest.(2003 Feb)
12.^Herbert PN, Bernier DN, Cullinane EM, Edelstein L, Kantor MA, Thompson PDHigh-density lipoprotein metabolism in runners and sedentary menJAMA.(1984 Aug 24-31)
13.^Sinzinger H, O'Grady JProfessional athletes suffering from familial hypercholesterolaemia rarely tolerate statin treatment because of muscular problemsBr J Clin Pharmacol.(2004 Apr)
15.^Moosmann B, Behl CSelenoproteins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and the consequences: revisiting of the mevalonate pathwayTrends Cardiovasc Med.(2004 Oct)
16.^Parker BA, Augeri AL, Capizzi JA, Ballard KD, Troyanos C, Baggish AL, D'Hemecourt PA, Thompson PDEffect of statins on creatine kinase levels before and after a marathon runAm J Cardiol.(2012 Jan 15)
17.^Thompson PD, Zmuda JM, Domalik LJ, Zimet RJ, Staggers J, Guyton JRLovastatin increases exercise-induced skeletal muscle injuryMetabolism.(1997 Oct)
19.^Wagner BK, Gilbert TJ, Hanai J, Imamura S, Bodycombe NE, Bon RS, Waldmann H, Clemons PA, Sukhatme VP, Mootha VKA small-molecule screening strategy to identify suppressors of statin myopathyACS Chem Biol.(2011 Sep 16)
20.^Flint OP, Masters BA, Gregg RE, Durham SKHMG CoA reductase inhibitor-induced myotoxicity: pravastatin and lovastatin inhibit the geranylgeranylation of low-molecular-weight proteins in neonatal rat muscle cell cultureToxicol Appl Pharmacol.(1997 Jul)
21.^Dvoracek LA, Kreisberg JI, McKinney J, Schmid G, Francis AD, Kacmarik KL, Lee HM, Detrick MS, Primerano DA, Santanam N, Kreisberg RLovastatin inhibits oxidized L-A-phosphatidylcholine B-arachidonoyl-gamma-palmitoyl (ox-PAPC)-stimulated interleukin-8 mRNA and protein synthesis in human aortic endothelial cells by depleting stores of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphateAtherosclerosis.(2010 Jan)
22.^Duncan AJ, Hargreaves IP, Damian MS, Land JM, Heales SJDecreased ubiquinone availability and impaired mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase activity associated with statin treatmentToxicol Mech Methods.(2009 Jan)
23.^Henneman L, Schneiders MS, Turkenburg M, Waterham HRCompromized geranylgeranylation of RhoA and Rac1 in mevalonate kinase deficiencyJ Inherit Metab Dis.(2010 Oct)
24.^McClung JM, Thompson RW, Lowe LL, Carson JARhoA expression during recovery from skeletal muscle disuseJ Appl Physiol.(2004 Apr)
25.^Hanai J, Cao P, Tanksale P, Imamura S, Koshimizu E, Zhao J, Kishi S, Yamashita M, Phillips PS, Sukhatme VP, Lecker SHThe muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase atrogin-1/MAFbx mediates statin-induced muscle toxicityJ Clin Invest.(2007 Dec)
26.^Riechman SE, Andrews RD, Maclean DA, Sheather SStatins and dietary and serum cholesterol are associated with increased lean mass following resistance trainingJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.(2007 Oct)
27.^Masters BA, Palmoski MJ, Flint OP, Gregg RE, Wang-Iverson D, Durham SKIn vitro myotoxicity of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, pravastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin, using neonatal rat skeletal myocytesToxicol Appl Pharmacol.(1995 Mar)
28.^Ieiri I, Tsunemitsu S, Maeda K, Ando Y, Izumi N, Kimura M, Yamane N, Okuzono T, Morishita M, Kotani N, Kanda E, Deguchi M, Matsuguma K, Matsuki S, Hirota T, Irie S, Kusuhara H, Sugiyama YMechanisms of Pharmacokinetic Enhancement Between Ritonavir and Saquinavir; Micro/Small Dosing Tests Using Midazolam (CYP3A4), Fexofenadine (p-Glycoprotein), and Pravastatin (OATP1B1) as Probe DrugsJ Clin Pharmacol.(2013 Feb 4:1-16)
29.^Herfindal L, Myhren L, Kleppe R, Krakstad C, Selheim F, Jokela J, Sivonen K, Døskeland SONostocyclopeptide-M1: a potent, nontoxic inhibitor of the hepatocyte drug transporters OATP1B3 and OATP1B1Mol Pharm.(2011 Apr 4)
30.^Pierno S, De Luca A, Tricarico D, Ferrannini E, Conte T, D'Alò G, Camerino DCExperimental evaluation of the effects of pravastatin on electrophysiological parameters of rat skeletal musclePharmacol Toxicol.(1992 Nov)
31.^Medina MW, Theusch E, Naidoo D, Bauzon F, Stevens K, Mangravite LM, Kuang YL, Krauss RMRHOA is a modulator of the cholesterol-lowering effects of statinPLoS Genet.(2012)
32.^Baker SKMolecular clues into the pathogenesis of statin-mediated muscle toxicityMuscle Nerve.(2005 May)
33.^Castets P, Lescure A, Guicheney P, Allamand VSelenoprotein N in skeletal muscle: from diseases to functionJ Mol Med (Berl).(2012 Oct)
34.^Moghadaszadeh B, Petit N, Jaillard C, Brockington M, Quijano Roy S, Merlini L, Romero N, Estournet B, Desguerre I, Chaigne D, Muntoni F, Topaloglu H, Guicheney PMutations in SEPN1 cause congenital muscular dystrophy with spinal rigidity and restrictive respiratory syndromeNat Genet.(2001 Sep)
35.^Lescure A, Gautheret D, Carbon P, Krol ANovel selenoproteins identified in silico and in vivo by using a conserved RNA structural motifJ Biol Chem.(1999 Dec 31)
36.^Castets P, Bertrand AT, Beuvin M, Ferry A, Le Grand F, Castets M, Chazot G, Rederstorff M, Krol A, Lescure A, Romero NB, Guicheney P, Allamand VSatellite cell loss and impaired muscle regeneration in selenoprotein N deficiencyHum Mol Genet.(2011 Feb 15)
37.^Selenoprotein N: an endoplasmic reticulum glycoprotein with an early developmental expression pattern.()
38.^Hornberger TA, McLoughlin TJ, Leszczynski JK, Armstrong DD, Jameson RR, Bowen PE, Hwang ES, Hou H, Moustafa ME, Carlson BA, Hatfield DL, Diamond AM, Esser KASelenoprotein-deficient transgenic mice exhibit enhanced exercise-induced muscle growthJ Nutr.(2003 Oct)
39.^Köhrl J, Brigelius-Flohé R, Böck A, Gärtner R, Meyer O, Flohé LSelenium in biology: facts and medical perspectivesBiol Chem.(2000 Sep-Oct)
40.^Miller BT, Ueta CB, Lau V, Jacomino KG, Wasserman LM, Kim BWStatins and downstream inhibitors of the isoprenylation pathway increase type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase activityEndocrinology.(2012 Aug)
42.^Smith PF, Grossman SJ, Gerson RJ, Gordon LR, Deluca JG, Majka JA, Wang RW, Germershausen JI, MacDonald JSStudies on the mechanism of simvastatin-induced thyroid hypertrophy and follicular cell adenoma in the ratToxicol Pathol.(1991)
43.^Abbasinazari M, Nakhjavani M, Gogani SThe effects of simvastatin on the serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine in hypothyroid patients treated with levothyroxineIran J Med Sci.(2011 Jun)
44.^Klimek M1, Wang S, Ogunkanmi ASafety and efficacy of red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) as an alternative therapy for hyperlipidemiaP T.(2009 Jun)
46.^FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Red Yeast Rice Products Promoted on Internet as Treatments for High Cholesterol Products found to contain unauthorized drug.()
47.^Gordon RY1, Cooperman T, Obermeyer W, Becker DJMarked variability of monacolin levels in commercial red yeast rice products: buyer bewareArch Intern Med.(2010 Oct 25)
48.^Childress L1, Gay A, Zargar A, Ito MKReview of red yeast rice content and current Food and Drug Administration oversightJ Clin Lipidol.(2013 Mar-Apr)
49.^de Jong A, Plat J, Lütjohann D, Mensink RPEffects of long-term plant sterol or stanol ester consumption on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in subjects on statin treatmentBr J Nutr.(2008 Nov)
50.^Holstein SA, Kuder CH, Tong H, Hohl RJPleiotropic effects of a schweinfurthin on isoprenoid homeostasisLipids.(2011 Oct)
52.^Dönmez-Altuntas H1, Dumlupinar G, Imamoglu N, Hamurcu Z, Liman BCEffects of the mycotoxin citrinin on micronucleus formation in a cytokinesis-block genotoxicity assay in cultured human lymphocytesJ Appl Toxicol.(2007 Jul-Aug)
53.^Sabater-Vilar M1, Maas RF, Fink-Gremmels JMutagenicity of commercial Monascus fermentation products and the role of citrinin contaminationMutat Res.(1999 Jul 21)
55.^Vercelli L, Mongini T, Olivero N, Rodolico C, Musumeci O, Palmucci LChinese red rice depletes muscle coenzyme Q10 and maintains muscle damage after discontinuation of statin treatmentJ Am Geriatr Soc.(2006 Apr)
57.^Lapi F, Gallo E, Bernasconi S, Vietri M, Menniti-Ippolito F, Raschetti R, Gori L, Firenzuoli F, Mugelli A, Vannacci AMyopathies associated with red yeast rice and liquorice: spontaneous reports from the Italian Surveillance System of Natural Health ProductsBr J Clin Pharmacol.(2008 Oct)
58.^Prasad GV1, Wong T, Meliton G, Bhaloo SRhabdomyolysis due to red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) in a renal transplant recipientTransplantation.(2002 Oct 27)
59.^Roselle H, Ekatan A, Tzeng J, Sapienza M, Kocher JSymptomatic hepatitis associated with the use of herbal red yeast riceAnn Intern Med.(2008 Oct 7)
Primary Use