Cholesterol Supplements: What Works? Red yeast rice

Below, we break down what the research does—and doesn’t—say about the benefits of the most popular supplements for lowering cholesterol.

Red yeast rice
What it is: A fungus that grows on rice and contains small amounts of lovastatin, a naturally occurring form of statin.

The evidence: In numerous studies over the years, various red yeast rice preparations have been shown to lower LDL by around 20% to 30%, comparable to a prescription statin. In the most recent clinical trial, red yeast rice capsules lowered LDL by 21%.

The bottom line: Red yeast rice’s ability to lower cholesterol is proven, but its potency makes some experts wary. The amount of lovastatin in red yeast rice pills varies widely across brands (some may even be spiked with it), and due to safety concerns doctors discourage its use.

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