RedLife™ Red Yeast Rice Extract, standardized by monacolin-k
What is red yeast rice (RYR)?
Red yeast rice (RYR), a Chinese traditional herbal medicine produced by the fermentation of rice with a Monascaceae mold, Monascus purpureus. Its use has been documented as far back as AD 800. Recommendations were to take it internally to invigorate the body, aid in digestion, and revitalize the blood. Modern medicine has proven that RYR can lower cholesterol.
More recently, red yeast rice extract supplements have become popular in Americans and Europeans, who often view it as an alternative to statins drug. Unlike most herbal supplements, RYR has been fairly well-studied and shown to be effective and safe in several randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials.
What are the benefits of red yeast rice extract?
Clinical trial proof that red yeast rice extract with monacolin-K could
- Supports Cardiovascular Health
- Lower total blood cholesterol level,
- Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol level
- Lower triglyceride level.
What makes RedLife™ red yeast rice extract so different?
- 21%-30% lowering effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C, or “bad”) cholesterol level.
- 6mg per day, 25% average lower LDL-C cholesterol—much less than the standard 20-40 mg doses of Lv-statin that were used in clinical trials.
- Free of citrinin
- Produced in cGMP standard facility.
- High ratio of active monacolin-K (acidic form)
- Top quality with competitive price.
Who is suitable for taking RYR extract supplements?
Red yeast rice extract may be an alternative for patients with hyperlipidemia who want a “natural” therapy and refuse to take statins.
Red yeast rice extract may be effective lipid-lowering therapy for patients who have experienced statin-associated myalgias. (The amount of monacolin K in red yeast rice may be low enough to avoid triggering myalgias, or the other monacolins，sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids, in red yeast rice may act synergistically to lower cholesterol without causing musculoskeletal discomfort. Our research team is working on proving these reasons.)
Red yeast rice is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
Is Red Yeast Rice Extract (RYR) a Drug or a Supplement?
Confusingly, the answer is both.
One of the most important ingredients in RYR extract is monacolin K. It’s also known as Lv-statin, the active ingredient in the prescription Statin drug Mevacor.
In the late 1970s, researchers were isolating Lv-statin from Aspergillus and monacolin-k from Monascus. Chemical analysis soon showed that Lv-statin and monacolin K are identical chemical compounds. Lv-statin became the patented, prescription drug Mevacor. Red yeast rice went on to become a non-prescription dietary supplement in the United States and other countries.
Is Red Yeast Rice Extract (RYR) safe?
Red yeast rice is a safe over-the-counter supplement that has been used in China and Asia for centuries and has lipid-lowering effects.
Modern medical studies have shown that side effects of red yeast rice extract are mild, like headaches, heartburn, and upset stomach. While Side effects from prescription Lv-statin include elevation of liver enzymes and muscle enzymes, muscle problems, and liver problems.
But for red yeast rice extract which with higher amount of monacolin-K, it might carry the same potential side effects as statin cholesterol drugs.
EFSA Panel noted that in the health claim (EFSA NDA Panel, 2013), the intake of monacolin K is 10 mg/day for the maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations.
More information about safety and efficacy of monacolin-K.
What is Monocolin-k?
Monocolin-k is the key Ingredient in Red Yeast Rice Extract. which also known as a natural type of the active ingredient in the prescription drug Mevacor. Red yeast rice extract (monacolin-K,) can inhibit the rate-limiting enzyme in plasma synthesis (HMG-CoA reductase), effectively reduce total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride Esters (TG), while raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Monacolin-K has two isomers: internal lipid (basic) Monacolin-K and acidic Monacolin-K, which we refer to as closed-loop and open-loop Monacolin-K respectively. Closed-loop Monacolin-k is only a prodrug, which is inactive by itself and needs to be hydrolyzed by carboxyesterase produced by the human body to change the structure and become an active substance i.e acidic Monacolin-K.
Monacolin-K has two isomers: internal lipid Monacolin-K and acidic Monacolin-K. Also called open or closed loop Monacolin-K. The closed-loop Monacolin-k is just a prodrug and inactive (structure as Figure one). In order to play a lipid-lowering effect, It is necessary to hydrolyze the carboxyesterase produced by the human body to change the structure and turn into an active substance Monacolin-k (structure as Figure two).
Specifications List of RedLife™-Red Yeast Rice Extract (monacolin-K)
- Red Yeast Rice Extract Powder 0.4%-5% monacolin-K
- Red Yeast Rice Extract Powder Water Soluable
- Tablet/Capsules Red Yeast Rice Extract (Monaconlin-K) Supplements
