Red yeast rice

baxterooneydoody

I went to my chemist today for my supply of red yeast rice only to be told it has been withdrawn. Has anyone heard why or if its all red yeast rice brands or just the 1 I was buying in my local chemist. I asked the girl serving me but she had no further information. In hindsight this nay be the wrong forum, maybe a mod could moveif not suitable. Thabks

Keith186

Hey, late reply but I have seen this for sale in Dunnes Stores in the Nourish section where they sell all the fancy vitamins etc.

It has 2.5mg of the active ingredient Monacolin K which is the maximum for a 'supplement' before it's classed as a medicine. 90 in a pack.

baxterooneydoody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123368714#Comment_123368714

I actually found it in dunnes recently myself, thanks

picturehangup

Hi,

Isn't it supposed to reduce cholesterol levels?

I was prescribed statins but would rather take a more natural form if it worked to reduce my cholesterol levels.

How has it worked for you, or too early to say? TIA

baxterooneydoody

It is. My doctor and the nurse that works in the surgery

mentioned it to me on different occasions

baxterooneydoody

It is, my doctor and the nurse that works in the surgery both mentioned it to me on separate occasions, it brought my cholesterol from 6.1 to 4.8

baxterooneydoody

Sorry about the double post, boards I such a sh1t site the comment appeared and now it won't let me edit it.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123368714#Comment_123368714

The reason it's been withdrawn all over the world is that it turns that it's quality control and testing is crap. And a lot has far more than 2.5mg. It's basically prescription medicine and taking it as a supplement is pretty dangerous.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123435477#Comment_123435477

For the sake of clarity, the active ingredient (monacolin K) is a statin called lovastatin. It's naturally occurring, which makes no difference, it's chemically identical.

Keith186

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123467949#Comment_123467949

Maybe partially withdrawn would be a better way to phrase it. Still lots of brands for sale. Only certain brands stopped from a quick Google.

baxterooneydoody

The product I was buying is back on the shelves again anyway, there are plenty options for people I found out after

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123468000#Comment_123468000

Brands that were found to be dangerous were recalled and banned. But that doesn't mean that that brands still on sale are safe. As evident of all the dangerous products being on sale for years and years.

It's not like the niche brands are all manufacturing their own supplements. They are package generic product made in Japan - given the recall was from 3 major manufacturers, seems crazy to me to take a risk with on a product with no idea of it's content.

baxterooneydoody

I've been taking it for just over a year on the advice of my doctor, and it seems to have worked in the short term. What long-term negative effects do you think could come of it. And wouldn't the safety standards set by both irish and European agencies protect against any negative products being used in the production of it. Genuinely curious, thanks

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123469673#Comment_123469673

It was recommended due to studies that shown low doses of the statin it contains can be helpful. But testing has shown the quality control is poor.

 And wouldn't the safety standards set by both irish and European agencies protect against any negative products being used in the production of it

No, they wouldn't. The negative aspects of RRY is the active ingredient (lovastatin) being present in too high a dose, not some unexpected ingredient. There are limits and guidelines, but supplements are not tested to the same level as medicine. A studyed 12 produces and the content was something like 0.5mg to 11mg per pill - that a crazy range.

The higher end of that range is a content to similar to prescription. There are risks with statins. They are not something I would take a random unknow dose of. What dose of actual monacolin are you taking each day? Maybe it's fine, if you don't know, maybe you should.

Extract form European Commission regulation review.

The Authority reiterated that monacolin K in lactone form was identical to lovastatin, the active ingredient of several medicinal products authorised for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the Union. At the time, monacolin K from red yeast rice was available in food supplements at varying recommended daily intake levels for its effect on the maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol levels. On the basis of the information available, the Authority concluded that the intake of monacolins from red yeast rice through food supplements could lead to an estimated exposure to monacolin K within the range of the therapeutic doses of lovastatin. The Authority noted that the profile of adverse effects to red yeast rice was similar to that of lovastatin.

Considering that no daily intake of monacolins from red yeast rice that does not give rise to concerns for human health could be set, and considering the significant harmful effect on health associated with the use of monacolins from red yeast rice at levels of 10 mg/day, as well as individual cases of severe adverse health reactions at levels as low as 3 mg/day, the use of monacolins from red yeast rice at levels of 3 mg and more per portion of the product recommended for daily consumption has been prohibited by Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/860 (8).