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Red Yeast Rice

RYR, Monascus purpureus, Hong Qu

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Meta Information

ID:red-yeast-rice
Name:Red Yeast Rice
Schema Version:1.5

Title

Red Yeast Rice

Alternate Names

  • RYR
  • Monascus purpureus
  • Hong Qu

Intervention Type

therapeutic_agent

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:
10
High Cost:
30
Cost Type:
monthly
Description:
Cost for a 30-day supply of standardized, third-party tested capsules.

Summary

Red Yeast Rice is a fermented rice product containing monacolin K, a compound chemically identical to the prescription statin drug lovastatin. It lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Its primary relevance to longevity is through the significant reduction of cardiovascular risk, a major driver of healthspan decline and mortality.

Purpose

Lowers LDL cholesterol to reduce long-term cardiovascular disease risk.

Drug Class

statins

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:
5.5
Justification:
Effectively lowers LDL cholesterol, a primary driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Evidence

Grade:
A
Score:
9
Justification:
Multiple high-quality human RCTs and meta-analyses confirm its LDL-lowering effects.

Safety

Score:
5
Justification:
Contains an unregulated statin; carries risks of myopathy and potential nephrotoxic contaminants.

Flags

  • Contains monacolin K, which is chemically identical to the prescription drug lovastatin.
  • Supplement quality varies; products may have inconsistent doses or harmful contaminants like citrinin.
  • Carries the same side effect profile as statins, including muscle pain and liver issues.
  • Interacts with grapefruit juice and drugs metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme.
  • Should not be taken with prescription statins due to increased risk of side effects.

Verdict

A natural statin for LDL reduction, but requires careful source selection.

Created

2026-04-24T00:07:21.342444Z

Model

Gemini 3.1 Pro (High)

Delivery

Route:
oral
Scope:
  • systemic

Indication

Focus:
disease_treatment
Description:
Red Yeast Rice is a fermented rice product containing monacolin K, a compound chemically identical to the prescription statin drug lovastatin. It lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase...

Typical Protocol

  • Take 600-1200 mg twice daily, standardized to contain 5-10 mg of monacolin K.