Red yeast rice is made by fermenting a type of yeast (Monascus purpureus) over rice. In dietary supplement form, red yeast rice is typically used to control cholesterol. According to the 2007 NHIS Survey, cholesterol is one of the top 10 conditions prompting complementary and alternative medicine use among adults.
Recently, a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that the amounts of active ingredients contained in different formulations of red yeast rice appear to be inconsistent. Also, of the 12 products studied, one in three had detectable levels of a potentially toxic compound.
People who are using or are considering using dietary supplements, including red yeast rice, should discuss this decision with their health care provider.