Red Yeast Rice (angkak, benikoji, hong qu, monascus purpureus, red koji, red leaven, RYR, xuezhikang, zhi tai)

Suggested dosing of Angkak, benikoji (red yeast rice)

 

Hypercholesterolemia

1200 mg PO BId

Take with food

 

Suggested uses of Angkak, benikoji (red yeast rice)

Diarrhea, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, circulation improvement, indigestion

Efficacy: Possibly effective for hypercholesterolemia

 

Angkak, benikoji (red yeast rice) adverse (side) effects

Abdominal discomfort, anaphylaxis (inhalation), dizziness, elevated creatine kinase, elevated liver enzymes, flatulence, gastritis, heartburn

 

Warnings

Contraindications

Abnormal LFTs, liver dysfunction

 

Cautions

Concurrent hepatotoxic agents

 

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: avoid

Lactation: avoid

 

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

 

Pharmacology of Angkak, benikoji (red yeast rice)

Metabolism: N/A

Excretion: N/A

 

Mechanism of action

Rice fermented with Monascus purpureus yeast; contains small amounts of naturally-occurring lovastatin (mevinolin)