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