Some doctors, including Dr. Ram Y. Gordon, a cardiologist at Chestnut Hill Hospital, part of the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, agree that the herbal supplement, Chinese red yeast rice, can act beneficially to lower cholesterol. Our take on it, is that red yeast rice unlike a lot of unproven herb products, really works, he told the The New York Times last week, But there are inherent problems in saying that it is good for people.
Sound confusing?
The problem is that the amount of the active ingredient in the supplement varies tremendously from one brand to another and even from batch to batch. Even worse, one in three tested products were toxic to the kidneys.
The study, where scientists analyzed samples from a dozen red yeast rice products, was published recently in Archives of Internal Medicine. This wasnt the first time the same scientists turned their eye on red yeast. In fact, earlier studies by the authors found that the supplement did a good job lowering LDL cholesterol. But now theyre voicing concern. The supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, yet the FDA has warned people not to use the supplements.
Because of what we found in our study, reports Dr. Gordon, there are inherent problems in saying that this is good for people.
Bottom line: try proven methods for lowering your cholesterol which includes eating oatmeal for breakfast.
Robin Westen writes about health for national magazines.
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