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Red Yeast Rice and Diabetes

Answer:

The use of statin drugs (for cholesterol-lowering) can slightly raise blood sugar levels and slightly increase the risk of diabetes. Although these effects are theoretically possible with red yeast rice (because it naturally contains statin compounds), such effects have not been demonstrated. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Red Yeast Rice Review. Also see our Top Pick for red yeast rice.

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6 Comments

Bethanyliz
January 09, 2024

I took red yeast rice supplements because I was having muscle pain due to the many different statins that were tried to treat high cholesterol. I had exactly the same muscle pain from the supplements as I had to statins. I finally was able to mitigate this problem by only taking statins twice a week instead of every day. My cardiologists recommended this and it has worked along with Zetia to keep my cholesterol numbers in check. I would rather take a statin that I know has been evaluated and regulated than a red rice yeast supplement where you have no idea what is or is not in it. Consumer Lab certainly helps to understand what is in the supplement, but statins are so inexpensive at this point that it seems to make better sense to take a prescription statin than it does to take what is likely a more expensive unregulated supplement.

Grandma Judy
April 24, 2019

I have found the top recommended Red Yeast Rice brand (by Consumer Labs) to be the least expensive on the market as well as the most effective. My cholesterol has come down from 230 to 185 and remains there. Just recently read in Consumer Labs about taking Red Yeast Rice at night, so have started taking the second two tablets of the supplement before going to sleep.
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ConsumerLab.com
April 24, 2019

Thank you for your kind words, Judith. We are glad you are enjoying ConsumerLab!

Phyllis11296
April 24, 2019

Why take red yeast rice when cholestoff plus seems more effective?-

ConsumerLab.com
April 24, 2019

As discussed in our Cholesterol-Lowerers Review, sterol/stanol products, like the one you mention, can certainly lower LDL, although not as much as red yeast rice. Details are found in the Review, including our tests and comparisons of products, at https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/cholesterol-lowering-supplements-review-sterols-policosanol/cholesterol/

ConsumerLab.com
April 24, 2019

As discussed in our Cholesterol-Lowerers Review, sterol/stanol products, like the one you mention, can certainly lower LDL, although not as much as red yeast rice. Details are found in the Review, including our tests and comparisons of products, at https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/cholesterol-lowering-supplements-review-sterols-policosanol/cholesterol/

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