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Red yeast rice (hongqu)
Also called: hongqu, monacolin
Rice fermented with Monascus yeast, used in Chinese cooking and medicine. It naturally contains monacolin K, the same substance as the cholesterol medicine lovastatin.
- Why people take it
- Lowering cholesterol.
- What the evidence says
- Products with monacolin K do lower LDL cholesterol, because they act like a statin medicine. The amount varies a lot between products.
- Be careful
- It can cause the same side effects as statins (muscle pain, liver problems). Do not take it with statins, in pregnancy, or with liver disease. Some products contain citrinin, a toxin that harms the kidneys. In 2024 red yeast rice (beni-koji) products in Japan were linked to kidney disease and deaths.
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Common questions
What is Red yeast rice?
Rice fermented with Monascus yeast, used in Chinese cooking and medicine. It naturally contains monacolin K, the same substance as the cholesterol medicine lovastatin.
Why do people take Red yeast rice?
Lowering cholesterol.
Does Red yeast rice work?
Products with monacolin K do lower LDL cholesterol, because they act like a statin medicine. The amount varies a lot between products.
Is Red yeast rice safe?
It can cause the same side effects as statins (muscle pain, liver problems). Do not take it with statins, in pregnancy, or with liver disease. Some products contain citrinin, a toxin that harms the kidneys. In 2024 red yeast rice (beni-koji) products in Japan were linked to kidney disease and deaths.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed 31 October 2026. Written by Satya Babu.
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