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Chinese Remedy Could Cut Cholesterol

Posted Jun 10, 08 12:54 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – A Chinese supplement could help lower cholesterol in patients unable to tolerate statin drugs, ABC News reports. Extract of red yeast rice, a form of fermented rice that has been used in China for many centuries in medicine and food, is naturally rich in the active ingredient in the drugs. A recent Chinese study found the extract dramatically cut the risk of heart patients suffering a repeat attack, the London Times reports.

Heart experts are split on the benefits of using the widely available supplement. Some doctors say they often recommend it to patients; others worry that the red yeast products available could do more harm than good because of contaminants or widely varying amounts of the active ingredient.

Sources ABC News, Times (UK)

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Red yeast rice extract has been used for medicine in China for many centuries.   (Getty Images)
Red yeast rice extract is used to give Peking Duck its distinctive red coloring.   ((c) mtoz)
A recent study found that the ingredient used to color Peking Duck red could have cholesterol-lowering benefits even higher than the statin drugs currently used.   ((c) FotoosVanRobin)
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heart disease  • cholesterol  • statins  • cholesterol lowering drug  • Chinese medicine


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