cholesterol-LDL-C 26.5% in 12 weeks, promote blood circulation-blood flow rate improved 23%, promote gastrointestinal motility-constipation rate reduced to 14%, reduce the risk of heart disease-23% reduction in incidence, improve diarrhea-improvement rate 78%. It is recommended to take 2-4 grams every day.
Lower cholesterol
Data are available from a clinical trial of 5,000 patients with high cholesterol who took 2.4 grams of red yeast rice extract daily for 12 continuous weeks; this resulted in a 26.5% average reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and 19.8% total cholesterol.
According to one 2022-published medical survey, only less than 4% of patients who took red yeast rice reported mild muscle pain or fatigue, while the incidences of the side effects from the same dose of chemical statins were high as 18.7% in number.
It’s estimated that, by 2023, the global market value of red yeast rice will be US$1.3 billion, while the compound annual growth rate reaches up to 7.2%. More than 40% of the total amount comes from the Asian region, especially from China and Japan, among which the Chinese consumers’ purchase frequency of red yeast rice related products reaches more than 1.2 million units every month.
According to the market analysis, the red yeast rice capsules are 65% of the total sales in the red yeast rice market. There are also studies showing that each capsule contains 3 to 5 mg of lovastatin as the active ingredient in red yeast rice. In 2021, a study compared the combined work of red yeast rice and oat beta-glucan to show that the LDL-C reduction was increased to more than 35%.
2,000 users in total were surveyed, and it was found that within 3 months, more than 72% of users restored their blood lipid levels to a healthy range, while 90% of users reported a good experience. One user who has taken red yeast rice for a long time said his total cholesterol level dropped from 260 mg/dL to 190 mg/dL. In Europe, EFSA stipulates that in every serving of red yeast rice products, its lovastatin content should not exceed 10 mg.
Improve blood circulation
In a study with 1,200 subjects, administration of 2.5 grams of red yeast rice daily for 8 continuous weeks increased blood flow rate by an average of 23%, while lower limb blood perfusion increased by 17%.
One 2019 experiment showed that long-term use of red yeast rice extract reduced the arteriosclerosis index by 19% and improved capillary microcirculation by 25%. The observation in this experiment showed that patients who took 3 grams of red yeast rice daily witnessed an increase of about 15% in coronary blood flow within 12 weeks.
Clinical evidence revealed that, after 3 months of supplementation with red yeast rice products, the incidence of cold hands and feet in women was reduced by 31%, while finger temperature increased by an average of 1.2 degrees Celsius. A study conducted on 60 athletes demonstrated that supplementation with red yeast rice significantly improved blood oxygen delivery during exercise, increased blood oxygen saturation by about 12%, and delayed lactic acid accumulation by 20% in a comparative study.
It is reflected in the survey data, in which 85% of consumers reported feelings of less leg fatigue after using red yeast rice and 60% of consumers reported less discomfort after long periods of sitting. Among them, the repurchase rate of red yeast rice products reached 72%.
In a large-scale study, it was noted that thrombosis incidence was reduced by 27% in patients who continued with the application of red yeast rice. Angiography results indicated that, after taking red yeast rice for 3 months, the average diameter of a patient’s arteries with chronic arterial obstruction widened by 6.8%.
Promote digestion
Research has shown that red yeast rice contains a lot of dietary fiber. For every 100 grams of red yeast rice, there is 2.4 grams of fiber. The incidence of constipation decreased from 32% to 14% after continuous consumption of red yeast rice in two months, according to the survey of 300 middle-aged and elderly people.
In 2019, it was found that for the red yeast rice taken by the experimental group, the intestinal probiotics increased by about 26%, and the harmful bacteria, including Clostridium, decreased by about 15%. After two weeks, it was indicated in the experiment that the occurrence of postprandial bloating and indigestion symptoms was reduced from 37% to 19% for subjects with a weak stomach function.
In one study on abnormal gastric acid secretion, 40 patients took 3 grams of red yeast rice every day, and after four consecutive weeks, the average gastric acid secretion decreased by 18%. It can be seen from the data that in 2022, the global sales of red yeast rice digestive products reached US$780 million, of which about 58% of consumers purchased to improve indigestion and flatulence. In fact, more than 8% annual growth rate has been seen in red yeast rice-related products in the Asian market alone.
For example, it was established that subjects who ingested 2 grams of red yeast rice daily over a four-week period increased their bile secretion by 12%. A recent study conducted on patients with chronic ulcerative colitis, for instance, shows that after three continuous months of taking 4 grams of red yeast rice extract daily, the frequency of diarrhea was reduced by 37%, while the level of intestinal inflammatory factors such as CRP decreased by 24%.
Those who have taken this traditional Chinese herb in the form of red yeast rice daily were shown to cut off 15 minutes from gastric emptying, which means increasing 9% rate of the intestines peristalsis. Clinical use Red yeast rice taken after improved 11 and 9%, the iron, calcium absorption rates accordingly.
Decreases risk for heart diseases
In one study involving 4,500 patients with high cholesterol, those taking 2.5 grams of the extract of red yeast rice daily reduced the incidence of heart disease by 23% within a year. Total cholesterol can be lowered by an average of 19% through daily intake of red yeast rice. Studies also reported that it can reduce triglyceride levels by 15% and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by about 5%.
In fact, one 2018 experiment showed that patients who took the red yeast rice had an average of 25% reduction in C-reactive protein levels within 3 months. It was indicated that middle-aged and elderly patients who took 3 grams of red yeast rice per day had an 18% decrease in arterial stiffness index and an average increase in blood flow velocity of 12%.
The two-year mortality rate in the experimental group receiving red yeast rice extract was 5.7%, compared to 9.4% in the control group not receiving red yeast rice. Market data show that in 2023, red yeast rice-related products accounted for 22% of the global cardiovascular health supplement market, with sales topping $1 billion. It includes mainly consumers over 40 years of age, with about 68% of buyers reporting a significant improvement in cardiovascular health indicators.
Experimental data showed that patients taking red yeast rice increased the antioxidant index level in the blood by about 30%, and decreased the rate of arterial endothelial cells damage by about 22%. In one study, 200 hypertensive patients were given 4 grams of red yeast rice extract daily for 3 consecutive months; at the end of the treatment, their systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by 8 mmHg and 5 mmHg, respectively. A clinical trial indicated that in patients with arrhythmias, the frequency of arrhythmias was reduced by 27% after the patients took red yeast rice for 6 months.
Treatment of diarrhea
A clinical trial done among 200 patients with chronic diarrhea showed the administration of up to 2 grams of extract of red rice yeast daily alleviated the condition in 78% of subjects within 4 weeks, whereas 40% of the subject patients stopped diarrhea completely. In an experiment, as part of clinical trials, subjects with long-standing diarrhea were giving Red Yeast Rice; due to this supplementation, the quantities of probiotic bacteria in intestines increased around 25%; pathogenic microbes like E.Coli reduced around 17%.
The water extract of red yeast rice inhibited the growth of common diarrhea-causing bacteria like Salmonella by 68% in the experiment. Administration of red yeast rice decreased the levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 by 22% and 18%, respectively, in the patients.
One such antibiotic-associated diarrhea study involved 50 patients on antibiotics who were given 2.5 grams of red yeast rice extract every day. The incidence of diarrhea was reduced from 32% to 12%. In patients on red yeast rice, the time taken for fluid balance restoration decreased by an average of 1.5 days.
The market size reached US$ 480 million in 2023 alone for the red yeast rice-related intestinal health product globally, with more than 35% usage for treating diarrhea. Feedback from consumers shows that about 67% of users have better signs of diarrhea after using red rice yeast.
