50 mg of monacolin K in 100 g, and it can reduce 27% of LDL cholesterol. The huge applications of red yeast rice include food, health products, and natural pigments. In 2023, the market size reached $1.5 billion, while it is expected to reach $2.2 billion in 2028.
Overview
According to research, red yeast rice contains about 50 mg of monacolin K per 100 g. In one clinical trial consisting of 1,200 patients, the application of health products containing red yeast rice extract for 12 weeks reduced LDL cholesterol by an average of 27%.
One ton of rice grain can ferment 500 kg of red yeast rice. The estimated cost of production per kilogram is about $1.2. The retail price of red yeast rice products is generally US$8-10 per kg, bringing more than 6 times the profit return to the production companies. In the Asian market, the annual demand growth rate of red yeast rice is about 9%, and the market size is expected to be over US$1.8 billion in 2025.
It was indicated by the experiment that the food oxidation rate added with red yeast rice powder is reduced by 28%. Meanwhile, it maintains a good color under high and low-temperature conditions (high temperature: 200℃ and low temperature: -20℃) respectively. A farmland of about 2 hectares can provide 1 ton of red yeast rice. On the other hand, the unit output value is 4-fold higher compared with ordinary rice varieties. By cultivating the red yeast rice, the yearly revenue of every family has gone up by some 35 percent.
In a group of 500 people, 71% of the people who took red yeast rice extract reported that digestive function had significantly improved, and the incidence of bloating and constipation was reduced by 43%. According to the recommendations by the World Health Organization, the intake of citrate should be less than 0.05 mg/kg body weight. A market survey showed that 40% of low-priced red yeast rice products did not pass the standard.
The carbon dioxide emission during the fermentation process was reduced by about 45%. Its cost for treating its fermentation wastewater is only US$30 per ton. For instance, more than 300 companies present in the market produce and sell red yeast rice and their average annual growth rate within China is 7%. Among them, 10 large companies have 60% of the market share. The survey showed that 82% of consumers would prefer products to indicate the content of active ingredients.
Uses
In fact, it was shown in studies that supplementation with 1.2 grams of health supplements containing the extract of red yeast rice taken daily for 8 weeks can decrease low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by an average of 26% and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 5%. In an experiment conducted in 2022, it was observed that over 78% of the participants reduced their total cholesterol level to a healthy range after the extract of red yeast rice had been administered.
From each kilogram of red yeast rice, about 30 grams of red natural pigment can be extracted. More than 2,000 tons of red yeast rice are consumed by the rice wine brewing industry every year in southern China; some traditional rice wine companies in Fujian Province use 300 tons annually. The medicinal ingredients in every 100 grams of red yeast rice contain about 0.4 mg of flavonoids. Data show that 50 grams of red yeast rice added to each liter of sake enhance the aroma components of the wine by 20%.
In a feeding experiment with 500 pigs, it was found that the fat content in pork was reduced by 15%, and cholesterol by 10% after being fed 0.5% red yeast rice daily in their feed.
It improved skin moisture an average of 12% and reduced wrinkle depth by 9%, after four weeks, when the skin cream with red yeast rice extract was applied twice a day. Adding 20 grams of red yeast rice powder to each kilogram of flour can improve the antioxidant capacity of food and extend food’s shelf life. Market data: In 2023, the demand for red yeast rice products was up by 14% in the US functional food category.
Organic fertilizer from the fermented residue of red yeast rice is approximately 400 kg per ton. Experiments also proved that the fertilizer produced by the residues can raise an 8% yield of crops. A total of 600 patients with metabolic syndrome were involved in one study, in which they took up 2 grams of extract from red yeast rice every day. In three months, blood pressure dropped by 8 mmHg on average, and their blood sugar was reduced by 12% while fasting.
Thus, the enzymes produced by Monascus prepared the biological preparations and enzymatic activities reached up to 8,000 units per liter fermentation broth. From the information above, the market demand is increasing by 10% yearly for this efficient enzyme in the fermentation industry.
Advantages
Taking 1 gram of a supplement containing red yeast rice extract daily for 12 weeks can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by an average of 24% and total cholesterol levels by 18%. Scientific experiments have shown that the antioxidant activity of each gram of red yeast rice extract is equivalent to 200 mg of vitamin C. In a trial of 500 subjects, oxidative stress indicators in the body were reduced by about 30% after continuous intake of foods containing red yeast rice for 6 weeks.
A study showed that the number of beneficial intestinal bacteria in the experimental group that consumed 5 grams of red yeast rice powder per day increased by 22%, while harmful bacteria decreased by 16%. Compared with chemical pigments, its color retention rate at high temperatures reaches 95%. The global consumption of red yeast rice exceeds 12,000 tons per year, especially in Asia, where it occupies about 60% of the market share. Studies have shown that consuming 1.5 grams of red yeast rice extract per day can reduce arteriosclerosis indicators by 15%.
The production cost is only US$600 per ton, while the market retail price can reach US$1,200 to US$1,500 per ton. Due to its high added value, the global market size of red yeast rice has reached US$1.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to US$2.2 billion by 2028.
The wastewater treatment cost of each ton of red yeast rice is only US$30, while the treatment cost of traditional chemical pigments is as high as more than US$50. In addition, the amount of carbon dioxide released during the fermentation of red yeast rice is 40% lower than other fermented products.
A trial involving 1,200 patients found that after taking 2 grams of red yeast rice extract per day, the patients’ fasting blood sugar levels decreased by 15% after three months, and their weight decreased by an average of 2.5 kg, while their waist circumference decreased by 4 cm. In a long-term safety study involving 3,000 people, 98% of the subjects did not experience serious adverse reactions after taking supplements containing red yeast rice ingredients for up to one year. The incidence of mild discomfort was only 2%.
Experimental data showed that subjects who consumed 3 grams of red yeast rice powder daily had a 10% decrease in liver function indicators (such as ALT and AST levels) after 8 weeks.
Possible side effects
A study of 600 subjects showed that 12% of people reported mild bloating and abdominal pain after taking 2 grams of red yeast rice extract per day. According to the World Health Organization’s standards, the safe intake of citrate should be less than 0.05 mg per kilogram of body weight. A survey of red yeast rice products on the market found that 10% of the samples exceeded the standard for citrate, and some products even contained 300 micrograms per kilogram.
In one study, about 5% of participants experienced muscle soreness or weakness after taking red yeast rice supplements, especially those who took doses of more than 3 grams per day. Patients who are taking immunosuppressants, antibiotics or statins have their blood drug concentrations increased by about 20%-30% after taking red yeast rice.
A study of 200 patients with liver disease showed that 10% of patients who took 2 grams of red yeast rice extract per day had mild elevations in liver enzymes, while only 2% of those who did not take it. Animal experiments have shown that high doses of red yeast rice extract (5 grams per day) may affect fetal development.
In a survey of 1,000 people, 1% of the subjects reported mild skin itching or rash. In a small-scale study, 20 diabetic patients had an average decrease of 5% in fasting blood sugar after taking red yeast rice, but 3 patients had symptoms of hypoglycemia at night.
Animal experiments showed that rats that used high doses of red yeast rice (10 grams per day) for 6 consecutive months had a 15%-20% increase in renal function indicators such as serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels. A trial involving 500 subjects found that 2% of people developed anxiety or mild depression symptoms after taking red yeast rice.
Avoid co-use
Data showed that 12% of patients experienced muscle soreness or increased muscle enzymes after taking red yeast rice and statins at the same time, while the proportion was only 5% when taken alone. One experiment showed that blood concentrations increased by an average of 18% in patients taking red yeast rice and clarithromycin.
A small study found that 5% of patients taking red yeast rice and antifungal drugs had mild liver function abnormalities, compared to only 1% of those taking either alone. A study of 100 kidney transplant patients showed that blood concentrations of cyclosporine increased by about 22% in patients taking red yeast rice.
In a study of 120 patients, the international normalized ratio (INR) of patients taking red yeast rice and warfarin increased by an average of 0.8. About 4% of patients experienced mild epistaxis or subcutaneous ecchymoses during treatment. In a trial of 50 diabetic patients, 6% of patients taking red yeast rice and metformin experienced symptoms of nocturnal hypoglycemia.
In a small study, 20% of participants reported menstrual cycle disorders while taking red yeast rice. A study of 300 drinkers found that 8% of those who took red yeast rice and alcohol had mild elevations in liver enzymes, compared with 1% of nondrinkers.
In a small trial of cancer patients, those who took red yeast rice and chemotherapy drugs simultaneously had tumors that shrank about 15% slower than those who took chemotherapy alone. . One experiment found that 5%
