Red Yeast Rice: Comparable to a Statin?

The dietary supplement red yeast rice, which has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, is cheaper than a prescription statin drug. But is red yeast rice a sound alternative? It's worth asking—especially since a new study has found that people with high cholesterol respond just as well to red yeast rice as they do to pravastatin.

Researchers compared the two substances in a small study of 43 subjects who had been treating high cholesterol with a statin other than pravastatin—and had stopped treatment because of muscle pain (myalgia), the most common side effect associated with statin drugs. As part of a new treatment regimen, the subjects took either red yeast rice or pravastatin daily; they also participated in a program emphasizing improvements in diet and exercise.

After 12 weeks, their levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol had decreased by virtually the same amount (27% in the pravastatin group, 30% in the red yeast rice group) and reports of muscle pain were also similar—and on the low side. The results were reported in the American Journal of Cardiology.

The ability of red yeast rice to lower cholesterol is no mystery: Red yeast rice extract contains a naturally occurring statin, lovastatin (which is also the active ingredient in one of the statin drugs). But because the manufacture of dietary supplements is unregulated, you can't be certain of the dosage or purity of any red yeast rice product you buy in a drugstore or health food store. So despite the study's positive results, you are better off opting for generic pravastatin, which is well regulated, has been extensively tested, and is also one of the least expensive statins. If you do want to try red yeast rice, be sure to talk to your doctor first.

Your Pet and Your Health

Many of us agree that we should do everything within our power to make sure that our companion animals enjoy the best possible health.  But did you know that simply by being a part of your life, your dog or cat could actually help you to be not only happier but healthier, too?

Of course you did.  It’s all part of the privilege (and fun!) of being a pet parent.  What you may not know is that there’s plenty of science to back it up.  A wealth of knowledge regarding the health benefits associated with having companion animals has been accumulated over the last two decades, including numerous research studies in the U.S. and abroad.

A study published in The British Journal of Health Psychology reports that people who have companion animals tended to be healthier than those who did not.  Additionally, when a dog was part of the family, the members had fewer minor ailments, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol.  Although the explanation for these advantages is unclear, researchers speculated that all benefits could be accounted for by reduced levels of stress, possibly due to increased physical activity and levels of social interaction.

The positive effects of having a canine companion have also been chronicled in research published in the American Journal of Cardiology.  The year-long study documented the effect of having a canine companion in 369 patients who had suffered an acute heart attack.  The positive effects were nothing short of extraordinary!  The patients who had a dog in the home had a much better chance of survival.  Over 7% of patients without a dog died during the study, compared with only 1% of those who had a canine companion.

Researchers at the University of Leicester found that when pets are in a household, children six years and younger develop social skills at an accelerated rate.  Additionally, these children tend to have better coordination, improved confidence, superior communication skills and are even less likely to have allergies!

The British Medical Journal concluded that pets serve a vital need for socialization, especially for those at a higher risk for isolation, like those with physical limitations that might prevent opportunities for social interaction.  Most medical professionals agree that the broader the network of social contacts, the better we are able to deal with difficult life issues.  This study, and others like it, supports the idea that this need for social relations can be fulfilled equally well by companion animals as with people.

And a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association revealed that bringing a companion animal to the office resulted in higher worker productivity.

These and many other studies reinforce what we as pet parents have suspected all along … that our beloved four-footed companions are integral parts of our families, enriching our lives beyond measure.

Source:  Healthy Pet Net