Conclusion: The consumption of RYR extract by people with hypercholesterolemia was associated with statistically significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C, whereas it was not associated with an increase in life-threatening side effects. Further research on specific subpopulations and outcomes could establish a consensus on determining the clinical benefits and potential risks, if any, of this nutraceutical.
PubMed 38794691 ↗Red Yeast Rice
Based on 6 first-hand reports and 25 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1473 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 0% are positive.
What Red Yeast Rice does, according to users
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
What the research says
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: In addition, Berberine is found to have a beneficial impact on gene regulation for the absorption of cholesterol at a daily dose of 300 mg in humans, an amelioration on glucose accumulation at 1.0 g daily dose was also observed. For all these reasons, this review gives an important good account of the impact of Berberine in obesity treatment and prevention.
PubMed 32353823 ↗Conclusion: Evidence for bergamot effect was based on relatively small study group and may require further investigations. Policosanols have no effect on the lipid profile.
PubMed 35988871 ↗Conclusion: Furthermore, increasing daily doses of monacolin K were negatively associated with increasing risk of Non-MuD (slope: -0.10; 95%CI: -0.17, -0.03; two-tailed p < 0.01). Based on our data, RYR use as lipid-lowering dietary supplement seems to be overall tolerable and safe in a large kind of moderately hypercolesterolaemic subjects.
PubMed 30844537 ↗Dosage people report
As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
Reported side effects
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
What users say
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“I take red yeast rice, coq10, vitamin d, vitamin c, a probiotic and a multivitamin.”
“I am afraid of the side effects as each brand is different and the details are much more unknown than a statin”
“Outbreaks like the 2024 red-yeast-rice deaths (up to 80 fatalities)”
“Red Yeast Rice - (cholesterol)”
“my doctor (internist) then prescribed red-yeast-rice, which I tried and I got the classic statin reaction of severe muscle pains”
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User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate