Natural statins to lower cholesterol: benefits and risks

Statins are a group of drugs that are used to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people who have them elevated. In natural medicine there are many foods, infusions, supplements and habits that can help lower cholesterol, but I’m sure you’ve also heard of “natural statins”. Indeed, there is what is known as “natural statins” and the most conocides are chemicals present in traditional remedies of traditional Chinese medicinealso used for their effect on cholesterol levels.

The long-term statin therapy can lead to the appearance of side effects such as muscle pain and weaknessTherefore, natural statins seem to be an alternative or complement to conventional treatment.

In this article we see what is the red yeast rice, considered the quintessential natural statin. We will also see what types of natural statins there are, its benefits and the precautions we must take. Authorities from different areas warn against the use of natural statins without professional control. Your health professional will help you find the right therapeutic approach for you.

Natural statins: what are they and where are they found?

The red yeast ricewhich can be found in the form of supplements , is the most common natural statin, since it contains a set of different substances, among which the monacolin K, also known as lovastatin. Lovastatin is also one of the widely used drugs to lower high cholesterol levels as well as LDL cholesterol levels.

What we call red yeast rice or red yeast rice is actually the result of fermentation of white rice with a fungus called Monascus purpureus. This fungus is used in Chinese as well as Japanese medicine to ferment cooked white rice and other foods such as rice wine, fermented soy sauces, giving them a reddish or dark purple color. Red rice prepared in this way it can be taken as food and can be pulverized. Nutritional supplements are prepared with it.

When the red yeast Monascus purpureus grows in previously cooked white rice grains, the yeast ferments the carbohydrates in the rice and different secondary metabolites are created with varied actions or benefitssuch as pigments of the flavonoid type, coumarins, amino acids and monacolins.

What we call red yeast rice contains different types of natural statins called monacolins, such as monacolin K (lovastatin), L, Q, R or S.

Effects of monacolin from red yeast rice

Between the traditional benefits of these fermented foods with Monascus purpureus such as “red yeast rice”, include:

The lowering cholesterol levels and the levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). improvement in blood circulation It prevents the formation of clots.

The monacolins present in red yeast rice are statins, and are responsible for their action on elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels.

Due to the frequent occurrence of side effects such as myalgia and muscle weakness in people who take long-term treatments with statins such as lovastatin and others, there has been an increase in the use of nutritional supplements with red yeast rice or natural statins.

However, it is important to note that these supplements actually contain lovastatin (monacolin K), albeit in smaller quantities and in combination with other active principles typical of the interaction of yeast with rice, as well as other possible added ingredients.

Possible Side Effects of Statins

In order to understand how to make good use of natural statins, we need to know what may be the most common side effects associated with statins in general:

Gastrointestinal discomfort with upset stomach, diarrhoea, constipation, feeling light-headed, nauseated or gas.muscle aches such as pain or myalgia, muscle weakness or tenderness. This is one of the circumstances that promotes the search for natural options. In rare cases, this can progress to severe muscle fiber damage called rhabdomyolysis.Elevated blood glucose: Statins may slightly raise blood glucose levels; therefore, in people with diabetes or prediabetes it must be taken into account.Liver imbalance: In certain cases, especially in prolonged treatments with statins or in people with previous liver problems, statins can cause or aggravate existing liver damage. Thus liver metabolism should be controlled following the levels of transaminases, which are liver enzymes.

Precautions in the daily use of natural statins

Both the daily dose and the time of use are important when using natural statins, in order to control cholesterol levels. Remember that monacolin K from red yeast rice is lovastatin, the same chemical that is used as a drug (although it may be of synthetic origin).

In other words, even in a nutritional supplement, depending on the daily dose and the time of use, there may be similar side effects such as myalgias or muscle painas well as muscle weakness or dizziness, among others.

Note that synthetic statins or statin drugs and red rice yeast products should not be taken at the same time with monacolin K, because you would be using more statins than you think in your daily dose.

A mean of 8 weeks of treatment It is what is usually recommended in natural statins such as monacolin K with a control of cholesterol levels. It can be extended if your professional deems it necessary.

For this reason, we have to be sure of the dose of monacolin K that includes a product that we are taking and if it is present alone or with other substances: the recommendation is always to consult with a health professional who assesses the suitability of its use, the daily dose and the time of use.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) published that, in especially sensitive peoplelow doses such as 3 mg daily of monacolin K could promote side effects such as muscle discomfort.

Remember:

Maintaining cholesterol levels within healthy levels also implies taking care of our diet and lifestyle. Certain times in life, such as perimenopausecan imply a specific increase in cholesterol levels, which can be controlled with exercise, dietary changes, stress management and natural aids.Consult with your health professional the most convenient way for you to regulate cholesterol levels.