Suggested Use

Serving size: 1 capsule

Special Info

Consider adding daily supplemental Co Enzyme Q10 while taking any product with or derived from Red Rice Yeast.

Nutrition Info

One capsule contains: ...% Daily Value
Pantethine: 50 mg ...500%
Chromium: 50 mcg ...42%
Inositol hexaniacinate: 375 mg *
Red rice yeast extract: 175 mg *
Garlic extract: 100 mg *
Proprietary blend: 180 mg
Terminalis arjuna extract *, Codonpsis root extract *, Guggul gum extract *
Other ingredients: gelatin capsule

* Daily Value Not Established

Description

Cholestar is formulated for healthy lipid metabolism and cholesterol control. The natural compounds in this formula contain properties that may help maintain healthy cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, as well as antagonize lipid perioxidation.

Red yeast rice increases the risk of liver enzyme elevation, indicating liver trouble, and it also increases your risk of myopathy. It may even cause a potentially fatal condition called rhabdomyolysis.

Folks, this is no surprise. These adverse effects have been consistently documented with statins. Lovastatin and other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are known to cause myopathy. Myopathy is muscle pain or weakness associated with elevated levels of creatine kinase.

Another problem with statins (including red yeast rice) is that they can cause a potentially deadly condition called rhabdomyolysis. This serious condition is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the circulation, with or without acute renal failure. While rhabdomyolysis isn’t as common as myopathy, it can occur at any time. If you’re using red yeast rice, you should run to the doctor if you have any episodes of unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.

Persistent increases (to more than three times the upper limit of normal) in the liver enzymes serum transaminases occurred in adults who received lovastatin for at least one year in some of the early clinical trials. I strongly suggest that liver tests be performed before starting red yeast rice, at intervals of six and 12 weeks after, with ongoing tests every few months thereafter.

Lovastatin has been reported to lower coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels. Red yeast rice will, too. You know that reduced levels of CoQ10 can lead to heart failure and liver problems. If you take red yeast rice, you should take a CoQ10 supplement.

Watch for Drug Interactions
There are some potentially problematic drug interactions you must also be aware of if you decide to use red yeast rice. If you take any of the following drugs with red yeast rice, it can increase you risk of myopathy:

• Antifungal, fluconazole, ketoconazole, or itraconazol
• Cyclosporine
• Fibrates (such as clofibrate or fenofibrate)
• Gemfibrozil
• Macrolide antibiotics, clarithromycin, erythromycin
• Nefazodone
• Protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Niacin

You also should not take red yeast rice with other statins (such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, cervastatin), because it may enhance the effect of these medications, thereby increasing your risk of liver damage.

Grapefruit Juice and Red Yeast Rice
Believe it or not, you should avoid grapefruit juice if you’re taking red yeast rice. When grapefruit or grapefruit juice is consumed with the aforementioned statins, they cause a significant increase in blood levels of the drugs, leading to a greater chance of side effects and liver damage. Because red yeast rice appears to act in much the same way as these cholesterol-lowering drugs, it would be wise to avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit or grapefruit products, such as marmalade, while taking red yeast rice.

Other Contraindications
People who are at risk for liver disease, or currently have liver disease, should not take red yeast rice because, similar to prescription cholesterol-lowering medications, red yeast rice may affect liver function.

Those who consume more than two alcoholic beverages per day, have any kind of serious infection or physical disorder, or have undergone an organ transplant are also advised to avoid red yeast rice.

If you take warfarin, taking red yeast rice and other statins is especially problematic. Warfarin is a high-risk and problem-prone drug and taking any drugs with it is dangerous. Using red yeast rice and warfarin may result in an increase in bleeding and the INR (a serious problem for warfarin users).

If prescription drugs really worked – we would already be a disease-free society!! (Dr James F. Balch, M. D.)

Note

The natural compounds in this formula contain properties that may help maintain healthy cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol, as well as antagonize lipid perioxidation.