We repeat very regularly that the consumption of food supplements is not trivial and that, even if they are over-the-counter, some of them may have deleterious health effects. As proof what has just happened to a 64-year-old American who had to be hospitalized urgently after consuming food supplements based on red yeast rice, intended to lower its cholesterol.
Liver damage after 6 weeks of consumption
As reported by British medical journal, this woman had been taking red yeast rice daily for 6 weeks when she began to suffer from stomach aches and extreme fatigue. When she presented to the hospital, she also had a darker urine, clearer stools and his skin had turned yellowish, signs of liver damage. The examinations unsurprisingly revealed a drug-induced liver injury. The doctors concluded that it was the red yeast rice that had damaged him.
“The cholesterol-lowering properties of red yeast rice are due to the one molecule, the monacolin K, which is also used in statins. But the dosage of this molecule is not indicated in food supplements and the consumer has no way of knowing what he is consuming “ To declared the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
In France, the ANSM has published a warning against the adverse effects of this substance traditionally used in Chinese medicine. In particular, she recommends that patients:
- Not to consume red yeast rice products if they are already receiving statin treatment, due to a risk of overdose.
- Not to consume a dietary supplement based on red yeast rice if they are taking other drugs that may interact with statins, in particular drugs of the family of fibrates.
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