Red Rice Yeast

Re: Red Rice Yeast

In sci.med.cardiology markd@frog-net.com wrote:
> The active item in red rice yeast is a statin drug, lovestatin, sp?, which is why the fda has
> taken to controlling it as a drug and no longer as a food. Your high trigs would lead one to
> consider syndrom x, do a google search, for which lipid problems is but one of a set of disorders
> which can lead to diabetes.

My triglycerides went up a bit on statin, see the thread `Cholesterol - input wanted'

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Re: Red Rice Yeast

If you are looking (only) for the statin Rx that is like red yeast rice then Mevacor (Lovastatin) is
the one. However, there are several statin medications and they work differently from each other. It
is possible that red rice yeast just stopped working for you and considering a different statin is
what you actually need. Given that at this time all statin medications are doctor prescribed it
might be a good idea to consult one.

galya

"TsatskeMitGroysseTsitskes" <tsatske@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:<3Ngta.2685$2p.2084@twister.nyc.rr.com>...
> "jamie" wrote
> > The active component in red rice yeast is pretty much identical to the statin drugs you were
> > probably trying to avoid. But by taking an herbal form, you are getting an unknown amount, and
> > herbals vary widely from batch to batch in content of active ingredients.
> >
> So if I want to give up on Red Rice Yeast and take a prescription statin, which one should
> I choose?
>
> TsatskeMitKeinTsitskes (on Atkins since 4/26/03)

Re: Red Rice Yeast

"TsatskeMitGroysseTsitskes" <tsatske@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:<3Ngta.2685$2p.2084@twister.nyc.rr.com>...
> "jamie" wrote
> > The active component in red rice yeast is pretty much identical to the statin drugs you were
> > probably trying to avoid. But by taking an herbal form, you are getting an unknown amount, and
> > herbals vary widely from batch to batch in content of active ingredients.
> >
> So if I want to give up on Red Rice Yeast and take a prescription statin, which one should
> I choose?
>
> TsatskeMitKeinTsitskes (on Atkins since 4/26/03)

You simply must take Lipitor. Why? Because I said so.

OK, I'm being sarcastic, but there's a point and that point is: why are you using USENET to select a
statin drug?

Re: Red Rice Yeast

In sci.med.cardiology Brian Sandle <bsandle@shell.caverock.net.nz> wrote:
> In sci.med.cardiology markd@frog-net.com wrote:
>> The active item in red rice yeast is a statin drug, lovestatin, sp?, which is why the fda has
>> taken to controlling it as a drug and no longer as a food. Your high trigs would lead one to
>> consider syndrom x, do a google search, for which lipid problems is but one of a set of disorders
>> which can lead to diabetes.

> My triglycerides went up a bit on statin, see the thread `Cholesterol - input wanted'

Though it may not be a very significant amount.

But I have been thinking a bit more about the diabetes comment.

Diabetes is insulin trouble.

Insulin demand is increased to neutralise adrenalin, I think.

Therefore increased stress might be leading to diabetes.

Increased stress leads to increased triglycerides.

So maybe the triglycerides and diabetes both result from the extra stress.

The next point is that some people get depression on a low fat diet.

So my question is whether statins -> stress -> triglycerides And my question is whether statins ->
stress -> diabetes.

I am not claiming, just asking, for some people.

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Re: Red Rice Yeast

Lipitor works for me. my chol is now 140, hdl 55, trig 70. Agree with others don't take herbals - no
standards. Do check with your doc
- also consider adding naicin if your doc concurs.

baby_p_nut2@yahoo.com (Baby Peanut) wrote in message
news:<96d83290.0305041822.51c49bf4@posting.google.com>...
> "TsatskeMitGroysseTsitskes" <tsatske@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:<3Ngta.2685$2p.2084@twister.nyc.rr.com>...
> > "jamie" wrote
> > > The active component in red rice yeast is pretty much identical to the statin drugs you were
> > > probably trying to avoid. But by taking an herbal form, you are getting an unknown amount, and
> > > herbals vary widely from batch to batch in content of active ingredients.
> > >
> > So if I want to give up on Red Rice Yeast and take a prescription statin, which one should I
> > choose?
> >
> > TsatskeMitKeinTsitskes (on Atkins since 4/26/03)
>
> You simply must take Lipitor. Why? Because I said so.
>
> OK, I'm being sarcastic, but there's a point and that point is: why are you using USENET to select
> a statin drug?

Re: Red Rice Yeast

On Mon, 05 May 2003 03:04:18 GMT, "TsatskeMitGroysseTsitskes" <tsatske@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

>"Baby Peanut" wrote
>
>> why are you using USENET to select a statin drug?
>
>The best source.
>
>I'm an M.D. and write my own prescriptions (seriously). My family practitioner is not better
>informed than many lay people on the internet (she gets much of her information from well informed
>patients) and even I can't get through her gatekeeping to see a cardiologist (not that I would
>trust one). In the long run you're on your own, and the net gives you the right leads. Health care
>in this country (US) sucks - it's not accessible, it's only cost oriented and it's not based on
>clinical common sense.

I use Lipitor. Here are my lipid numbers from November of 2002, followed by my numbers from April of
2003. I'd been low-carbing for three months at the time of my second readings.

Total Cholesterol from 195 to 167 HDL from 44 to 52 LDL from 117 to 91 Ratio from 2.7 to 1.7
Triglycerides from 168 to 121

Hope that helps you with your decision!

Carol
--
226/204/150 May Challenge Goal - 199 Atkins since 1-26-2003 Type 2 Diabetic since 5-15-2001

Re: Red Rice Yeast

Brad@sheppardsoftware.com (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message
news:<b06e736a.0305051043.1dc1baec@posting.google.com>...
> Lipitor works for me. my chol is now 140, hdl 55, trig 70. Agree with others don't take herbals -
> no standards. Do check with your doc
> - also consider adding naicin if your doc concurs.
>
While there is good medical research showing a reduced risk of death from CAD for patients taking
statins, IMO anyone considering their use should read the article by Duane Graveline, M.D. who is
also a former astronaut for NASA. He describes some little known side effects, including memory loss
and even temporary global amnesia. There is also considerable evidence in the medical literature
(run a pubmed search for citations) that statins deplete CoQ10 levels, hence, those taking statins
would do well to supplement with CoQ10 (very difficult to obtain from foods). There is also a
significant amount of research data supporting the conclusion that total cholesterol should be in
the range of 180 to 220, as levels below 180 have been correlated (especially in the elderly) with
increased risk of certain types of strokes. Dr. Graveline's article appears at the URL below-listed.
http://www.spacedoc.net/lipitor_thief_of_memory.html Ron

Re: Red Rice Yeast

On Mon, 05 May 2003 03:04:18 GMT, "TsatskeMitGroysseTsitskes" <tsatske@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

>
>"Baby Peanut" wrote
>
>> why are you using USENET to select a statin drug?
>
>The best source.
>
>I'm an M.D. and write my own prescriptions (seriously). My family practitioner is not better
>informed than many lay people on the internet (she gets much of her information from well informed
>patients) and even I can't get through her gatekeeping to see a cardiologist (not that I would
>trust one). In the long run you're on your own, and the net gives you the right leads. Health care
>in this country (US) sucks - it's not accessible, it's only cost oriented and it's not based on
>clinical common sense.

There are other interventions you might consider before the statin. First, of course, is diet; the
benefit there is approximately a 12% reduction in lowering LDL. There are other supplement
interventions besides red yeast rice. These include: carnitine, guggul, niacin, hawthorn.

I'd try some combination of these. Of course, if you take the statin, you might consider an
oil-based coenzyme Q10 supplement which statins may wipe out.

If as an MD you are so cynical about your profession, this is a curious and sad state of affairs.
You might yet still wish to see a physician and get second thoughts. Other issues may arise; e.g.,
if your handle suggests your are an Ashkenazi Jew by heritage, it may be that you have a congenital
hypercholeteremia. I don't know how amenable it is to different types of treatments. (I have a
friend who has this problem; he seems to manage it best with diet and exercise). Also, if you have
HIV or other concomitant disease and/or are taking other prescription meds, it is important to
understand, as much as we do yet these days, any kind of interactions that may occur between drug
classes and with supplements.

George M. Carter

Re: Red Rice Yeast

On Tue, 6 May 2003 08:52:39 +1000, "Ozgirl" <someone@nothere.com> wrote:

>
>"Brad Sheppard" <Brad@sheppardsoftware.com> wrote in message
>news:b06e736a.0305051043.1dc1baec@posting.google.com...
>> Lipitor works for me. my chol is now 140, hdl 55, trig 70. Agree with others don't take herbals -
>> no standards.
>
>Especially after what just happened here in Oz with Pan Pharmaceuticals. If statins are tolerated
>(I can't take them myself) then steer clear of the herbals, you can never be sure you are getting
>what you pay for.

There are several sources that may help reduce this risk, including Consumer Reports and
consumerlabs.com. The best one can do is rely on some of the brands that have some reputability.
Still, doubts may arise. At least in the U.S., the FDA is FINALLY starting to institute Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP). I fear, tho, that it will lack any meaningful regulatory teeth to
assess products for identity, potency and purity, leaving us still with questions.

By contrast, there is an increase in the numbers of fraudulent pharmaceuticals, particularly with
high cost drugs like EPO, HGH, etc. It wouldn't surprise if some folks were involved in
counterfeiting statins as they represent the most lucrative and outrageously overpriced products of
the pharmaceutical industry.

George M. Carter