Red yeast rice may be an effective alternative to lowering LDL cholesterol for those who cannot tolerate statin therapy, according to a recent randomized, controlled trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June. For this study, 62 patients with dyslipidemia and history of discontinuation of statin therapy due to myalgias received either red yeast rice (1800 mg) or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. All patients were concomitantly enrolled in a 12-week therapeutic lifestyle change program. LDL levels for those taking red yeast rice decreased by 1.11 mmol/L (43 mg/dL) from baseline at week 12 and by 0.90 mmol/L (35 mg/dL) at week 24. In the placebo group, LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.28 mmol/L (11 mg/dL) at week 12 and by 0.39 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) at week 24. Researchers concluded that red yeast rice and therapeutic lifestyle change might decrease LDL cholesterol without increasing pain levels.