A Substitute for Those Who Can't Take Statins?

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"There is real potential here, but a lot of problems because of the sources of red yeast rice not being too reliable," Gordon noted.

But the major problem with the study is that it was too small to disclose the inevitable side effects that afflict a small percentage of the people who take statins such as lovastatin, said Dr. Paul S. Phillips, director of interventional cardiology at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, who wrote an accompanying editorial.

Phillips said he often prescribed statins to patients in his cardiology practice. But he also is head of a statin myalgia clinic that treats more than 600 people suffering from side effects of the drugs.

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Because red yeast rice contains lovastatin, "it has potentially significant risks and no greater benefits than conventional medications, and I would not advise anyone to take it," Phillips said.

More information

A guide to red yeast rice is offered by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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