Red yeast rice
Red yeast rice capsules and tablets from fermented rice, including formulas with coenzyme Q10. We explain what the monacolin figure on the label means, the UK 3 mg limit and the warnings that apply before you buy.Read more →
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Fermented rice, monacolins and what the label should tell you
Red yeast rice is white rice fermented with the mould Monascus purpureus. The fermentation turns the grain deep red and produces a group of compounds called monacolins, of which monacolin K is the best known. In East Asia the fermented rice has been used for centuries in cooking and as a natural colouring. As a supplement it comes mainly as capsules and tablets, and it sits alongside the rest of our plant and herb extracts.
The monacolin figure is the number that matters
Monacolin K is chemically the same molecule as lovastatin, a prescription statin. That single fact explains every rule around this ingredient. In the UK, a daily portion of a red yeast rice supplement must supply less than 3 mg of total monacolins, and that amount has to be printed on the label. The approved health claim for monacolin K was based on 10 mg per day, far above the legal limit, and the European Commission withdrew it in 2024. So you will find no cholesterol claim on this page, and none on the products either.
Strength also varies more than most shoppers expect. When 28 shop-bought brands were analysed, the monacolin K content differed more than sixtyfold, and two products contained none at all. A label that says only 600 mg extract tells you nothing about what you are actually taking.
Citrinin is the second thing to check
Some Monascus strains also produce citrinin, a mould toxin that affects the kidneys. The law caps it at 100 micrograms per kilogram in these supplements, and careful manufacturers test every batch. Treat "citrinin free" as useful only when it is backed by batch testing.
How we choose red yeast rice
We only list products that state their monacolin content per daily dose, stay under the legal limit and are tested for citrinin. We prefer one-a-day capsules and tablets, because a fixed, declared dose is easier to keep track of than a loose powder. Formulas with coenzyme Q10 make sense to us: monacolins act on the same pathway your body uses to make its own Q10. Every label passes our compliance team before a product goes live, we buy directly from the brands, and independent labs spot-check batches. You can read how we select brands and products.
Who it suits, and who should leave it alone
This is an ingredient for adults who want to follow it up with their GP and a blood test, not judge it by how they feel. It is not for anyone under 18 or over 70, not during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and not alongside a statin or any other cholesterol medication. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice increase your exposure to monacolins, so avoid both. If you take other medicines, or have liver or kidney problems, speak to your GP first. Prefer to skip statin-like compounds altogether? Many readers look at citrus bergamot extract or soluble fibre instead.
If you do choose red yeast rice, plan for a slow, boring routine: one dose a day at the same time, usually with the evening meal, and a check-up after two to three months. Many buyers add coenzyme Q10 supplements separately so they can set that dose themselves, since the amount inside combination products is often small.
Frequently asked questions
Red yeast rice is white rice that has been fermented with the mould Monascus purpureus. The process gives the grain its red colour and produces monacolins, mainly monacolin K. In East Asian cooking the fermented rice has long been used as a food and a colouring. Supplements use a concentrated extract of that same fermented rice, standardised so the monacolin content per daily dose can be declared on the label.
