Pravastatin is the lowest potency statin that is widely used in the US to lower LDL cholesterol. It is often tolerated even in patients where other statins cause muscle pain. Red Yeast Rice extract is a well tolerated supplement that has been touted to lower LDL cholesterol. A study published in the Jan 15th issue of Am. Journal of Cardiology compares 2400 mg twice daily Red Yeast Rice extract with 20 mg twice daily pravastatin in a small group of patients who did not tolerate more potent statins. It turns out that both regimens are equally well tolerated and equally effective. Both reduce LDL levels by about 30%, and both are not tolerated by <10% of patients in this difficult population where another statin was already not tolerated.
