A new study conducted by the physicians in Pennsylvania has perked up the controversial debate about the ostensible cholesterol-lowering effects of the years-old natural product called red yeast rice. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, June 16 issue, says that red yeast rice pills might well be instrumental in offer help to people who need to lower their cholesterol levels.

Asian countries have been using red yeast rice as food and medicine for centuries. However, in the US and Europe, red yeast rice has been proposed as an alternative cholesterol-lowering cure for people who stay away from using statins due to their severe side effects, especially weakness and muscle wasting.

For the study, researchers observed nearly 62 patients who, because of their unusually high levels of low-density lipo-protein (LDL) cholesterol, were earlier taking statins. Half of the patients were administered 1,800 milligrams of a red yeast rice product twice a day for six months, while the remaining half took an inactive substance.

Dr. Ram Y. Gordon - a privately-practicing cardiologist and a member of the research group - said: "In the group that took red yeast rice, the average drop in cholesterol was 43 points at 12 weeks. The drop in the placebo group was only 11 points. In the longer run, the drop was 35 versus 15 points."