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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Alternatives To Control High Cholesterol Levels

I am 26 years old female with high cholesterol since 16 years of age due to heredity. I am very active but do not have the best (or the worst) diet. My total cholesterol went from 250 to 217 after taking Red Yeast Rice twice a day for the past year....however, now I have elevated liver enzymes (ALT 40 and AST 47) which were up from 16 and 18 last year. I have stopped taking the Red Yeast Rice and want to change to something else to help my cholesterol along with changing my diet. A friend suggested Mega Red. Will this be harmful to my already elevated liver enzymes?? Also, what are other good alternatives to lowering my cholesterol??
Thanks!!
Fri, 6 Nov 2015
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Dietitian & Nutritionist 's  Response
Hello, I will try to help by explaining some things. It seems that you want to deal with your high blood fats by taking supplements, yet strict attention to diet has not happened yet. I congratulate you for recognizing that having high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease and several lifestyle alterations can be permanently made to control this.

However, by choosing red rice yeast, you are essentially choosing a poor version of a statin drug. You would have been far better off on a statin drug that can be standardized as to dosage and liver enzymes routinely monitored. In this situation your doctor would probably try another statin and monitor you for side-effects.

Any of the red rice yeast products require liver enzyme monitoring -- this is what I wanted to explain. No one should take these supplements without someone monitoring the liver. Please do not take nicotinic acid either on your own as you need to be monitored on that as well.

What is being advised is to lower saturated fat, eliminate trans fat, increase soluble fibers to 25 g per day - slowly if on a low fiber diet currently or the increased fiber may cause gas, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, exercise 250 minutes per week at about 70% of target heart rate.

Summary: Your questions was about Mega Red being harmful to your already elevated liver enzymes and the answer is YES.

A good diet is The Mediterrean Diet meal plan approach although I highly encourage you to visit a Dietitian for a complete assessment and personalized diet and exercise plan to make this work.

And, please visit your doctor. Here's to your health! Kathryn Shattler, MS,RDN
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Suggest Alternatives To Control High Cholesterol Levels

Hello, I will try to help by explaining some things. It seems that you want to deal with your high blood fats by taking supplements, yet strict attention to diet has not happened yet. I congratulate you for recognizing that having high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease and several lifestyle alterations can be permanently made to control this. However, by choosing red rice yeast, you are essentially choosing a poor version of a statin drug. You would have been far better off on a statin drug that can be standardized as to dosage and liver enzymes routinely monitored. In this situation your doctor would probably try another statin and monitor you for side-effects. Any of the red rice yeast products require liver enzyme monitoring -- this is what I wanted to explain. No one should take these supplements without someone monitoring the liver. Please do not take nicotinic acid either on your own as you need to be monitored on that as well. What is being advised is to lower saturated fat, eliminate trans fat, increase soluble fibers to 25 g per day - slowly if on a low fiber diet currently or the increased fiber may cause gas, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, exercise 250 minutes per week at about 70% of target heart rate. Summary: Your questions was about Mega Red being harmful to your already elevated liver enzymes and the answer is YES. A good diet is The Mediterrean Diet meal plan approach although I highly encourage you to visit a Dietitian for a complete assessment and personalized diet and exercise plan to make this work. And, please visit your doctor. Here s to your health! Kathryn Shattler, MS,RDN