Can Red Yeast Rice Really Lower LDL Cholesterol?

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@ChutkaMD]

Guest: Stephen Kopecky, M.D. [@DrSteveKopecky]

Hyperlipidemia is extremely common in the U.S., and we have a variety of pharmacologic agents which are very effective in treating this condition and improving our patients’ lipid profile. Yet there are patients who have elevated lipids but may not meet the criteria for pharmacologic therapy and other patients who don’t tolerate the medications we commonly prescribe. What are the alternative treatments available for managing hyperlipidemia and how effective are they?  How do they compare with pharmacologic therapy? We’ll discuss these issues and more in this podcast with our guest, preventive cardiologist Stephen Kopecky, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic. 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.