Red Yeast rice is a unique ingredient native to China that's been used in Asian traditional medical systems for centuries. It is produced by the fermentation of red yeast (Monascus purpureus) with white rice. Red Yeast rice supplements may help support healthier cholesterol levels by virtue of their naturally occurring lovastatins. Since lovastatins can be hard on the liver, NOW® Red Yeast Rice Extract also incorporates Milk Thistle extract and alpha lipoic acid to provide antioxidant and liver support. NOW® Red Yeast Rice with CoQ10 is a good choice among red yeast rice products since it is one of the few processed to reduce levels of the citrinin, an undesirable by-product of the fermentation process.