Red yeast rice is a unique ingredient native to China. Red yeast rice has traditionally been used in Asian cuisine, and also as an herbal medicinal compound. Red yeast rice is produced by the fermentation of red yeast (Monascus purpureus) with white rice. Red yeast rice supplements may help support healthier cholesterol levels, possibly by virtue of their naturally occurring lovastatins. Lovastatins work by interfering with the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, but they also interfere with the liver's production of crucial Co Q-10.So combining red yeast rice with Co Q-10, as Solaray has done with this product, is a good idea and probably why this product has become so popular. Solaray Red Yeast Rice Extract also incorporates the B vitamin niacin, which has also been shown to lower cholesterol.Allow 8-12 weeks of consistent use before evaluating your results via a blood cholesterol test. Do not combine red yeast rice with cholesterol medications unless instructed to do so by your doctor.