Medicinal Ingredients (per 1 capsule):
Red Yeast Rice...250 mg (Monascus purpurea-fermented Oryza sativa, 0.2% monacolin K)
Policosanol...20 mg (Saccharum officinarum – Wax)
Free Plant Sterols...375 mg (Glycine max – Seed) (337.5 mg Combined beta-Sitosterol, Campesterol and Stigmasterol)

Non-Medicinal Ingredients:
Magnesium stearate, Hypromellose (Vegetable Capsule shell)

Duration of Use:
For use beyond 24 weeks consult a healthcare practitioner.

Recommended Dose:
Adults : 2 Capsule(s) 1 time(s) per day. Take with food.

Cautions and Warnings:
If symptoms persist or worsen, or if new symptoms develop, discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner.
If you are taking prescription medications, particularly Hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase lipid-lowering drug(such as statins), cyclosporine, anti-coagulants (such as warfarin) and/or blood thinners, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.

Contraindications:
If you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, do not use. If you are breastfeeding, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. If you experience muscle pain, tenderness and/or weakness, discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner. If you suffer from liver or kidney disease or have received an organ transplant, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. Heartburn been known to occur.

Q: What are the Health Canada approved uses for this product?
A: This product is approved by Health Canada (NPN 80081883) for the following uses: helps to maintain cardiovascular health; helps to maintain cholesterol levels already within a normal range; and source of plant sterols. This product is intended to help maintain cholesterol levels already within a normal range and is not intended for the treatment of clinically elevated cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Q: What is the most important safety warning for this product?
A: Do not use this product if you are taking statin medications such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, or other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Monacolin K in red yeast rice is structurally identical to lovastatin and has the same mechanism of action as statin drugs. Combining this product with statin medications significantly increases the risk of serious adverse effects including myopathy (muscle pain and weakness) and rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown that can cause kidney damage). This is not a minor interaction — it is a contraindication. Always consult your healthcare provider before use, and inform them of all medications you are taking.

Q: What is red yeast rice and what is monacolin K?
A: Red yeast rice is produced by fermenting white rice (Oryza sativa) with the mold Monascus purpurea. This fermentation process produces a range of bioactive compounds called monacolins, of which monacolin K is the most pharmacologically significant. Monacolin K is structurally identical to lovastatin, a prescription statin medication. Its primary mechanism of action is inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase), the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway — the biochemical pathway by which the liver synthesizes cholesterol. This formula uses red yeast rice standardized to 0.2% monacolin K, delivering 0.5mg of monacolin K per capsule (from 250mg of red yeast rice).

Q: What is the mevalonate pathway and why does inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase matter?
A: The mevalonate pathway is the biochemical pathway by which the liver synthesizes cholesterol from acetyl-CoA. HMG-CoA reductase catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is the first committed and rate-limiting step in this pathway. The liver synthesizes approximately 70 to 80% of the body's total cholesterol endogenously — meaning most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver, not absorbed from food. By inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, monacolin K reduces the liver's endogenous cholesterol synthesis at its primary rate-limiting step. This is the same mechanism by which all statin drugs work, which is why monacolin K and statins cannot be combined.

Q: How do plant sterols reduce cholesterol absorption?
A: Plant sterols (phytosterols) work through a fundamentally different mechanism from monacolin K. Rather than reducing cholesterol synthesis in the liver, plant sterols reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine. In the small intestine, dietary cholesterol and biliary cholesterol (cholesterol secreted into bile by the liver) are solubilized into mixed micelles the lipid structures that transport fats to the intestinal wall for absorption. Plant sterols are structurally similar to cholesterol and compete with cholesterol for incorporation into these mixed micelles. Because plant sterols are preferentially incorporated into micelles over cholesterol, they displace cholesterol from the micelles, reducing the amount of cholesterol available for intestinal absorption. The displaced cholesterol is then excreted in stool. This mechanism is complementary to monacolin K's hepatic synthesis inhibition together they address cholesterol from two different directions simultaneously.

Q: What are beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol?
A: These are the three primary plant sterols in this formula, together comprising 337.5mg of the 375mg total free plant sterols per capsule. Beta-sitosterol is the most abundant plant sterol in the human diet, found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and is the most studied plant sterol for cholesterol absorption support. Campesterol and stigmasterol are also widely distributed in plant foods and are among the most abundant plant sterols in the human diet alongside beta-sitosterol. Together these three sterols represent the most studied and most effective plant sterol combination for intestinal cholesterol absorption support. They are derived from soybean (Glycine max) in this formula.

Q: Why does this formula use free plant sterols rather than plant sterol esters?
A: Plant sterols are available in two forms: free (unesterified) sterols and plant sterol esters, where the sterol is esterified with a fatty acid. This formula uses free plant sterols, which are the naturally occurring form found in plant foods and the form used in the majority of clinical research on plant sterol supplementation. Free plant sterols are the form present in the diet and are the reference form for plant sterol research.

Q: What is policosanol and where does it come from?
A: Policosanol is a mixture of long-chain aliphatic alcohols derived from the wax of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). The primary components are octacosanol (C28), triacontanol (C30), and hexacosanol (C26), with octacosanol being the most abundant. This formula provides 20mg of policosanol per capsule from sugarcane wax. Sugarcane wax policosanol is the most extensively studied form of policosanol and is distinct from policosanol derived from other plant waxes such as beeswax or rice bran wax, which have different fatty alcohol compositions and different research profiles. Policosanol is included in this formula as a complementary ingredient alongside the more mechanistically established red yeast rice and plant sterols.

Q: Why does this formula address "cholesterol already within a normal range" rather than high cholesterol?
A: This is an important regulatory and clinical distinction. Health Canada approves natural health products for specific uses based on the evidence reviewed. The approved use for this product is to help maintain cholesterol levels already within a normal range — meaning it is formulated and approved for individuals whose cholesterol is already in the normal range and who want nutritional support to help maintain that balance. It is not approved or intended for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia (clinically elevated cholesterol), which is a medical condition requiring evaluation and management by a healthcare professional. If you have been told by a healthcare provider that your cholesterol is elevated, consult your healthcare provider about appropriate treatment options rather than relying on this supplement.

Q: Does monacolin K reduce CoQ10 levels?
A: Yes, this is an important consideration. The mevalonate pathway produces not only cholesterol but also coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain required for cellular energy production. HMG-CoA reductase inhibition reduces CoQ10 synthesis alongside cholesterol synthesis — this is a known effect of all HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors including monacolin K and prescription statin drugs. Reduced CoQ10 levels are associated with muscle-related side effects including myalgia (muscle pain). Individuals using this product long-term may wish to discuss CoQ10 supplementation with their healthcare provider to support CoQ10 levels.

Q: What is citrinin and why does it matter for red yeast rice quality?
A: Citrinin is a mycotoxin (a toxic compound produced by molds) that can be generated during the Monascus fermentation process used to produce red yeast rice. Citrinin is nephrotoxic (toxic to the kidneys) and is considered a quality contaminant in red yeast rice supplements. Red yeast rice products vary significantly in quality, and poorly manufactured products may contain detectable levels of citrinin. Quality red yeast rice supplements are tested to confirm the absence or very low levels of citrinin. This formula is manufactured in Canada under quality-controlled conditions to meet purity standards. When choosing a red yeast rice supplement, citrinin testing is an important quality indicator to look for.

Q: Does this product contain soy?
A: The free plant sterols in this formula are derived from soybean (Glycine max, seed). Individuals with soy allergies should consult a healthcare provider before use. The plant sterol extraction process removes most soy proteins, but trace amounts may remain. If you have a known soy allergy or sensitivity, discuss this with your healthcare provider before using this product.

Q: Is this product suitable for vegans and vegetarians?
A: Yes, this formula is 100% vegan and suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. Red yeast rice is produced by fermenting rice with a mold no animal products involved. Policosanol is derived from sugarcane wax, a plant source. Plant sterols are derived from soybean, a plant source. The capsule shell is made from hypromellose (vegetable cellulose), not gelatin. The only non-medicinal ingredients are magnesium stearate and hypromellose, both plant-derived or mineral-based. The product is non-GMO and gluten-free.