Red yeast rice is a dietary supplement that is produced by fermenting yeast on red rice. Practitioners of Chinese medicine use this herbal supplement to help treat a variety of health concerns. The fermenting process produces chemicals that are similar to those found in common medications used to lower cholesterol.

Red yeast rice products can vary by type and chemical composition, so they do not all work similarly. Some are chemically similar to statins, which are medications known to help lower cholesterol.