Red yeast rice or beni-koji is a product of rice fermented with strains of the yeast Monascus purpureus, a traditional Chinese medicinal product.
he primary active compound in red yeast rice that's believed to help lower LDL cholesterol levels is monacolin K.
In February 2021, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical launched "beni-koji choleste help," with sales reaching about 1 million by February 2024
Hospitalised individuals exhibited symptoms of Fanconi syndrome, a kidney disorder, with citrinin, a toxic metabolite, suspected as the cause.
The health ministry and the NHIS (National Institute of Health Sciences) detected puberulic acid in the supplement but haven't linked it to kidney issues.