No one would care to look twice � or even once � at the origin of statin drugs. Except, perhaps, if you needed one more reason not to use them or were an FDA-approved drug addict looking for an inexpensive alternative.

The origin of statin drugs is not a testament to the ingenuity and innovation of drug companies. Despite enjoying an unprecedented surge of momentum in popularity, statins are nothing more than an isolated poison derived from the fungus known as red yeast rice (Monascus purpurus).[1]

In a natural response to the threat of a predator, red yeast produces the drug known as lovastatin (as well as other chemicals). Utilizing fundamental laboratory research, the discovery and isolation of lovastatin from red yeast rice was paid for by the U.S. government in the 1970s.[2] This secured a monopoly of knowledge, allowing for the censorship of the truth behind the wildly popular cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Commercially, lovastatin is known as Mevacor. It was the first statin drug, released in 1987 by the U.S. government-influenced company named Merck. Using a technique known as combinatorial chemistry, other drug companies have since unleashed their own versions. These versions include Zocor, Lipitor, Pravachol and Crestor.

As a toxic agent, the consumption of lovastatin via red yeast rice by its predators leads to sickness and in some cases, death. This is true for humans as well. Lovastatin�s (and all other statin drugs) toxicity is attributed to its ability to block cholesterol and CoQ10 production.

Low levels of cholesterol and CoQ10 limit lifespan in humans. In 2005, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that elderly people with low levels of total cholesterol were approximately twice as likely to die as those with high cholesterol.[3] CoQ10 is a coenzyme necessary for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is the source for cellular energy within the human heart. As CoQ10 is diminished, the heart weakens. Over time, this can result in congestive heart failure (CHF).

Humans appear to be so advanced, and yet they are the only species unable to recognize this simple defense mechanism of red yeast rice. Millions are blindly consuming statins as an elixir for longevity. Consumption of this poison fungus has grown worldwide.

The statin craze serves as a terrific example of how a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous. Nowhere in the history of man has an acknowledged poison been touted as a daily vitamin for every man, woman and child. The scientific community should be proud. Statins are the best selling drug of all time.

Footnotes:

1 Yg, Li. Zhang F. Wang ZT. Hu ZB. Identification and chemical profiling of monacolins in red yeast rice using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2004 Sep 3;35(5);1101-12.
2 Thompson, Richard. Foundations for blockbuster drugs in federally sponsored research. The FASEB Journal. 2001;15;1671-1676.
3 Nicole Schupf. Rosann Costa. Jose Luchsinger, Ming-Xin Tang, Joseph H. Lee. Richard Mayeux. Relationship Between Plasma Lipids and All-Cause Mortality in Nondemented Elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 53 Issue 2 Page 219 - February 2005 doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53106.x.