Can anyone tell me about the use of red yeast rice in pediatrics? Is it really that harmful? If they can give statins to children, I would think I could use red yeast rice. Daughter , age 11, was just diagnosed with high cholesterol. We kinda expected it because it runs in our family like rampid wild weeds. Her total count was 324. I don't remember the rest of the numbers, but the LDL was high, I remember that. Anyway, off to the pediatric cardiologist we go. However, I don't want her on synthetic drugs. If possible, I'd love to give her a small dose of red yeast rice instead. Anyone know anything about this subject? Any input would be great. thanks! :)

This is my own personal opinion and I am no expert...

I would never give any statin to a child. Educate yourself to the side effect by reading here and other places on the web, what some of us have suffered through. A child's body is still growing and the possiable damage statins do could be permanent. You must decide if the risk is worth what someone else decides are the healthy numbers for your child. Do heart problems run in your family? If they don't, why worry?

If you have a happy healthy child, why take the risk of the damage statins can do? Please educate yourself!(Your childs life and well being could depend on it)

I would NEVER, EVER, EVER give any cholesterol lowering medication to a child, whether it is natural or not. Cholesterol is vital to brain development in the fetus, and I would suppose this would still be true for young children. Cholesterol is essential for the human body. I would limit carbs, sugars, and fat foods, which are normally made with the using transfats. Transfats are also found in some (many) processed foods.