Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical now probing 80 deaths over possible link to benikoji red yeast supplement

AFP via CBS ^ | June 28, 2024 / 11:30 AM EDT / AFP

[GonzoII]

Tokyo — Japanese health supplement maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said Friday it was probing 76 more deaths possibly linked to its tablets containing red yeast rice, meant to lower cholesterol. It deepens a scandal that erupted earlier this year when the company said it was looking into five deaths potentially linked to the over-the-counter products after dozens of customers reported kidney problems...

Fermented with a mould culture, red yeast rice, or "benikoji," has been used in food, alcoholic drinks and folk medicines for centuries around East Asia.

"Even if the direct cause of hospitalisation or death was not kidney-related disease, it has become clear that there are a variety of cases, including cases in which benikoji-related products may have caused harm somehow and had some indirect impact," a Kobayashi statement said.

[GonzoII]

RELATED: What U.S. consumers should know about the supplement linked to deaths in Japan

[Zhang Fei]

Has to be asked - why this supplement and not beer or bread yeast?

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https://www.soyinfocenter.com/HSS/fermented%20_tofu1.php
[Molded Tofu Fermented With Red or White Koji. This process is basically the same as that described above except that rice koji is added as a second source of enzymes (and often of flavor and color too), and much less liquid is used in the brining mash or dressing. The koji may be added either in the form of red koji (see below), plain rice koji, or koji fermented in water for several days to form a thick, rather sweet, mildly alcoholic, and delicious grog called chiu niang in China and amazake or doboroku in Japan (Shih 1918). Or the koji may consist of a Mucor or Aspergillus mold grown on wheat flour (Smith 1949).

A word about red koji : Also known in the literature as beni koji (Japanese), hung chu (Chinese), angkak (ankak, anka, ang quac), ang-tsao, red rice, or Chinese red rice, this product originated in China. It is prepared by soaking rice in water for 24 hours, steaming, cooling, inoculating with spores of the mold Monascus purpureus , and allowing to ferment at a warm ambient temperature (27°C or 81°F is ideal) for about 20 days. Mixed with water, brine, or alcohol and used as a pickling medium for tofu, it imparts a rich red color and unique flavor. In the Philippines it is also used in making a fermented fish called Burong isda (Asean 1980).]

[ryderann]

Wasn’t there some sort of yeast problem with l-tryptophan 30 or so years ago?

[Celtic Conservative]

IIRC it’s also the strain of yeast used to make Sake, Shochu, Miso and soy sauce. Very important to a Asian food culture.

CC

[Zhang Fei]

[IIRC it’s also the strain of yeast used to make Sake, Shochu, Miso and soy sauce. Very important to a Asian food culture.

CC]

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Thanks. I understand using yeast to process food. To consume it directly - you gotta wonder - why? And why this yeast and not bread or beer yeast?

[dennisw]

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[Celtic Conservative]

The info was more for other people. I understand you have a firm grasp of Asian food culture.😁

CC

[teeman8r]

In before the Star Trek reference...

[normbal]

There are THOUSANDS of yeast strains on the planet.

Ones used for beer, wine, champagne aren’t all the same, ones causing vaginal yeast infections aren’t either.

Each one breaks down specific compounds producing various byproducts which impart subtle flavor/scent qualities to the final product.

many people take RYR for cholesterol reduction not knowing the compound lovastatin is the active component.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) were, SFAIK (or IIRC) were discovered around 40 years ago and the first, Mevacor/lovastatin was marketed in the late 1980’s.

Personally I’d rather die of coronary artery disease than EVER take another statin having gone through the entire gamut (lipophilic and hydrophilic) with every one causing SEVERE dose-dependent muscle PAINFUL cramping and Crestor was the absolute WORST of these. At the very lowest dose I would have attacks that would throw me out of bed out of a sound sleep where I’d writhe on the floor screaming while my wife panic’d, threatening to call 911. These episodes would last seconds to a minute or five, eventually going on for 5-10 minutes, during the DAY and I just couldn’t take that stuff anymore.

Remind me to tell you my LEAST favorite conversation ever with other doctors - I’m a Family Practitioner myself - being “you shouldn’t be having that side effect.” Me responding, “it’s in the frakking PDR!

I finally saw a cardiologist who had heard these stories before and put me on Nexlizet, which has my cholesterol under 200 for the first time in my adult life. With only a trace of carotid atherosclerotic plaque but a YUGE family history of “heart disease” it’s a gamble I’m willing to take, getting my lipid panel more in line with Framingham study values.

Of course, YMMV.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2156587211434490

[Engedi]

When I was on those statins and wake up from painful muscle cramps I would drink pickle juice, take a tablespoon of mustard or magnesium tablet. It would go away within 5 min.

I’m not taking any statins currently. I started using Cholestoff.

[left that other site]

It’s a NO-WIN Scenario.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Kobayashi+Maru

[Patriot777]

Kobayashi Maru has lost all power and is drifting! Enterprise! Can you assist us? Can you assist us?
“They are in the Neutral Zone, Captain.”
“Damn! Plot a course for intercept and rescue.”
“May I remind the Captain, if we enter the Neutral Zone—-“
“I’m aware of my responsibilities, Mister!”
“Plotting a course, Captain.”
“Ahead one-half impulse power.”
“Captain, picking up three Klingon Warbirds on an intercept course at Mark 3.”
“We’re in too deep. Sulu, get us out of here!”
“I’ll try, Captain.”

Now, this young Vulcan lady couldn’t save the ship, but she was willing to try. Faith, courage, integrity, compassion.

Good ol Kobayashi Maru Test, the only cadet (and later Captain) of the Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk, able to beat that test.
By changing the parameters of the algorithm.
Insertion of an alternate program and hard reboot of the test system.

Still works. That’s what this country needs, which Donald J. Trump is willing to provide. Let’s put him back in the Captain’s Chair and go rescue this Nation!
And it’s NOT a cheat.
That’s what the regime did and always will do.
Sooo much pie in the face and more on the way.