Rosuvastatin is used along with dietary changes to reduce total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol and fat levels in the blood, and to
increase HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. It belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Helpful Products
Try these helpful products which may be beneficial if taken with this medicine
CoQ10
Supplementing with 30 to 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 per day may maintain adequate blood levels
of this heart-healthy nutrient
Cholesterol-lowering margarine
Using margarines containing sitostanol (Benecol), which is made from pine tree wood pulp
and naturally occurring unsaturated sterols obtained from soybean oil (Take Control), can help
lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to
replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full article for more
information on interactions with vitamins, herbs, and foods.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
May Be Beneficial:Supportive
interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication
work better.
Sitostanol
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Avoid:Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this
medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results.
Pomegranate juice*
Red yeast rice
Vitamin B3 (niacin)*
Depletion or interference
None known
Side effect reduction/prevention
None known
Reduced drug
absorption/bioavailability
None known
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Vitamin B3
(niacin)
A recent blinded study showed that individuals taking both rosuvastatin and niacin had a
greater increase in HDL (“good”)
cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I than did those taking rosuvastatin alone.1
People taking rosuvastatin might benefit from taking niacin, though they should consult with
their healthcare provider before starting the supplement. When taken with niacin, some statin
drugs may become more toxic so there is a possibility of an adverse interaction.
Sitostanol
A synthetic molecule related to
beta-sitosterol, sitostanol, is available in a special margarine and has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. In one study, supplementing
with 1.8 grams of sitostanol per day for six weeks enhanced the cholesterol-lowering effect of
various statin drugs.2
Interactions with Herbs
Red yeast rice(Monascus purpureas)
A supplement containing red yeast rice (Cholestin) has been shown to effectively lower cholesterol and triglycerides in people with moderately elevated
levels of these blood lipids.3 This extract contains small amounts of naturally
occurring HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as lovastatin and should not be used if you are
currently taking a statin medication.
Interactions with Food and Other Compounds
Pomegranate
juice
In a case report, a man taking rosuvastatin developed severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis), a
known side effect of rosuvastatin, after he began drinking pomegranate juice (about 6 ounces
twice a week). While a cause–effect relationship was not proven, the authors of this
report suggested that pomegranate may have increased the toxicity of rosuvastatin by slowing
the rate at which the body broke it down.4
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
1. Capuzzi DM, Morgan JM, Weiss RJ, et al. Beneficial effects of
rosuvastatin alone and in combination with extended-release niacin in patients with a combined
hyperlipidemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Am J Cardiol
2003;91:1304–10.
2. Goldberg AC, Ostlund RE Jr, Bateman JH, et al. Effect of plant stanol
tablets on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering in patients on statin drugs. Am J
Cardiol 2006;97:376–9.
3. Heber D, Yip I, Ashley JM, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effects of a
proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement. Am J Clin Nutr
1999;69:231–6.
4. Sorokin AV, Duncan B, Panetta R, Thompson PD. Rhabdomyolysis
associated with pomegranate juice consumption. Am J Cardiol 2006;98:705–6.
The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes
only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical
experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not
necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with
prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor,
practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or
before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2009.
