Red yeast rice, artichoke and Q10 are three ingredients with very different origins, brought together in one supplement. Red yeast rice comes from Asian food culture, where fermented rice has been used for centuries. Artichoke belongs to the European herbal tradition. Co-enzyme Q10, on the other hand, is a substance your body produces on its own. This formula combines them in a practical daily dose of two capsules, with standardised ingredients for a consistent composition from batch to batch. Here's what this supplement actually contains, where its ingredients come from, and what's worth knowing before you take it.
Where does red yeast rice come from?
Red yeast rice is made by fermenting rice with a yeast called Monascus purpureus. It has been used for centuries in Chinese cooking and food tradition, among other things to colour and flavour dishes. This formula contains 198 mg per daily dose, of which 2.9 mg is monacolins. For comparison, the monacolin dose linked to an authorised EU health claim is 10 mg a day: this formula sits well below that threshold, so no cholesterol-related claim can or should be attached to it.
Artichoke, a classic of European herbal tradition
Artichoke is a Mediterranean vegetable long used in European herbal tradition, usually as a leaf extract. This formula provides 100 mg per daily dose, of which 2.5 mg is cynarin, the most studied compound in the plant. It's an ingredient with a long tradition of use in Europe, standardised here for a consistent content from capsule to capsule.
Co-enzyme Q10, a substance your body already knows
Co-enzyme Q10 is naturally present in every cell of your body, where it plays a role in cellular energy production. You'll also find it in certain foods, such as oily fish, meat and nuts. This formula provides 50 mg per daily dose, in standardised form, to complement the other two ingredients.
What does "standardised" mean?
A standardised extract guarantees a consistent level of a reference compound, here monacolins for red yeast rice and cynarin for artichoke. In practice, that means every capsule provides the same amount from batch to batch, rather than an amount that would vary with the harvest or production run. That's what allows a precise dosage to appear on the label, rather than a rough range.
Why combine these three ingredients?
These three ingredients don't share the same mechanism or the same tradition of use. Bringing them together in one formula is mainly a matter of convenience: one daily dose instead of three separate supplements. Each ingredient keeps its own characteristics and dosage, clearly stated on the label. This kind of formula, combining several traditional ingredients, generally fits into a broader wellness routine, alongside a varied diet and an active lifestyle.
Worth asking your doctor or pharmacist
The monacolins in red yeast rice belong to the same chemical family as certain medicines prescribed for cholesterol. If you're already taking that kind of medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a liver condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement containing red yeast rice. It's a simple precaution, and worth taking before you start.
How do you take this formula?
The recommended dose is 2 capsules a day, preferably at the same time to build a routine. Like any food supplement, it doesn't replace a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle: it sits alongside those habits, not in place of them.
Looking for a plant-based source of omega-3 combined with co-enzyme Q10? Have a look at our Q10 - Flaxseed Oil. For the full composition of the formula described here, see the product page for Red Yeast Rice + Q10 + Artichoke.
