Japan is investigating the deaths of dozens of people who took a dietary supplement against cholesterol

Many people who took similar dietary supplements, including: red yeast rice And those believed to cause kidney problems were also hospitalized. “Although the direct cause of hospitalization or death is not kidney disease,” they indicated, “it has become clear” that, in some cases, the consumption of these products “indirectly” adversely affected the health condition of several people, the pharmaceutical company said in a statement.

The company, based in Osaka, western Japan, announced the recall of three product lines in March despite having medical information problem since 15 january,

Japan’s health ministry has ordered Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to report daily on its internal investigation. “So far (the company) has not reported the exact number of cases investigated, which is extremely regrettable,” Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday.

Red yeast rice (called “beni koji” in Japan) has been used for centuries in Asia in foods, alcoholic beverages and traditional Chinese medicine for its digestive properties and to improve blood circulation. This yeast contains a natural statin called monacolin K, which is able to inhibit cholesterol synthesis.