AFP Tokyo

Tokyo

Updated Wednesday, March 27, 2024-13:06

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Health authorities in Japan are investigating

a dietary supplement to reduce cholesterol

that, the government reported this Wednesday, could have caused two deaths and more than 100 hospitalizations in the country.

Japanese company

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical

had recalled products from three supplement brands containing an ingredient called

red yeast rice

after receiving complaints of kidney problems from some customers.

Medical studies describe this substance as

an alternative to statins to reduce cholesterol

, but they also warn of the danger of organ damage depending on its chemical mixture.

"The total number of suspected deaths (is now) two" and "106 cases of potentially linked hospitalizations also appeared," said government spokesman

Yoshimasa Hayashi

.

The Kobayashi Pharmaceutical company sells a wide range of health products that are promoted in television advertisements in Japan.

The firm explained to AFP that it was aware of the two deaths possibly linked to these products, but declined to comment further and asked not to establish a causal link with its products.

The company, based in the city of Osaka, also

supplies red yeast rice to fifty other firms in Japan and two in Taiwan

. Dozens of them decided to withdraw their products.

A questioned product

Health Minister Keizo Takemi said Tuesday that the government had asked the company to "promptly provide" information on the situation. His department also "ordered local authorities to collect information on the health damage," said the minister, who offered his condolences to those affected.

The manufacturer had explained that the first deceased person potentially linked to this case had regularly purchased one of the recalled products for almost three years.

The company offered its "deepest apologies" and said the relationship between the two events was being investigated.

An analysis revealed the possibility that

the products contained "ingredients that should not have been included

," the firm had said this week.

But this study did not show that red yeast rice produced

citrinin

, a toxic substance that can damage the kidneys.

Red yeast rice is produced "by fermenting steamed rice with dietary fungi and is often used to reduce high cholesterol as an alternative to statin medication," according to a 2019 study in the

British Medical Journal

.

In the past, concerns have arisen about cholesterol products containing high levels of a compound called

moncaolin K

, which has the same structure as medically approved cholesterol drugs.

"Red yeast rice products that contain significant portions of moncaolin K may have the same side effects as statin medications, such as muscle, kidney, or liver damage," states the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. USA.