Bangkok Post – Another factory in Japan searched over dietary supplement deaths

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Sunday inspected another factory in western Japan to determine the cause of five deaths and numerous hospitalizations believed to be related to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s red yeast rice nutritional supplement.

The aging Osaka factory was closed in December, and a factory in Wakayama Prefecture operated by a subsidiary of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical took over production of supplement ingredients. The Osaka factory was searched on Saturday.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced on Friday that puberuric acid, a natural compound made from blue mold, was detected in its ingredients and that this substance may be the cause of the disease.

In addition to the five deaths, more than 110 people have been hospitalized with symptoms believed to be related to taking supplements containing red yeast rice.

Many of those affected developed kidney disease after taking the supplement. The Ministry of Health says puberuric acid can be toxic, but its effects on the kidneys are unknown.

Puberuric acid was detected in raw materials manufactured at the Osaka factory between April and October last year.

According to Wakayama Prefecture, which also participated in Sunday’s inspection, the Kinokawa factory took over equipment from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s Osaka factory and began production in January.

According to the company, among the three products voluntarily recalled by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, the main cause of health damage was in people who ingested Red Yeast Choleste Help, which was manufactured after September. This pill is marketed as a way to lower levels of LDL cholesterol, which is considered the “bad” cholesterol.

The Osaka-based company launched “Choleste Help” in February 2021 and had sold about 1 million units by the end of February this year. The product recall is expected to take several months to complete.