Tsujimoto Market: Our Guarantees
Description
DHC Concentrated Beni-koji — One Softgel a Day, 2.7 mg Monacolin K
Overview
Beni-koji is rice fermented with the mould Monascus purpureus, a Japanese and Chinese food tradition that long predates the supplement industry. DHC concentrates the extract so that one small softgel a day supplies 180 mg of beni-koji extract powder, standardised to 2.7 mg of monacolin K.
That number is the whole product, and it is the reason this page is written more carefully than most. Monacolin K is chemically the same molecule as lovastatin, a prescription cholesterol drug. That is not a marketing point — it is a caution. It means this supplement can interact with prescribed statins, with fibrates, with some antibiotics and antifungals, and with grapefruit juice, and it means the European Union regulates it: Regulation (EU) 2022/860 bars food supplements supplying 3 mg or more of monacolin K per day, because EFSA was unable to establish an intake that is safe for the general population. At 2.7 mg per day this product sits just under that line.
We are not telling you not to buy it. We are telling you what the Japanese carton says in Japanese and what the live listing used to leave out, so that the decision is yours and your doctor's.
Browse more from the same shelf: Japanese supplements, Japanese vitamin supplements, Japanese health products.
Key Benefits
- One small softgel a day — no powder to measure, no aftertaste
- Standardised: 180 mg beni-koji extract powder, 2.7 mg monacolin K, printed on the Japanese carton
- Made by DHC, one of Japan's largest supplement houses, to Japanese domestic-market specification
- Deliberately below the 3 mg monacolin K threshold set by EU Regulation 2022/860
- Full ingredient list published here, including the gelatin shell and the soy lecithin
- Interaction and contraindication list published here rather than buried on a Japanese carton
Product Details
| Brand | DHC (ディーエイチシー) |
|---|---|
| Product | Concentrated Beni-koji (濃縮紅麹), 30-day supply |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Product type | Food supplement — softgel capsule |
| Regulatory class (Japan) | Ordinary food supplement (食品). Not a quasi-drug and not a Food with Function Claims |
| Serving | 1 softgel per day |
| Per serving | Beni-koji concentrated extract powder 180 mg, of which monacolin K 2.7 mg |
| Nutrition per serving | Energy 3.3 kcal; protein 0.17 g; fat 0.21 g; carbohydrate 0.18 g; sodium 0.002 g |
| Pack | 30 softgels, 600 mg each (380 mg fill), 18.0 g net |
| Capsule shell | Gelatin — animal-derived. Source species not published by DHC |
| Declared allergens | Soy (lecithin), gelatin |
| EU status | Monacolin K restricted under Regulation (EU) 2022/860; supplements at or above 3 mg/day are not permitted |
| JAN code | Printed on the Japanese carton. We have not verified a JAN against DHC's published data, so we do not state one here — ask and we will photograph the barcode on our stock |
| Sold by | Tsujimoto Market, Kobe, Japan |
Who Is This For?
- Adults who already discussed red yeast rice with a doctor and want a Japanese-market product with the monacolin K figure printed on the box
- People who prefer a once-a-day softgel to a powder or a multi-capsule regimen
- Anyone comparing supplements who wants the interaction list before buying, not after
- NOT for you if you take a statin, fibrate or any other lipid-lowering medication — the actions add up
- NOT for you if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18, or have liver disease; and not for anyone avoiding animal-derived gelatin or soy
How to Use
- Take one softgel per day.
- Swallow it whole with a glass of water — do not chew or open the capsule.
- Take it with or just after a meal, which is gentler on the stomach.
- Do not take it together with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
- Keep the daily amount at one capsule. Doubling up moves you above the EU monacolin K limit.
Frequency: Once daily. DHC sells the pack as a 30-day supply.
Full Ingredients
Full ingredient list as published by DHC: beni-koji (red yeast rice) concentrated extract powder, olive oil, gelatin, glycerin, beeswax, glycerin fatty acid ester, lecithin (from soy), caramel colour.
Standardised active, per 1 softgel (daily amount): beni-koji concentrated extract powder 180 mg, of which monacolin K 2.7 mg.
Two things worth reading twice. The capsule shell is gelatin, so this is not a vegetarian or vegan product, and DHC does not publish the source species. The emulsifier is soy lecithin, a declarable allergen. Neither appeared on the old listing.
Ingredient list as declared by the manufacturer. Formulations are occasionally revised, so always read the list printed on the package you receive.
Cautions
- Do not combine with a statin, a fibrate or any other cholesterol-lowering medication. Monacolin K is chemically the same molecule as lovastatin; taking both means taking a double dose of the same action.
- Contains gelatin (animal-derived) and soy lecithin. Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans; check with us before ordering if you avoid either.
- Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and not for anyone under 18.
- Not for anyone with liver disease, or with a history of muscle problems on statin therapy.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, which raise blood levels of statin-type compounds.
- Interactions are also reported with some antibiotics, antifungals, ciclosporin and certain HIV medicines. If you take prescription medicine of any kind, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
- Stop taking it and consult a doctor if you develop stomach upset, rash, unusual tiredness, muscle pain or dark urine. Muscle pain with dark urine is the specific sign to take seriously with any statin-type compound.
- The European Union restricts monacolin K from red yeast rice under Regulation (EU) 2022/860. Check the rules that apply where you live before ordering.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any prescribed medication or under medical care, ask your doctor before starting this supplement.
- Do not exceed the stated daily amount. More is not better with any of these ingredients.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep out of reach of children.
- This is a food supplement, not a medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and it is not a substitute for prescribed treatment.
Package Contents
One printed Japanese carton containing a sealed blister or bag of 30 softgel capsules, 600 mg each, 18.0 g net — a 30-day supply at the stated dose of one per day. Japanese domestic packaging with Japanese-language labelling. No scoop, shaker or measuring device is needed or included.
Shipping & Store Notes
- Ships directly from Japan
- Processing time: 2–6 business days
- Tracking number provided after dispatch
- Import duties and taxes may apply depending on destination country
- Opened cosmetics cannot be returned for hygiene and safety reasons
Authenticity Guarantee
Every product at Tsujimoto Market is sourced directly from Japan and verified for authenticity. We never sell fakes or grey-market goods. Each order is carefully packed in Kobe, Japan and dispatched with full tracking.
FAQ
Is this the red yeast rice product that was recalled in Japan in 2024?
No. The 2024 recall concerned beni-koji raw material and finished products from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a different company, and was traced to a contaminant, not to red yeast rice itself. This is DHC's own product and was not part of that recall. We mention it because it is the first question people ask, and because it is a fair reason to want a supplier who will answer it plainly rather than pretend the episode did not happen.
Can I take this instead of the statin my doctor prescribed?
That is a question for your doctor, and the honest answer from us is no, not on your own initiative. Monacolin K is chemically the same molecule as lovastatin, so this is not a gentle natural alternative to a statin — it is a smaller, unmonitored dose of the same kind of compound, without the blood tests that come with prescribed treatment. Never stop or replace prescribed medication because of something you read on a shop page.
Why does the box say 2.7 mg and not a round 3 mg?
Because 3 mg is a regulatory line. Regulation (EU) 2022/860 does not permit food supplements supplying 3 mg or more of monacolin K per day, after EFSA concluded that it could not identify an intake safe for the general population. A 2.7 mg daily amount stays under that ceiling. Rules differ by country, so check what applies where you live.
Is it halal or suitable for vegans?
No to vegan and no to vegetarian: the capsule shell is gelatin, which is animal-derived, and the product also contains beeswax. For halal specifically, DHC does not publish the source species of the gelatin and the product carries no halal certification, so we cannot tell you it is permitted — we can only tell you exactly what is in it. If gelatin is a concern for you, this is not the right supplement.
How long before I would see anything?
We are not going to give you a number, because we would be making it up and because the effect being discussed is a blood test result, not a sensation. What we can say is that this is a food supplement rather than a treatment, that any decision about cholesterol belongs with your doctor and a lipid panel, and that anyone who promises you a specific figure in a specific number of weeks is guessing.
