I came across an advertisement in Readers' Digest about Hypocol. Hypocol is a supplement said to contain Red Yeast Rice produced by fermentation rice with red yeast for lowering blood lipid levels and cholesterol.

The product of red rice fermentation will produce monacolin K, which is similar to lovastatin, which is used to lower cholesterol levels, in terms of its structure and function. The monacolin K can inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme that is responsible for cholesterol production in the liver and hence aids in lowering the cholesterol level.

Fermentation
- Consists of glycolysis + anaerobic respiration
- Glycolysis: Breaking down of glucose; 2 ATP, 2 NADH and 2 pyruvic acid formed
- Anaerobic respiration: Oxidation of NADH and transformation of pyruvic acid into a final waste product, which is either ethanol or lactic acid, depending on the organism doing the fermenting (yeast or muscle cell).
- When yeast or some types of bacteria is used, the end result is alcohol. This has applications in beer and wine.
- When other types of bacteria is used, the end result will be acids such as propionic acid or lactic acid or acetic acid. This has applications in cheese, yoghurt, soy sauce and vinegar.

Implication for teaching:
- Can be used to teach the chapter on fermentation, enzymes, biomolecules (chloesterol).

Guiding questions for students:

1. What is fermentation?
2. What are the conditions necessary for fermentation?
3. What other applications does fermentation have?

4. What are lipids?

5. What are blood lipid levels?

6. How can cholesterol affect our health?

7. How is HypoCol said to lower blood cholesterol levels?

8. What is the chemical structure of cholesterol?