Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 27
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of γ-oryzanol-processed rice on serum cholesterol levels and to discuss the possibility of using this rice as a health-promoting staple food in East Asia.
After receiving permission from the Committee of Shimane Institute of Health Science, we examined the cholesterol levels of 90 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to take the processed rice enriched with an extract from brown rice that contained γ-oryzanol. For 30 days we directed group A (n = 30) to take processed rice with 7.5 mg of γ-oryzanol per 100 g of rice and group B (n = 30) to take processed rice with half the γ-oryzanol dose of group A. Only control rice (not processed rice) was given to group C (n = 30).
During this single blinded study, total cholesterol levels decreased in group A (P < 0.01) and group B (P < 0.05). LDL cholesterol levels decreased only in group A (P < 0.05).
The γ-oryzanol-processed rice could be effective in preventing arteriosclerosis by reducing total and LDL cholesterol levels. The appropriate dose would be 7.5 mg/100 g. The improvement of staple food using γ-oryzanol processing may be beneficial for people with borderline hypercholesteraemia.
