Dr Weeraya Saphyakhajorn and Dr Suwimol Sapwarobol, scientists from the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, together with Dr Rawiwan Sirirat from the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University, California, conducted a joint study, aimed to investigate the effects of defatted rice bran on anthropometric and blood biochemical indices and dietary intake.
Defatted rice bran (DRB) is a byproduct of rice bran oil production rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidant compounds that may confer beneficial effects on metabolic profiles in humans.
DRB intervention significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4.27 and 4.50%, respectively (126.20 ± 13.63 to 120.60 ± 13.72 mmHg, p = 0.0003 and 80.87 ± 7.38 to 77.17 ± 9.83 mmHg, p = 0.0035).
Total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels also showed moderate decreases. DRB supplementation improved blood pressure. It also lowered blood cholesterol, albeit insignificantly. Caloric and fat intake were also significantly lower after DRB supplementation.
