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Rice bran

Rice is a plant. The outer layer of the rice grain(rice bran) and the oil produced from the rice bran are used as medicine. Rice bran oil is popular in Japan, Asia and especially India as a "healthy oil". Rice bran should not be confused with other types of bran such as oat bran and wheat bran. Rice bran is used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, alcoholism, obesity and AIDS, to prevent stomach and colon cancer, to prevent cardiovascular diseases, to strengthen the immune system, to increase energy and improve athletic performance, to improve liver function and as an antioxidant. Rice bran oil is used to treat high cholesterol levels. Some people apply rice bran directly to the skin for an allergic rash called ectopic dermatitis.

How does rice bran work?

Ricebran could help lower cholesterol levels as the oil contains substances that could reduce the absorption of cholesterol and increase cholesterol excretion. One of the substances contained in rice bran may reduce calcium absorption, which could help reduce the formation of certain types of kidney stones.

How effective is rice bran?

Rice bran may be effective for high cholesterol levels when added to a low-fat diet. Following a low-fat diet and consuming 85 grams of full-fat rice bran appears to reduce total cholesterol levels by 8% and bad LDL cholesterol levels by 14%. Rice bran does not appear to affect other blood lipids such as triglycerides or good HDL cholesterol. Taking 11.8 grams of rice bran in a reduced-fat form does not seem to work as well. Full-fat and reduced-fat rice bran appear to work just as well as oat bran when it comes to reducing elevated cholesterol levels. Rice bran oil also appears to be effective for high cholesterol levels. There is evidence that rice bran oil can reduce total cholesterol levels by 14%, LDL cholesterol levels by 20%, triglyceride levels by 20% and increase HDL cholesterol levels by 41%.

Rice bran may also be effective when used to prevent kidney stones in people with high calcium levels, to treat allergic skin rashes and to prevent stomach cancer. Rice bran may be ineffective when used to prevent colon or rectal cancer. There is insufficient scientific data to conclude on the effectiveness of rice bran for diabetes, high blood pressure, alcoholism and AIDS, as well as when used to support weight loss, boost the immune system, increase energy, improve athletic performance, improve liver function and prevent cardiovascular disease. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of rice bran in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Rice bran is safe and harmless for most people when taken orally. An increased amount of bran in the diet may cause unpredictable bowel movements, bloating and stomach discomfort during the first few weeks. Rice bran may be safe for most people when added to baths. However, it can cause itching and reddening of the skin. Some people have experienced itching and rashes from rice bran infested with a pest called the grain itch mite, but such infestations are rare.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Rice bran is safe and harmless in normal dietary quantities. However, there is not enough information to say whether the use of larger quantities used as medicine is safe and harmless.

Gastrointestinal disorders: Rice bran should not be used if you suffer from problems in the digestive tract such as intestinal ulcers, adhesions, diseases that can cause a narrowing or blockage of the digestive tract, slow digestion or disorders of the stomach and intestines. The fiber contained in rice bran could block the digestive tract.

Difficulty swallowing: You should use rice bran with caution if you suffer from difficulty swallowing. The fiber contained in rice bran could cause gagging.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining rice bran with the following medications:

Medication taken orally

Rice bran contains large amounts of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber can reduce the amount of active drug ingredient absorbed by the body. Taking rice bran in combination with oral medications can reduce the effectiveness of these medications. To prevent this interaction, rice bran should be taken at least one hour after oral medication.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Oral

To reduce high cholesterol levels: 12 to 84 grams of rice bran per day or 4.8 grams of rice bran oil per day

To reduce kidney stones: 10 grams of rice bran twice a day for 3 to 5 years.

References

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