Hypolipidemic effect of rice bran diet

Abstract

Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor established for coronary artery disease. The soluble fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids and oryzanol contribute to the inhibition of cholesterol absorption and thus decrease the serum cholesterol levels. Objective: In this study, the effect of rice bran diet offered to the offspring of rats after weaning was investigated regarding their growth and development, as well as concentration of glucose and total and fractionated cholesterol. Materials and Methods: This study examined four different types of diets in 21-day-old Wistar rats, containing rice bran with or without lysine and with the addition of soybean protein, all diets compared with the standard diet. Blood levels were analyzed chemically for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, glucose, protein and albumin. It was also measured the body and liver weights, as well as quantified the liver protein and DNA. Results: Animals receiving rice bran diet with and without lysine had decreased plasma cholesterol (p≤0.05 and p≤0.01, respectively), when compared to the commercial standard. When soybeans were added to diets, there was a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels (p≤0.05) and soybeans with lysine led to a major reduction (p≤0.01). The blood glucose concentration was significantly lower only in the diet with rice bran without lysine (p≤0.01). Conclusions: From this study we could conclude that the consumption of a diet with rice bran containing or not lysine had a hypocholesterolemic effect, but it was observed that the diet without addition of lysine affected the rats growth and development.