Tuesday June 24, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study suggests that supplementation with both pigmented rice bran and plant sterols are more effective at lowering cholesterol than supplementation with pigmented rice bran only in overweight and obese adults who used a calorie reduced diet and experienced weight loss.

In the study, 24 overweight and obese adults at an average age of 43 years were randomly assigned to receive a diet with 25% calories reduced but either pigmented rice bran or pigmented rice bran plus plant sterols supplemented for a period of eight weeks.

The nutrient-balanced diet was individualized based on the resting energy expenditure and physical activity related energy expenditure.  A range of biomarkers or parameters were measured including "anthropometrics, blood pressure, blood lipids, glucose, urinary F2-isoprostanes, C-reactive protein, insulin, and leptin" at baseline and after the 8-week intervention.

As a result, subjects lost 4.7 kg body weight on average.  But there was no difference in weight loss between the group using rice bran and plant sterol supplements and the group using rice bran only. 

The group using both rice bran and plant sterol supplements reduced significantly more cholesterol than the group using rice bran only, 36 g/dL vs. 7 g/dL, in each subject.  Low density lipoprotein cholesterol was reduced by 22.3 g/dL in those using the combinational supplement, compared with 4.4 g/dL in those using the rice bran supplement only.

Supplementation both with rice bran only and with rice bran and plant sterols reduced significantly changed systolic blood pressure, serum levels of leptin and F2-isoprostanes but there was no difference in the changes between the two groups.

The study concluded “A nutrient-balanced and energy-restricted diet supplemented with rice bran and plant sterols resulted in a significant decrease in total and LDL cholesterol in overweight and obese adults."  (David Liu)

Hongu N, Kitts DD, Zawistowski J, Dossett CM, Kope? A, Pope BT, Buchowski MS.  Pigmented Rice Bran and Plant Sterol Combination Reduces Serum Lipids in Overweight and Obese Adults.  J Am Coll Nutr. 2014 May-June;33(3):231-238.