At clinical trials, rice bran oil found most effective in reducing LDL

The Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, conducted a clinical trial on humans to prove the health benefits of rice bran oil (RBO), and found that the consumption of a physically-refined version of the same substantially reduced LDL and total cholesterol (owing to the fact that it contained Oryzanol) and triglyceride levels.

The inclusion criteria was based on screening LDL levels (an LDL level higher than 130 was considered as cut-off for inclusion). The subjects were aged between 25 and 65, and were healthy, based on the clinical and lab examinations. In this study, a total of 136 subjects was randomised into three groups (the others being olive oil and groundnut oil).

The RBO group 46 subjects, the olive oil group had 47 and groundnut oil group had 43. Of these, 43 subjects in the RBO group, 40 in the groundnut oil group and 33 in the olive oil group completed the study. No other intervention, besides the replacement of cooking oil, was done during the study period.

The sample size being relatively small, the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, the individuals who were allotted the other oils also witnessed a reduction in LDL levels. However, the percentage decrease in the cholesterol level was found to be the highest in the rice bran oil group.

RBO was also the most effective in lipid profile management, and its fat composition was the most ideally-balanced. All the participants were advised to indulge in their routine activities and dietary patterns. The study duration was twelve weeks, with evaluations done at four-week intervals.

Cooking oil replacement was for the entire period, and no other oil was permitted during the study. In the RBO group, the reduction in LDL was observed as early as the fourth week, and the dropout rate was the highest in the olive oil and groundnut oil groups.

“Individuals consuming the three oils were not included in the study,” said Dr Debasish Hota, professor and head, department of pharmacology and chairman and professor-in-charge, examination cell, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, stated in an e-mail interaction.

“The results of this evaluations should be interpreted with these points in the background. Lifestyle modifications form an important component of management programmes for patients with increased cholesterol levels, and dietary modification is an integral part. As per recent guidelines targeting a ‘cholesterol goal’ is not recommended, and drug treatment is based on the overall risk profile of the patient,” said Dr Hota.