Black rice rivals pricey blueberries as source of healthful antioxidants

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Black rice rivals pricey blueberries as source of healthful antioxidants

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/acs-brr080610.php

Health conscious consumers who hesitate at the price of fresh blueberries and

blackberries, fruits renowned for high levels of healthful antioxidants, now

have an economical alternative, scientists reported here today at the 240th

National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). It is black rice, one

variety of which got the moniker " Forbidden Rice " in ancient China because

nobles commandeered every grain for themselves and forbade the common people

from eating it.

" Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin

antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar

and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants, " said Zhimin Xu, Associate Professor

at the Department of Food Science at Louisiana State University Agricultural

Center in Baton Rouge, La., who reported on the research. " If berries are used

to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran? Especially, black rice

bran would be a unique and economical material to increase consumption of health

promoting antioxidants. "

Like fruits, " black rice " is rich in anthocyanin antioxidants, substances that

show promise for fighting heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Food

manufacturers could potentially use black rice bran or the bran extracts to

boost the health value of breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, cookies, and

other foods, Xu and colleagues suggested.

Brown rice is the most widely produced rice variety worldwide. Rice millers

remove only the outer husks, or " chaff, " from each rice grain to produce brown

rice. If they process the rice further, removing the underlying nutrient rich

" bran, " it becomes white rice. Xu noted that many consumers have heard that

brown rice is more nutritious than white rice. The reason is that the bran of

brown rice contains higher levels of gamma-tocotrienol, one of the vitamin E

compounds, and gamma-oryzanol antioxidants, which are lipid-soluble

antioxidants. Numerous studies showed that these antioxidants can reduce blood

levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) — so called " bad "

cholesterol — and may help fight heart disease. Xu and colleagues analyzed

samples of black rice bran from rice grown in the southern United States. In

addition, the lipid soluble antioxidants they found in black rice bran possess

higher level of anthocyanins antioxidants, which are water-soluble antioxidants.

Thus, black rice bran may be even healthier than brown rice bran, suggested Dr.

Xu.

The scientists also showed that pigments in black rice bran extracts can produce

a variety of different colors, ranging from pink to black, and may provide a

healthier alternative to artificial food colorants that manufacturers now add to

some foods and beverages. Several studies have linked some artificial colorants

to cancer, behavioral problems in children, and other health problems.

Black rice is used mainly in Asia for food decoration, noodles, sushi, and

pudding. Dr. Xu said that farmers are interested in growing black rice in

Louisiana and that he would like to see people in the country embrace its use.

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The American Chemical Society is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S.

Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific

society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research

through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific

conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.