An Overview on Germinated Brown Rice and its Nutrigenomic Implications

Abstract

White rice is a major staple food for people in low to middle income countries and it can increase the risk of cardiometabolic disease. Brown rice, especially when germinated, is a healthier alternative. Various functional properties have been documented for the bioactiverich germinated brown rice. Nutrigenomic studies, dwelling on interactions at diet-genome interface, have expanded our understanding of the role of diets on health. The nutrigenomic basis for the functional properties of GBR have also been reported; its antihyperglycemic, hypo cholesterolemic, and antioxidative effects are mediated by its bioactives, partly via transcriptional regulation of genes involved in gluconeogenesis, cholesterol metabolism, and oxidative stress, respectively. Additionally, GBR's ability to improve menopausal symptoms is reported to be due to its ability to upregulate bone metabolism and uterine estrogen related genes, and downregulate inflammatory genes. Food synergy plays a role in the overall functional effects of GBR. Further studies on proteomics, metabolomics, nutria kinetics, and nutria dynamics are indicated.

In utero exposure to germinated brown rice and its oryzanol-rich extract attenuated high fat diet-induced insulin resistance in F1 generation of rats

“…The lower body weights in the offsprings in this study may not have resulted from adverse intrauterine conditions, hence the correspondingly enhanced metabolic conditions. Moreover, we have reported severally that GBR could regulate weight gain and promote weight loss [10], which in the present study may have contributed towards enhanced metabolic outcomes.…”

“…The dietary fiber present in GBR can lower glycemic index via regulating intestinal glucose absorption, while other bioactives also contribute to better glycemic control through different mechanisms [10, 19]. Oryzanol was also observed to improve glycemic control in mice fed with HFD [20].…”

“…The animals were then grouped ( n  = 3) into high fat diet (HFD), regular chow (N), high fat diet with 50% GBR (GBR), high fat diet with high dose oryzanol extract (200 mg/kg body weight, OEHD) and high fat diet with low dose oryzanol extract (100 mg/kg body weight, OELD). Oryzanol at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weights were safe and produced metabolic changes in our earlier publications [10], hence our choice of these concentrations in the present study. Male Sprague Dawley rats that had been fed with regular chow were mated with the female rats.…”

“…In view of the current epidemic of diabetes in children and the contributions of nutrition on metabolic disease outcomes in offsprings, we hypothesized that the reported bioactivities of GBR and oryzanol may be beneficial in ameliorating high fat diet- (HFD-) induced metabolic perturbations. Moreover, we have demonstrated that GBR can ameliorate the risk of metabolic diseases, and that oryzanol is one of the important bioactives in GBR that contributes to its bioactivities [10]. Thus, in the present study, GBR and GBR-derived gamma oryzanol-rich extract were evaluated for their ability to attenuate metabolic disease induced in F1 offsprings of rats that consumed HFD during pregnancy.…”

“…Germinated brown rice (GBR) has higher amounts of bioactive compounds than brown rice, which confers superior bioactivity including antiobesity and antidiabetic effects [10]. In view of the current epidemic of diabetes in children and the contributions of nutrition on metabolic disease outcomes in offsprings, we hypothesized that the reported bioactivities of GBR and oryzanol may be beneficial in ameliorating high fat diet- (HFD-) induced metabolic perturbations.…”