I. Central Food Technological Research Institute   Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,   Min. of Science and Technology Dr V Prakash - Director CFTRI (1998) The health aspect of rice bran oil is not highlighted as much as it should have been done, in terms of the total awareness, be it as a hypocholesteromic, an antiviral, an antioxidant, or in its anti cancer effect, or even a scavenging effect of carcinogens. All these need to be highlighted. Why is it that we shy about it? When there is a merit, let us shout about it and make noise.

Dr V Prakash - Director CFTRI (1999) In fully recognizing that the major edible oil seeds contribute a large share to the edible oil industry, one needs to recognize the potential of rice bran oil in this country both as an edible oil as well as a health oil. Dr A.G.Gopalakrishna - Dept. of Lipid Science & Traditional Foods (2000). Ricebran oil is similar to Groundnut oil in fatty acid composition, but the oil has some extra components, which are nutritionally important. They are oryzanol, lecithin and wax. Oryzanol is known to have a number of biological effects such as hypocholesterolmic, anti itching, antidandruff, anti-ageing and antioxdative effects as demonstrated in experimental animals. II. National Institute Of Nutrition,  Indian Council of Medical Research Dr. Ghafoorunissa - Deputy Director (1999) 1. It is long been known that the physio-chemical properties and the nutritional and health effects of dietary lipids are determined by the nature of their constituent fatty acids. It is, however, become evident in recent years, that the position of fatty acids in the glyceride molecule and the composition of non-glyceride fraction(NGF) also have important role in modulating their nutritional and metabolic effects. 2. Studies conducted by Rukmini and co-workers at NIN, Hyderabad have shown a significant reduction in serum and liver lipids in ricebran oil fed rats as compared groundnut oil fed rats. 3. The combination of oils containing high LA (safflower, sunflower or sessame) with ricebran oil lowers the high LA, PUFA / SFA and LA / ALNA ratios of the oils and also offer greater nutritional and health benefits because of the three beneficial minor components ( tocopherol, tocotrienols and oryzanols ) in ricebran oil. Dr. T. C. Raghuram, Deputy Director (1998) To meet the growing demand, and for India to attain self-sufficiency, several unconventional oils were evaluated at the National Institute of Nutrition. Among the various unconventional oils tested, rice bran oil (RBO) was the most promising in view of its potential availability and also its health beneficial effects. The hypolipidemic action of RBO was investigated in 21 subjects with high total cholesterol ( > 225 mg/ dL ) or high triglycerides ( > 190 mg / dL ). There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels 15 and 30 days after the use of RBO. III. Indian Institute Of Chemical Technology  Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,  Min of Sc and Technology Dr AB Afzalpur, Deputy Director (1999) RBO, obtained from Rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling, is a unique edible oil with nutritionally desirable attributes. Compared to other edible oils, its fatty acid composition is nearer to that recommended by nutritionists as ideal for edible purpose. It has cholesterol lowering properties attributed to Oryzanol, a minor constituent present in the oil. It contains minute quantities of nutritionally valuable constituents, such as tocopherols, sterols, squalene etc, which are important for promotion and maintenance of good health. In fact in western countries this oil is considered as health food. IV. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Min. of Science and Technology Dr. J. S. Khan, Sr. Dy. Advisor From health benefit point of view, Rice bran oil contains maximum cholesterol reducing fatty acids. In addition it also contains minor constituents such as phytosterols, squalene, tocopherols and tocotrienols etc. These minor constituents provide protection against a number of diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, stroke, aging etc. RBO possesses good shelf-life and also good frying qualities. V. Ministry of Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Govt of India Smt. Razani Razdan, Joint Secretary ( S&E) Rice bran oil could be considered a suitable oil for patients with hyperlipaemia. It provides ideal poly unsaturated Fatty Acid / Saturated Fatty acid ratio and fair Linoleic Acid / Alpha Linolenic Acid ratio, in the Indian context. Its use has been recommended in moderate amount. Dr. M.K.Kundu, Edible Oil Commissioner Ingestion of Rice bran oil has been shown to lower cholesterol particularly LDL - cholesterol, the bad cholesterol. Studies have shown that it is not a single fat source but a combination of various fats having fatty acid compositions and minor components like oryzanols, tocotrienols etc and a balance of SFA, MUFA and PUFA that brings about favourable serum lipid profile which help in guarding against suffering and mortality from coronary heart disease. It is important to take coordinated and concentrated measures to spread the message that Ricebran oil is a health oil due to its fatty acid composition and presence of minor beneficial components. VI. Cardiologists / Research Foundations Dr. Praveen Chandra, MD, DM, Consultant Cardiologist, Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi (1999, Pg 49) Fatty acid composition of RBO comes close to the recommended levels with high oxidative stability and high content of anti-oxidants like oryzanols, tocotrienols and tocopherols.Oryzanol exerts a high additional hypolipidemic effect. Thus, RBO enjoys the status of a health food from a cardiovascular view point and routine use of RBO can be recommended as a role cooking media. Dr. G.S. Karla, Sr. Invasive Cardiologist, Fortis Heart Institute, Chandigarh. ( 2002, Pg 49) Ricebran oil is considered a healthy food because it contains useful functional foods and is high in unsaturated fatty acid, especially monounsaturated fatty acid. Unsaturated fatty acid (about 80% of the rice bran oil) has 40-45% as oleic acid. This is effective in lowering the cholesterol level in human blood. Oryzanol found in 0.5 - 2% in rice bran oil acts as natural antioxidant, lowers the cholesterol level in blood, is effective in reducing menopausal symptoms, stimulates the nerves and relieves various complaints caused by malfunction in the nervous system. Tocopherols and tocotrienols present in RBO improves the blood circulation and reduces the oxygen demand of human body and reduces ageing. In RBO, it also acts as a natural antioxidant that protects the occurrence of rancidity in the oil without any synthetic antioxidant. S. Adhikari, Dabur Research Foundation, Gaziabad (1998) Dabur Research Foundation organised a study on "Serum lipid of healthy human subjects on diet enriched with oils like safflower/ sunflower/ safflower- ricebran and sunflower-ricebran blends" under C. Rukmini, Dy. Director and Dr. Manorama, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Foods & Nutrition, AP Agricultural Univ, Hyd. Results indiacted that safflower (SFO) and sunflower (SNO) oils alone reduced total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and LDL + VLDL cholesterol with no change ( insignificant) observerved HDL cholesterol when compared to GNO. Whereas SFO-RBO(30:70) and SNO:RBO ( 30:70) resulted in an significant increase in HDL cholesterol and a significant derease in TC, TG, LDL + VLDL cholesterols. All these studies indicate that it is not a single fat source, but a combination of various fats having fatty acid compositions and additional minor components like tocotrienols, orizenols and a good balance of SFA, MUFA and PUFA that will bring about favourable serum lipid profiles which help in guarding against suffering or mortality from CHD. Back