Research synthesisHigh evidenceModerate effect7 studies · 6 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful
Across 7 studies, 6 reported beneficial effects of rice bran on reducing blood cholesterol, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The predominant effect size was moderate, with statistically significant reductions in total cholesterol observed in meta-analyses (e.g., -13.594 mg/dL and -11.80 mg/dL). Most evidence comes from clinical populations (e.g., metabolic syndrome, overweight/obese adults) at doses around 30 g/day (as rice bran oil), and effects were typically observed over 8 weeks.
- Effective dose range: 30 g/day
- Studied populations: adults with metabolic syndrome, overweight/obese adults, men with coronary artery disease
Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). One meta-analysis (2023) found no significant effect on total cholesterol, suggesting some inconsistency. Most studies used rice bran oil, not whole rice bran — effects may not generalize to other forms. Many trials had small sample sizes (40–50 participants), limiting precision.
Generated Jul 12, 2026