rice bran and Reduced Total Cholesterol

Research synthesisModerate evidenceModerate effect4 studies · 3 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 4 studies, 3 reported beneficial moderate-sized effects on total cholesterol reduction, with one large RCT also showing benefit. The median study duration was 56 days (8 weeks), though only one study reported duration. The most consistent evidence comes from clinical populations with metabolic syndrome or overweight/obesity.

Studied populations: people with metabolic syndrome or overweight/obese adults

Caveats: One meta-analysis (2023) found no significant effect, contrasting with two more recent meta-analyses showing moderate reductions – this inconsistency may stem from differences in study selection or supplement type. The majority of evidence is from clinical populations; generalizability to healthy individuals is unclear. Median study duration was reported in only one trial (8 weeks), so long-term efficacy is not established.

Generated May 13, 2026

Doses used in studies

g/day: 30 (median 30, IQR 30–30) — 1 study
g/mL: 30 (median 30, IQR 30–30) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 8 weeks · IQR 8 weeks–8 weeks · Range 8 weeks–8 weeks — Reported in 1 of 4 studies

4 of 4 papersPopulation:

Effects of Rice Bran Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome-Related Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- 2025-09-17
- Meta-Analysis · n = 1,255
- International journal of molecular sciences 26(18)
- - Sirapatsorn Tantayakhom
  - Ratchanon Inpan
  - Kantirat Yaja
  - Nut Koonrungsesomboon
  - Supanimit Teekachunhatean
  - Mingkwan Na Takuathung
- PubMed: 41009614
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms26189051
3 Insights on
- Reduced Total Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
reductions in total cholesterol (WMD: -13.594 mg/dL; p < 0.0001)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Rice Bran Consumption Improves Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- 2024-12-30
- Meta-Analysis · n = 572
- Nutrients 17(1)
- - Soo-Yeon Park
  - Yehyeon Kim
  - Min Ju Park
  - Ji Yeon Kim
- PubMed: 39796546
- DOI: 10.3390/nu17010114
3 Insights on
- Reduced Total Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
rice bran consumption significantly reduced ... TC (-11.80 mg/dL; 95% CI: -19.35, -4.25)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
≥30 g/mL
An open label randomized controlled trial of the effects of rice bran oil on cardiometabolic risk factors, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in overweight/obese adults with metabolic syndrome.
- 2024-08-28
- RCT · n = 50
- Lipids in health and disease 23(1)
- - Marjan Mahdavi-Roshan
  - Nargeskhatoon Shoaibinobarian
  - Mehdi Evazalipour
  - Arsalan Salari
  - Zeinab Ghorbani
  - Amir Savarrakhsh
  - Zahra Ahmadnia
- PubMed: 39198792
- DOI: 10.1186/s12944-024-02260-4
17 Insights on
- Reduced Total Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Clinical
patients who were supplemented with 30 g/d RBO presented significantly lower total cholesterol (P value = 0.005; effect size (ES):-0.92)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
Dose
30 g/d
The effects of rice bran supplementation for management of blood lipids: A GRADE-assessed systematic review, dose-response meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.
- 2023-04-12
- Meta-Analysis
- Systematic reviews 12(1)
- - Zahra Hariri
  - Fatemeh Afzalzade
  - Golbon Sohrab
  - Saeede Saadati
  - Zahra Yari
- PubMed: 37046340
- DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02228-y
4 Insights on
- Reduced Total Cholesterol
- High evidence
Meta-analysis of eight RCTs (with 11 effect sizes) showed no significant effect of rice bran supplementation on serum levels of total cholesterol (WMD: -0.68 mg/dl; 95% CI: -7.25, 5.88; P = 0.834)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No

rice bran and Reduced Total Cholesterol

Effects of Rice Bran Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome-Related Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rice Bran Consumption Improves Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

An open label randomized controlled trial of the effects of rice bran oil on cardiometabolic risk factors, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in overweight/obese adults with metabolic syndrome.

The effects of rice bran supplementation for management of blood lipids: A GRADE-assessed systematic review, dose-response meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.