RICE BRAN AND WHEAT BRAN - SELECTIVE EFFECT ON PLASMA AND LIVER CHOLESTEROL IN HIGH-CHOLESTEROL FED RATS

Plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats fed high-cholesterol (1% w/w) semipurified diets containing various fibre sources (10% w/w) for 21 days. The dietary contents of fibre were constant among the diets, except for the control diet which was devoid of fibre source. Rice bran (either crude or parboiled) produced lower plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations than wheat bran. The content of liver cholesterol in rats fed rice bran diets was significantly lower than in rats fed the wheat bran diet. When comparing the compositions of the fibre sources, this study suggests that, apart from the polyunsaturated fatty acids of rice bran, the observed effects are mainly attributable to high soluble fibre content.