Rice bran water extract (RBE) was shown to reduce fat mass in rats fed a high-fat
diet [1]. The involvement of RBE in metabolic alteration were investigated in 7 groups
of Sprague Dawley rats, 8 rats each. High-fat fed group 3 to 7 were either co-treated
daily with RBE (220.5, 2205, 4410mg/kg) or metformin (19.10, 38.20mg/kg). Oral glucose
tolerance was tested at the end of forth week. Rats were killed and specimens were
collected. The results showed that the mean±SEM of abdominal fat weight, epididymal
fat cell size and triglyceride level in blood and liver were increased whereas cholesterol
in high-density lipoprotein was decreased in rats fed a high-fat diet alone as compared
to rats fed with chow (7.65±0.29 vs. 4.73±0.39g.; 4919.76±453.59 vs. 2835.23 ±249.15µm2;
44.67±2.72 vs. 35.00±2.02mg/dL; 2.50±0.26 vs. 1.48±0.08mg/mL; 67.14±1.62 vs. 77.20±2.82mg/dL,
respectively). At least 2205mg RBE/kg or 19.10mg metformin/kg were able to significantly
reduce abdominal fat weight and triglyceride levels in liver. ACC activity was increased
in high-fat feeding group but the activities retuned to normal when they were also
received RBE or metformin, though there was no statistic significance. In conclusion,
fatty acid flux might induce fat synthesis in liver as an initial step in increasing
fat accumulation [2]. Both RBE and metformin were able to reduce the alteration.
Keywords: Rice bran, acetyl CoA carboxylase, high-fat diet
Acknowledgement:
Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, the National Research Council
of Thailand.
References: 1 Kandee N et al. (2009) Thamm Med J 9:140–7. 2 Samuel VT, Peterson KF, Shulman GI
(2010) Lancet 375:2267–77.
