Bioactive components in rice bran oil improve lipid profiles in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet

This study examined the effects of bioactive substances in rice bran oil on lipid levels and lipid peroxidation in serum and liver. For 4 weeks, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 1 of the following experimental diets: normal diet, high-cholesterol diet, or high-cholesterol diet supplemented with the concentrated bioactive components from rice bran oil (BRBO). The liver cholesterol and triacylglycerol contents were higher in rats fed the high-cholesterol diet than the normal group but significantly decreased by BRBO supplementation. Similarly, hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were increased by a high-cholesterol diet and reduced by BRBO supplementation in rats. The high-cholesterol diet increased serum cholesterol and atherogenic index in rats, compared with those fed the normal diet. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lowered in the high cholesterol diet group but it was significantly increased in rats of the BRBO group. In addition, BRBO recovered the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase which was elevated in rats by a high-cholesterol diet. These results suggest that BRBO may play a protective role against the alteration caused by hypercholesterolemic diet in the rat.