Effects of Organic Rice Compared with Conventional Rice on Serum Lipids in Rats

Abstract

The comparative effects of organic rice and conventional rice on serum lipids in rats were investigated by feeding male Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks with three diets containing: polished conventional rice; unpolished conventional rice; and unpolished organic rice compared with a casein
diet. Three experimental diets and a control diet (casein) were prepared by the AOAC method from polished conventional rice, from unpolished conventional rice, from unpolished, organic rice and from casein. Each diet contained 10 ± 0.3% test protein, 8% oil, 5% water, 5% mineral, 1% vitamin, 1% cellulose, 35% sucrose and 35% corn starch. The results of the study showed no statistical significant difference (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum cholesterol (110.25 ± 7.91 to 117.75 ± 12.00 mg/dl) and triglyceride (99.50 ± 55.72 to 114.88 ± 41.77 mg/dl) in rats fed with polished conventional rice, with unpolished rice, with conventional rice and with unpolished organic rice. No statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum HDL-C and LDL-C was found in rats fed with organic rice and conventional rice. The findings indicate that organic rice and conventional rice had no effect on the levels of serum lipids in rats.