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Gamma Oryzanol

Proposed Uses: High Cholesterol; Heart Disease Prevention; Menopausal Symptoms; Sports Performance and Bodybuilding; Ulcers

Gamma oryzanol is derived from rice bran oil. It has been approved in Japan for menopausal symptoms, mild anxiety, stomach upset, and high cholesterol. In the U.S., it is widely used as a sports supplement, as well as for reducing cholesterol. However, there is no more than preliminary evidence that gamma oryzanol is effective for any purpose.

A typical dosage of gamma oryzanol is 500 mg daily.

Therapeutic Uses
Preliminary evidence, suggests that the gamma oryzanol portion of rice bran oil may contribute an additional cholesterol-lowering benefit beyond the effects of the fatty acids. Gamma oryzanol is thought to work by impairing cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract.

Gamma oryzanol is used by some athletes based on early reports that suggested gamma oryzanol enhances muscle growth and sports performance. According to numerous websites, gamma oryzanol produces these benefits by increasing levels of testosterone, growth hormone, and other anabolic (muscle building) hormones. However, there is no real evidence that gamma oryzanol either affects these hormones or enhances performance, and some evidence that it does not.

Gamma oryzanol has also been advocated as a treatment for menopausal symptoms, but the basis of this potential use consists of evidence far too weak to be relied upon.

Safety Issues
In the late 1970s, a batch of rice bran oil was contaminated by PCBs (polychlorobiphenyls), resulting in the poisoning of more than 2,000 people. This led to studies on the safety of gamma oryzanol products. On balance, the results of these investigations suggest that gamma oryzanol, when taken at normal doses, is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. However, the maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.

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