Nutritional Role of Rice Bran in Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of death globally, including in Vietnam. In recent years, there has been a rise in younger people developing cardiovascular diseases due to unhealthy lifestyles and diets. The rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling, was traditionally used as animal feed. However, recent research has shown that rice bran contains valuable nutrients such as lipids (15-22%), carbohydrates (34.1-52.2%), fiber (7-14%), and protein (10-16%), as well as beneficial bioactive compounds like flavonoids, ferulic acid, policosanol, and feruloylated oligosaccharides. These components have demonstrated potential in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. This review presents the nutritional components of rice bran, the rice bran products available on the market, and research on how rice bran affects cardiovascular health. Based on this research, rice bran could be incorporated into food products to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.