Functional benefits cardiovascular disease and diabetes

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is characterized by the involvement of the heart and allied vascular system. High cholesterol, associated lipid abnormahties and high blood pressure are recognized as the major risk factors of CVD. There have been several animal experiments and clinical studies using rice bran and rice bran oil, which have demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect (Raghuram et al., 1989 Rukmini and Raghuram, 1991 Sugano and Tsuji, 1997). The mechanisms involved are briefly summarized. 

Tocotrienols present in rice bran inhibit the liver microsomal enzyme HMGCoA reductase (Qureshi and Qureshi, 1992), the key enzyme involved in the endogenous synthesis of cholesterol, and this helps to lower the circulating cholesterol. Inhibition of another enzyme, ACAT (Acyl coenzyme A acyl transferase), by y-oryzanol results in lowered LDL-C synthesis and enrichment 

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where glucose metabolism in the body is impaired. Type 1 diabetes is an early onset disease in which the pancreatic cells lose the function of insulin secretion either by genetic disposition or by a viral attack. Type 2 diabetes is a late onset disease developed due to insufficient insulin secretion or insulin resistance resulting in impaired glucose metabolism. 

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