Processing of rice bran may affect its cancer-fighting potential.

The health-promoting benefits of rice bran--the nutritious, light-brown layer that covers the familiar white kernel--might be enhanced as a result of a new study led by USDA/ARS scientists (Western Regional Reseaarch Center, 800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA 94710). Researchers will investigate various processing techniques to find out whether specific processes convert key compounds of bran into forms that are easier for the body to absorb and use.

Investigators will look at two different kinds of rice bran fiber and at antioxidant compounds known to prevent the formation of harmful free radical molecules. Rice can bran add a rich, hearty, natural flavor to breads, breakfast cereals, crackers, cookies and other foods.

The ARS research is being conducted under a new cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with The Rice Foundation (Houston, TX). Scientists at the University of California-Davis Medical Center (Sacramento, CA) will also collaborate.

In preliminary experiments with wheat, scientists showed that different techniques for processing wheat bran into cereals made a significant difference in reducing the incidence of a colon cancer indicator in laboratory rats. Their new work with rice will also track colon cancer incidence in rats. Plans call for using three or four variations in processing the bran with a standard extruder.

Rice bran contains naturally occurring lipase that hydrolyzes the oil content into glycerol and free fatty acids, which give the product a rancid smell and taste. Under normal milling conditions, rice bran eventually will degrade into an unpalatable substance that's not suitable as food for humans. Therefore, most rice bran is used as feed for animals.

In the past we told you about Nu-Rice[TM], a process and product from Ribus Inc. (1454 Crossbrook Dr., St. Louis, MO 63119). It has changed the way rice bran is being utilized. The company has been able to stabilize rice bran without denaturing its protein content and separate the fibrous material in the bran from the other nutrients. The rice bran mix is processed into a variety of ingredients that have food and nutraceutical applications. These ingredients are 100% natural and contain no genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs).

The Nu-Rice ingredients have a wide variety of applications, including use as a processing aid. The ingredients are being used to clean up labels, enhance formulations, improve operating efficiencies and reduce production costs in extruded or sheeted foods. Further information. At ARS: Wallace Yokoyama; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]. At Ribus: J. Steve Peirce; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]; URL: http://www.ribus.com.