GAMMA-ORYZANOL: The ulcer healer

I hope you will share my enthusiasm for gamma-oryzanol, an extract from rice bran oil whose healing powers against gastric and cardiovascular ailments have been investigated for the past two decades, especially in the Far East. Japanese scientists lead the field in research of the compound. Some two dozen studies, many of them involving hospital patients, attest to its medicinal power against ulcers, gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as high cholesterol and symptoms of menopause.

Digestive Problems
Supplements of gamma-oryzanol help promote relief in gastrointestinal problems in just a few weeks. One of the widest-based studies in all of nutritional compared taking 300-600 mg of gamma-oryzanol daily orthodox treatments for gastrointestinal ailments. The studv was conducted at 375 Japanese hospitals with thousands of patients. After three weeks more than 90 per cent of the gamma-oryzanol users had achieved better recoveries than the patients who used conventional medications.

Heart Disease
A considerable drop in high triglycerides and LDL cholesterol typically accompanies gamma-oryzanol supplementation. HDL levels also may increase moderately. Doses of 300-600 mg a day apparently achieves this improvement by blocking the absorption of cholesterol and speeding its conversion to bile.

Menopause
Hot flushes, night sweats and other menopausal symptoms diminish for many women who use gamma-oryzanol regularly. Depending on the study, up to 85 per cent of the supplement takers noticed a benefit. In those studies effective dosages ranged from as little as 30 mg per day to as much as 300 mg.

Other Conditions

• Preliminary results from other research suggests possible roles for gamma-oryzanol in treating depression and helping weight lifters to build muscle tissue.
• Some patients find that it eases symptoms associated with prostate disorders.
• In Japan gamma-oryzanol is in widespread use.

This rather varied list of clinical uses may be just the tip of a therapeutic iceberg.

Supplement Suggestions

For gastrointestinal diseases and severe cholesterol disturbances, I usually prescribe 450-600 mg of gamma-oryzanol per day. When those problems are secondary to another ailment or when treating menopause, I normally reduce the dosage to between 150 and 450 mg daily. The higher amounts don’t carry any risk. I simply find that the lower range is just as therapeutic.