Black rice may help prevent osteoporosis: study

A new study suggested a possibility that black rice might help prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

The joint study conducted by Eulji University and Korea University discovered that black rice extract can help prevent osteoporosis, the Rural Development Administration said on Wednesday.

In the study, black rice aleurone layer extract was given to lab rats with osteoporosis over a period of 12 weeks and researchers found that bone density and bone strength among the rats increased 8 percent and 11 percent, respectively, compared to other mice that weren’t fed black rice extract.

Researchers believe black rice aleurone layer extract affects the production of hormones associated with bone health, and helps increase bone minerals.

In another experiment, a sample of 46 women aged between 45 and 69 took capsules of black rice aleurone layer extract over the same period, and Kupperman index dropped 15.8 percent, an indicator of common symptoms of menopause.

“The link between osteoporosis prevention and black rice aleurone layer extract has been discovered following the previous study that it also reduces body fat. It will help improve symptoms of menopause among women,” Lee Sung-hyun, a researcher at the RDA said.

By Yim Hyun-su (hyunsu@heraldcorp.com)