Probiotic-fermented rice bran: Good for our gut and our gut microbes
What is it about?
In this study, we examined how rice bran and probiotic-fermented rice bran influenced gut metabolism. Using a mouse model, we found that fermented rice bran and rice bran did not considerably alter the types of microbes in the gut, but they did change the small molecules produced by gut microbes. Notably, fermented rice bran and rice bran produced different levels of health-promoting plant compounds, fats, and protein building-blocks that have not been previously investigated for their effects on the gastrointestinal tract. We hope to use these findings to further investigate how fermented rice bran and rice bran could be used to help prevent and treat infectious and cancerous gut diseases.
Why is it important?
Gastrointestinal diseases, both infectious and cancerous, account for over 1 billion human illnesses each year. Rice bran is a globally-available and affordable food source accessible to populations on all continents. Rice bran alone is a rich source of fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. However, when health-promoting probiotics ferment rice bran, we observe elevations in many of its health promoting compounds and pathogen-fighting effects. This mouse model study revealed that fermented rice bran health changes occur in-part due to changes in the gut microbiome and compounds that these microbes produce, and it gives us a framework for more critically-evaluating these compounds and their roles in health and disease prevention. Probiotic-fermented rice bran could be applied as an adjunctive or alternative treatment when managing infectious or neoplastic gastrointestinal diseases.