Brown rice can help diabetics: Doctor

Chennai: A randomised, controlled trial on the effect of brown rice, white rice and brown rice with legumes on blood glucose and insulin responses in overweight Asian Indians has found that consumption of brown rice in place of white rice can help reduce 24-h glucose and fasting insulin responses among overweight Asian Indians.

Fifteen volunteers of 25-45 years of age volunteered and they allocated to the possible ordering of the brown rice, white rice and brown rice with legumes diet in a randomised crossover design. The study, published in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics this year, suggested that improving the quality of the cereal staple in the diet by substituting brown rice for white rice and reducing the overall dietary GL (glycemic load) may offer substantial health benefits.

Diabetologists say south Indians are so used to consuming white rice and since brown rice takes longer cooking time and hard to chew, white rice is mostly preferred. More the white means more polishing. “Earlier, there were no mills and only in the late ‘60s and ‘70s polishing rice started. Refining or polishing of rice decreases dietary fibre and other health beneficial nutrients and are easily digestible in the body.

Quicker the digestion of rice, it will lead to quick rise in blood sugar. Studies from our centre had shown that intake of white rice is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes in India. Higher intake of refined grains predominantly white rice was also associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in the south Indian population,” explained diabetologist, Dr Mohan.

A recent Consumer Acceptance and Preference Study (CAPS) on brown and undermilled Indian rice varieties in Chennai, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition finds that most consumers preferred polished white rice. It was concluded in the study that cooking quality and appearance of the grains were perceived as the most important factors to consider when purchasing rice among Chennai urban adults.

Dr C.R. Anand Moses, former head of department of diabetology, RGGGH, said brown rice contains more fibre and sugar will rise slowly after consuming it.  “We need at least 30-40 gm of fibre a day and unless we add vegetables we end up consuming very less fibre. We should include more vegetables in our diet,” he said.