Efficacy of Black rice ( ORZYA SATIVA L INDICA) in Obesity : Open lable double arm exploratory randomized controlled trial.

The last few decades have seen a marked rise in obesity rates worldwide, despite numerous efforts at prevention and treatment. This has resulted in a substantial financial and health burden. Imbalanced nutritional value and uncontrolled eating lead to the development of obesity and poor self-esteem. Food grains such as brown rice have recently drawn the attention of many researchers away from synthetic treatments in favor of safe, natural solutions for obesity since they are readily available and reasonably priced. However, no such studies have been reported on the indigenous variety of black rice, ‘Krishnavrihi (Oryza sativa L indica). According to Sushruta (Sushruta saṃhita Sutrasthana 46/14), among the vrihi /rice the black variety, which is called Ká¹›iá¹£hṇavrihi, is the best. Krishnavrihi is kashaya in anurasa, reduces all three doshas, increases Agni, and enhances strength and virility. (Bhojana-kutuhala, Sri Raghunatha Suri.).It has has kleda meda vishoshan property.

Black rice (BR) has high nutritional value due to the presence of 18 amino acids, carotene, vitamin E, iron, zinc, and copper and high anthocyanin content (327.60 mg/100g). Epidemiological evidence reported that anthocyanins possess not only high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities but also improve metabolic complications associated with obesity. Black rice contains cyanidin-3-o-glucoside (C3G), which is known to act by directly interacting with PPARα to increase hepatic fatty acid oxidation and reduce fatty acid synthesis. These effects lead to reduced plasma and hepatic TG concentrations, with increased ketogenesis, improved NAFLD, glucose and insulin tolerance, and adiposity. Studies have demonstrated that black rice extract (BRE) (Heukmi) inhibited adipogenic differentiation in C3H10T1/2 multipotent stem cells.

Given the small number of studies on black rice originating from northeast India, the current study would therefore provide scientific proof for its health benefits.

The study is a dietary intervention trial; an open-label, double-arm exploratory clinical study of black rice to find out efficacy in obesity will be carried out. Obese patients visiting BVDU’s College of Ayurveda and Hospital will be recruited in the trial by following standard protocol. The study site will be the Dept. of Kayachikitsa of B.V.D.U.C.O.A. and Hospital, Pune.