Affiliations: Daiwa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan | Ichihashi Clinic, Kobe, Japan | Atreyu Uosaki Long-term Care-giving Institute, Kobe,
Japan | Department of Legal Medicine, Dokkyo University School
of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan | Clinical Nursing(II), Faculty of Medicine, Toyama
Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
Abstract: The preventive effect of Hydrolyzed Rice Bran against the common
cold syndrome was examined in elderly people. Arabinoxylan derivatives of
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran (HRB) were prepared from water-soluble rice bran through
partial processing using a carbohydrate complex. Using the water-soluble Rice
Bran (RB) as a control, a cross over double-blind study was conducted on both
substances over a 6-week administration period. Fifty elderly people aged from 70 to 95 years participated in the
study and the comparative data from 36 participants were analyzed. There were
no withdrawals from in the study due to the side effects of the experimental
foods. Symptoms were observed and scored. The total symptom score for the RB
treatment group was three times higher than that for the HRB treatment group.
The average duration of symptoms was 2.6 days for RB whereas it was only
1.2 days for HRB. Furthermore, some immunomodulatory action was observed in
laboratory tests. HRB was shown to be useful in reducing the physical stress
associated with acute respiratory tract infection.
