Postprandial effects of Riceberry rice and white rice on plasma ghrelin and appetite in healthy adults

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Riceberry rice consumption on plasma ghrelin responses and subjective perceptions of hunger and satiety, compared to white rice, in healthy individuals. Methods: Blood samples were collected from six healthy male participants after the consumption of Riceberry rice or white rice. Plasma ghrelin levels were measured over 180 min using ELISA, while appetite and satiety perceptions were evaluated by a Visual Analog Scale. Results: Plasma ghrelin levels tended to decrease within the first hour after Riceberry rice consumption, followed by a gradual increase over the subsequent three hours. In contrast, white rice consumption did not result in significant changes from baseline plasma ghrelin levels. The incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for plasma ghrelin showed no significant difference between Riceberry rice and white rice. Similarly, subjective ratings of hunger and satiety did not differ significantly between the two rice varieties. Notably, hunger ratings increased during the final three hours, corresponding with the rise in plasma ghrelin levels. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Riceberry rice consumption was associated with a reduction of plasma ghrelin levels during the first hour relative to white rice, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Likewise, subjective assessments of hunger and satiety revealed no significant differences between the two rice varieties. Given the favorable nutritional profile of Riceberry rice, additional study is necessary to investigate its possible long-term impacts on appetite regulation and metabolic health.