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Rice Bran Oil as a Healthy Cooking Medium

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Simi Paknikar, MD, dr. nithin jayan on Nov 14, 2016


Rice Bran Oil as a Healthy Cooking Medium

Rice bran oil indeed has the most desirable fat composition,better frying stability and offers unique health benefits due to the presence of phytosterols and oryzanols.


Like rice bran, groundnut oil too has an ideal fat composition.

Approximate fatty acid composition of dietary fats and oils consumed in India (% of total fatty acids)-
Fats / oils

Recommended ideal fatty acid composition by NIN

SFAs 27-33%

MUFAs 33-40%

LA (Lenolenic acid) ALA (Alpha lenolenic acid) Predominant Fatty Acids
27 - 33 %

High SFAs
Coconut 92 6 2 - SFA
Palm kernel 83 15 2 - SFA
Butter/Ghee 68 29 2 1 SFA
Palmolein 39 46 11 <0.5 SFA & MUFA
High MUFAs & Moderate LA & Moderate ALA
Groundnut 19 41 32 <0.5 MUFA Close to Recommendations
Rice bran 17 43 38 1 MUFA Closest to Recommendations High Smoke Point
Sesame 16 41 42 <0.5 MUFA Rich Close to Recommendations
Olive 13 76 10 <0.5 MUFA Close to Recommendations Low Smoke Point
High MUFAs & High ALA
Canola 6 60 22 10 MUFA & Omega 3 Close to Recommendations High Smoke Point
Mustard/rapeseed 4 65 15 14 MUFA & Omega 3 Contains undesirable erucic acid High Smoke Point
High LA
Cottonseed 24 29 48 1 LA / Omega 6
Corn 12 35 50 1 LA / Omega 6
Safflower/Kardi 9 13 75 - LA / Omega 6
Sunflower 12 22 62 - LA / Omega 6
High ALA
Soybean 14 24 53 7 ALA / Omega 3
Flaxseed 10 21 16 53 ALA / Omega 3
High TFAs
Vanaspati 46 49g 4 - Contains undesirable Trans Fatty acids

SFA- Saturated Fatty Acids

MCT- Medium chain triglycerides

MUFA- Monounsaturated Fatty acids

PUFA- Polyunsaturated Fatty acids

LA- Linoleic acid

ALA- Alpha linolenic acid

TFAs - Trans Fatty acids

NIN- National Institute of Nutrition

Source: Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances For Indians, NIN, 2010

According to experts "The ratio of SFA: MUFA: PUFA of any oil is very important". In accordance to the latest recommendations by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) the ideal fatty acid composition of a oil should be 27-33% : 33-40% : 27-33%. And the fatty acid composition of Rice bran oil comes closest to these recommendations with the percentages at 24: 42: 34." Rice Bran Oil indeed has the most ideal fat composition, better frying stability and offers unique health benefits due to phytosterols and oryzanols present in it. The other oil which has an ideal fat composition is groundnut oil.



The smoking point of a fat is a desirable quality for a cooking medium. Oil very high in PUFA has a low smoking point and oil high in MUFA has a relatively higher smoking point.

The smoke point of various eating oils is important to note because when oils are heated beyond their smoking point they develop free radicals which contribute to risk of cancer. A fat is no longer fit for consumption after it has exceeded its smoke point as it begins to break down. Oils with low smoking point cannot be used for high temperature cooking / frying. Though olive oil is one of the healthiest oil for cooking, by using extra virgin olive oil for frying one is doing more harm than good.

Besides fats, vegetable oils contain non glycerides which have specific health significance-

Nonglyceride components Oil Biological and health function
Plant sterols Vitamin A, D, K All vegetable oils Ghee/butter Hypocholesterolemic Vitamin
Tocopherols All vegetable oils Vitamin, Antioxidant
Tocotrienols Palm oil, Rice bran oil Vitamin, Antioxidant
Carotenes Red Palm oil Provitamin, Antioxidant
Oryzanols Rice bran oil Hypocholesterolemic Antioxidant
Sesamin Sesame Hypocholesterolemic Anti-inflammatory
Sesamolin, Sesamol Sesame Antioxidant
Source: Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances For Indians, NIN, 2010.

References:

  1. Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances For Indians, NIN, 2010
  2. Dietary Guidelines for Indians, NIN, 2010
  3. Ricela, A.P. Organics Pvt Ltd, Saron road, Dhuri.
  4. Rice Bran Oil Uses and Health Benefits - (http://www.honestfoods.com/topgriloil.html)
  5. Rice bran oil - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_bran_oil)
  6. RICE BRAN - (http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-852-RICE%20BRAN.aspx?activeIngredientId=852&activeIngredientName=RICE%20BRAN)

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