Wild Rice for Cardiovascular Health

Overseen By Mohammed H Moghadasian, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Manitoba

Must not be taking: Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Cancer

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Lactating, Smokers, Obese

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 4 weeks

48 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether daily consumption of wild rice can improve heart health. Researchers will examine key factors affecting heart health before and after the trial. Participants will consume about 30 grams of wild rice daily for 28 days. The trial seeks healthy men and women who are non-smokers, not on medication for heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, and have a BMI under 30.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research on natural dietary interventions for heart health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that participants are not currently on any medications for cardiovascular, diabetes, and cancer diseases.

What prior data suggests that wild rice is safe for cardiovascular health?

Research has shown that wild rice might benefit heart health. In studies with mice, wild rice lowered cholesterol and reduced fatty deposits in arteries, suggesting it might lower the risk of heart disease.

While these animal studies are promising, they don't directly confirm safety for humans. The trial under consideration is in an early stage, with researchers still gathering safety information for people.

However, since people have consumed wild rice for years, it is likely safe in normal amounts. Remember, this trial tests specific amounts for health benefits. Always consult a doctor before changing your diet or joining a trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Wild rice is unique for cardiovascular health because it offers a natural, whole-food approach to managing heart conditions. Unlike traditional medications that often target specific biochemical pathways, wild rice is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and essential nutrients, which may contribute to heart health by reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels. Researchers are excited because it represents a potential dietary intervention that could complement or even reduce the need for pharmaceutical treatments, offering a more holistic and accessible option for patients.

What evidence suggests that wild rice might be an effective treatment for cardiovascular health?

Studies have shown promising results for wild rice in improving heart health. In animal research, consuming wild rice significantly reduced plaque build-up in the arteries by up to 71% in mice. Additionally, wild rice consumption led to a notable drop in cholesterol levels—15% in males and 40% in females—while increasing the amount of cholesterol passed in stool. Another study suggested that replacing refined grains with wild rice could lower heart disease risks. Although more human data is needed, these findings provide a positive outlook on wild rice's potential benefits for heart health. Participants in this trial will consume one serving of wild rice daily for 28 days to further investigate these potential benefits. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mohammed H Moghadasian, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Manitoba

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy men and women aged between 20 to 40 years old. Participants will be required to consume wild rice daily, so they should not have any known allergies or dietary restrictions that prevent them from eating this food.

Inclusion Criteria

I am healthy.

I am female.

I am male.

Exclusion Criteria

Non-smokers

Non-pregnant

Non-lactating

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume approximately 30 grams of wild rice every day for 28 days

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Wild Rice

Trial Overview The study investigates the cardiovascular benefits of consuming approximately 30 grams of wild rice every day for a period of 28 days. Researchers will measure participants' heart health factors before and after the trial.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Wild rice Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will consume one serving of the test food containing wild rice every day over 28 days.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Manitoba

Lead Sponsor

Trials

628

Recruited

209,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A combination of 60% wild rice and 2% phytosterols significantly reduced the size and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in LDL receptor knockout mice over a 20-week period, indicating its potential as a dietary intervention for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

This dietary combination also led to lower levels of total, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol in the blood, along with increased cholesterol excretion in feces, suggesting a mechanism by which it may help prevent atherogenesis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combination effects of wild rice and phytosterols on prevention of atherosclerosis in LDL receptor knockout mice. Moghadasian, MH., Alsaif, M., Le, K., et al.[2017]

Wild rice consumption in LDL receptor knockout mice led to an increase in beneficial gut bacteria and significant changes in plasma cytokine levels, particularly an increase in IL-10 and erythropoietin, which may contribute to its anti-atherogenic effects.

The study also found a surprising 60% increase in glucose levels in the plasma of wild rice-fed mice, suggesting that wild rice may influence macronutrient metabolism alongside its effects on inflammation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-Atherosclerotic Properties of Wild Rice in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice: The Gut Microbiome, Cytokines, and Metabolomics Study. Moghadasian, MH., Kaur, R., Kostal, K., et al.[2020]

In a study involving LDLr-KO mice fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet for 20 weeks, wild rice was found to inhibit monocyte adhesion and reduce inflammatory markers, suggesting a protective effect against atherosclerosis.

In contrast, white rice increased monocyte adhesion and inflammatory mediators, highlighting that wild rice may be a healthier option for cardiovascular health compared to white rice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inhibitory Effects of North American Wild Rice on Monocyte Adhesion and Inflammatory Modulators in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Knockout Mice. Moghadasian, MH., Zhao, R., Ghazawwi, N., et al.[2017]

In a study involving LDL-receptor-deficient mice fed a diet containing wild rice for 24 weeks, significant reductions in atherosclerotic lesions were observed, with a decrease of 71% in male mice and 61% in female mice compared to controls.

Wild rice consumption also led to notable reductions in plasma cholesterol levels (15% in males, 40% in females) and increased fecal cholesterol excretion by up to 34%, suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention for lowering cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Wild rice (Zizania palustris L.) prevents atherogenesis in LDL receptor knockout mice. Surendiran, G., Goh, C., Le, K., et al.[2013]

Wild rice is a nutrient-rich whole grain that is low in fat and high in minerals, vitamins, protein, and dietary fiber, making it a health-promoting food recognized by the US FDA.

Recent studies suggest that wild rice has antioxidant and lipid-lowering properties, as well as potential cardiovascular benefits, although more research is needed to confirm these clinical effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutritional constituents and health benefits of wild rice (Zizania spp.). Surendiran, G., Alsaif, M., Kapourchali, FR., et al.[2018]

Wild rice exhibits significantly higher antioxidant properties compared to white rice, with antioxidant activity 30 times greater, as demonstrated through various assays involving 11 commercial wild rice samples.

The study identified specific antioxidants in wild rice, including flavonoid glycosides and flavan-3-ols, and found a strong correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, suggesting that these compounds contribute to its health benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant activity of commercial wild rice and identification of flavonoid compounds in active fractions. Qiu, Y., Liu, Q., Beta, T.[2015]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021915013004474

Wild rice (Zizania palustris L.) prevents atherogenesis in ... Consumption of wild rice significantly reduced the size and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic roots of male and female mice by 71 and 61% ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/wild-rice-for-cardiovascular-health-c2759

Wild Rice for Cardiovascular Health Wild rice consumption also led to notable reductions in plasma cholesterol levels (15% in males, 40% in females) and increased fecal cholesterol excretion by up ...

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24075758/

Wild rice (Zizania palustris L.) prevents atherogenesis in ... Results: Consumption of wild rice significantly reduced the size and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic roots of male and female mice by 71 and ...

4. mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/a8b1e222-2d27-4d41-9b31-357bb5c56e49/content

the effects of manitoban wild rice on cardiovascular risk factors Our data suggest that substituting refined grains with wild rice may potentially lower cardiovascular risks.

5. auri.org auri.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/07-12-wild-rice.pdf

Literature Review of Potential Health Benefits of Wild Rice and ... ... wild rice, quantitative data are scarce. Phytic acid concentrations of ... hamsters, this would suggest that wild rice is unlikely to be an effective cholesterol ...

6. atherosclerosis-journal.com atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(13)00447-4/abstract

Wild rice (Zizania palustris L.) prevents atherogenesis in ... Consumption of wild rice significantly reduced the size and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic roots of male and female mice by 71 and 61% ...