Rice bran compound may help ease irritable bowel symptoms
A compound in rice bran may help calm an overactive gut by reducing the calcium signals that cause intestinal muscles to contract. Ferulic acid suppressed contractions triggered by several chemical messengers in laboratory experiments. The discovery could eventually support new dietary approaches for diarrhea-related digestive disorders, although it may make constipation worse.
Research conducted at Toho University discovered that a compound known as ferulic acid, found in rice bran, may help regulate intestinal movements and potentially ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ferulic acid, a polyphenol found in whole grains and other plant-based foods, influences how strongly the intestines contract by blocking certain calcium channels.
The study, led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka, found that ferulic acid reduced muscle contractions triggered by various signaling molecules in guinea pig intestinal tissue. These contractions were reversible and more prominent at higher concentrations. The mechanism behind this effect appears to be an inhibition of calcium channels, which are crucial for muscle contraction.
While the concentrations of ferulic acid needed to produce this effect are higher than those typically found in a normal diet, they may be achievable through dietary supplements or fortified foods. However, the researchers caution that more studies are needed to determine if these laboratory findings hold true in humans. If verified, ferulic acid could potentially be used as a natural remedy to regulate gut movement in people with IBS or IBD.
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