ABSTRACT
Brown rice is majorly defined by presence of the bran, unlike white rice where there is removal with subsequent loss of some nutrients, including fat, protein, phosphorus, calcium and B-vitamins, and phytochemicals but with the starch endosperm intact. Siqueira et al reported that brown rice was able to prevent renal disease by modulating risk factors when he researched on its effect on renal function test. Although he mainly checked for creatinine and protein levels only. This research aimed to determine the effect of brown rice on renal function tests (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, urea and creatinine levels). A total of 70 male wistar rats with an average weight of 120g not more than 20g apart were used in this study. After acclimatization for two weeks, the rats were separated into two major groups; the control group and then the test groups which were then fed with fat diet for 15 weeks. The test groups were further subdivided into three groups. The first group was fed with brown rice diet, the second group was fed with white rice diet and the last group continued with the fat diet and this spanned for 5 weeks. During the course of the experiment, the weights of the rats were taken weekly and their body mass indices (BMI) ascertained. At the end of the experiment, samples of blood were collected to determine the concentration of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, urea and creatinine levels. Statistical analysis was done using Graph pad prism 8.01 using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the means. Tukey post-hoc test was then used to check for the significance amongst the means. From the results obtained, there was no statistically significant difference amongst the means. In conclusion, from the above results, brown rice had no effect on renal function tests.
