Abstract
The effects were studied of a long-term administration of rice pretreated with digestive enzymes on the growth of rats. We found that rice predigested with pancreatin or diastase was more rapidly and effectively absorbed than non-treated rice. In the groups of rats given rice pretreated with digestive enzymes, the serum glucose levels were elevated concomitantly with the increase of such lipids as triglyceride and cholesterol ester, this being indicative of more highly efficient lipid synthesis. Rice treated with the enzymes did not disturb the liver function or growth. Futhermore, rice treated with diastase resulted in a reduced large intestinal length. This might have resulted from the more effective absorption of carbohydrate from the small intestine of the rats.
These results suggest that rice treated with digestive enzymes may be an appropriate food for aged persons, sportsmen, and patients with alimentary tract disorders, exhaustive diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, or food allergies.
