Gamma Oryzanol: Research · Nutrient Desk

Does it improve strength or testosterone?

A nine-week trial using 500 mg daily in weight-trained men found no extra strength gain or change in testosterone compared with placebo. A later nine-week trial in 30 healthy men using 600 mg daily found better bench-press and leg-curl strength, but no advantage in body measurements. This is mixed evidence for strength, not proof of muscle growth or a testosterone boost. 1 2

A preliminary finding in type 2 diabetes

A 12-week trial assigned 92 adults with type 2 diabetes to fortified canola oil, plain canola oil or sunflower oil. The fortified oil lowered high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, more than the other oils. Not all measured inflammatory markers showed an advantage, and an oxidative-stress marker improved similarly across groups. These laboratory findings do not yet establish fewer diabetic complications. 3

InflammationToo little evidence

One short trial found improvements in selected inflammatory markers with fortified oil. 3

Oxidative stressToo little evidence

The measured malondialdehyde response did not differ significantly between the oil groups. 3

Does it lower cholesterol?

A companion report from the same 92-person trial found lower triglycerides within the fortified-oil group, but no significant changes in the other lipid-profile components. This does not establish a dependable cholesterol-lowering effect of gamma-oryzanol capsules. 4

Cholesterol balanceToo little evidence

The fortified-oil trial did not demonstrate improved cholesterol values. 4

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.