Rice Intake, Weight Change and Metabolic Syndrome

Rice is the main staple food for more than half of the world's population, mostly in Asian countries. In recent years, concerns have been raised regarding the potential effect of high glycemic-index white rice on diabetes. Existing studies suggest rice intake is inversely associated with obesity, blood pressure, and triglycerides (TG), but positively associated with elevated blood glucose and abnormal high density lipoprotein (HDL). Overall, there seems to be no association between rice consumption and metabolic syndrome. However, there are few studies that have examined the association between rice consumption and weight change and metabolic syndrome, and only one cohort study in this area; hence more prospective research is needed.