Gamma-oryzanol

Also called gamma oryzanol, γ-oryzanol, oryzanol, rice bran oryzanol, ferulic acid esters of sterols.

Best grade C across 6 graded outcomes Other Last checked

The short answer

From 9 sources

Gamma-oryzanol is a rice bran compound marketed to bodybuilders for strength and hormones. One 9-week trial found no effect on strength or testosterone, while another small trial reported strength gains. Rice bran oil lowers LDL cholesterol, but oil with 16 times more oryzanol worked no better, so evidence for the isolated supplement is thin.

Quick pick

Source Naturals Gamma Oryzanol, 60 mg, 200 Tabs

from HerbsPro

Its name matches rice bran oil capsules enriched with oryzanol and phytosterol esters, one of the forms compared in our Forms table.

Label: 1 tablet: 60 mg gamma-oryzanol.

Best for trying one bottle: $14.35 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).

Shop at HerbsPro (paid link, opens in new tab)

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How we chose: Momentous is the partner brand we list first, so its product leads whenever the Where to buy list has one for this compound or a form in our Forms table. Otherwise, among partner brands that passed our vetting without conditions (others only when none sells it), the first product in that list whose name matches a form in our Forms table, else the first one listed. Not a claim that it works: check the amount per serving against the studied doses and limits.

Every graded outcome on this page

6 rows · line = participants
  1. Grade CSkin water contentSkinn 70
  2. Grade DGlucose, triglycerides, waist and blood pressure in type 2 diabetesBlood glucose and lipidsn 92
  3. Grade DInflammatory markers in type 2 diabetesInflammationn 92
  4. Grade DLDL cholesterol in high blood lipidsCholesteroln 59
  5. Grade DMuscle strength during resistance trainingStrengthn 30
  6. Grade DAdded cholesterol effect of more oryzanol in rice bran oilCholesteroln 30
  7. 3 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter

Key facts

Hormones and strength (no effect)
500 mg/day for 9 weeks of resistance training did not change strength, power, testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone or blood lipids versus placebo in weight-trained men1
Strength (positive)
600 mg/day for 9 weeks increased bench-press and leg-curl strength more than placebo in 30 young men starting resistance training; body measurements did not change2
Cholesterol (rice bran oil)
Cooking with rice bran oil containing 4,000-11,000 ppm gamma-oryzanol lowered LDL cholesterol by 8-12% versus about 1% with soybean oil in 59 adults with high lipids5
Oryzanol content
Rice bran oil with 0.8 g/day oryzanol lowered LDL no more than oil with 0.05 g/day (both about 10.5%) in 30 men7
Rice bran overall
A 2024 meta-analysis of 11 rice bran trials (572 people) found LDL 15.1 mg/dL lower, but rice bran supplies far more than oryzanol8
Type 2 diabetes (fortified oil)
In 92 adults with type 2 diabetes, oryzanol-fortified canola oil for 12 weeks lowered hs-CRP more than plain canola or sunflower oil4
Skin (enriched oil)
Rice bran oil capsules enriched with gamma-oryzanol and phytosterol esters raised skin water content versus placebo at 8 and 12 weeks in 70 healthy adults6

What it is

Gamma-oryzanol is a mixture of ferulic acid esters of plant sterols, extracted from rice bran oil and sold mainly to strength athletes.

How it works

Proposed

Gamma-oryzanol is a blend of ferulic acid esters of sterols and triterpene alcohols. Rice bran oil trials propose that it helps lower blood lipids and raises antioxidant capacity; claims that it raises testosterone were not supported in a placebo-controlled trial.51

Forms, side by side

3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.

Gamma-oryzanol forms compared

3 forms
Gamma-oryzanol forms compared: 3 forms by 3 attributes. Empty cells are labelled No data yet, or Not graded in the evidence row.
3 formsIsolated gamma-oryzanol capsulesRice bran oil (naturally rich or fortified)Rice bran oil capsules enriched with oryzanol and phytosterol esters
Absorption in peopleNo human absorption data in the cited abstracts.1Not measured.5Not measured.6
GI toleranceThe cited abstracts report no adverse effects, but give little safety detail.12Used as a cooking oil for 12 weeks.3Safety was assessed but not detailed in the abstract.6
Studied forStrength and hormones in resistance trainingCholesterol, glucose, inflammationSkin moisture
  1. Isolated gamma-oryzanol capsules
    Absorption in people
    No human absorption data in the cited abstracts.1
    GI tolerance
    The cited abstracts report no adverse effects, but give little safety detail.12
    Studied for
    Strength and hormones in resistance training
  2. Rice bran oil (naturally rich or fortified)
    Absorption in people
    Not measured.5
    GI tolerance
    Used as a cooking oil for 12 weeks.3
    Studied for
    Cholesterol, glucose, inflammation
  3. Rice bran oil capsules enriched with oryzanol and phytosterol esters
    Absorption in people
    Not measured.6
    GI tolerance
    Safety was assessed but not detailed in the abstract.6
    Studied for
    Skin moisture
Every cell holds data from a cited page; citation numbers link to the page that holds them.Scroll the table for every column

What the human research says

Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.

Trial map

6 graded outcomes, largest study first

6 graded outcomes: 5 improved, 1 no effect. The largest, a 2024 randomized trial of 92 people on inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes, found an improvement.

1. Inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes: improved, 92 people12. Glucose, triglycerides, waist and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes: improved, 92 people23. Skin water content: improved, 70 people34. LDL cholesterol in high blood lipids: improved, 59 people45. Muscle strength during resistance training: improved, 30 people5
6. Added cholesterol effect of more oryzanol in rice bran oil: no effect, 30 people6

1Inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes

Improved · Grade D · RCT, 92 people, 2024

Iranian adults with type 2 diabetes

Dose, result and source
Every graded outcome on this page, largest study first
OutcomeFoundPeopleStudyWho was studied
Inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetesImproved92Grade D · RCT, 2024Iranian adults with type 2 diabetes
Glucose, triglycerides, waist and blood pressure in type 2 diabetesImproved92Grade D · RCT, 2023Iranian adults with type 2 diabetes
Skin water contentImproved70Grade C · RCT, 2026Healthy Japanese adults aged 20-59
LDL cholesterol in high blood lipidsImproved59Grade D · RCT, 2019Thai adults with high blood lipids
Muscle strength during resistance trainingImproved30Grade D · RCT, 2014Healthy young men in a 9-week resistance-training program
Added cholesterol effect of more oryzanol in rice bran oilNo effect30Grade D · RCT, 2005Mildly hypercholesterolaemic men aged 38 to 64
Each circle is one graded outcome on this page, numbered from the largest study down, and placed by how many people it studied (log scale). It shows who was studied and what was found, not advice about your dose.

Every graded row

6 rows

Showing 6 of 6 outcomes. Human trials only.

Grade CSkin water contentSkinMore skin moistureRCT
n 70 · 2026

Improved Stratum corneum water content rose more than with placebo at weeks 8 and 12; redness improved earlier and skin satisfaction rose only in the active group.

Design
RCT, n = 70, 2026
Population
Healthy Japanese adults aged 20-59
Form
Rice bran oil capsules enriched with gamma-oryzanol and phytosterol esters
Dose
Daily capsules (amount not stated in the abstract)
Duration
12 weeks
Source
Reference 6 · PubMed 42138277 (opens PubMed)
Grade DGlucose, triglycerides, waist and blood pressure in type 2 diabetesBlood glucose and lipidsWithin-group improvementsRCT
n 92 · 2023

Improved Only the fortified-oil group had significant within-group falls in blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c and triglycerides (-17.9 mg/dL); waist circumference fell in both canola groups.

Design
RCT, n = 92, 2023
Population
Iranian adults with type 2 diabetes
Form
Gamma-oryzanol-fortified canola oil vs plain canola or sunflower oil for home cooking
Dose
Oil used for all cooking except frying (oryzanol amount not stated in the abstract)
Duration
12 weeks
Source
Reference 3 · PubMed 37817285 (opens PubMed)
Grade DInflammatory markers in type 2 diabetesInflammationLower hs-CRPRCT
n 92 · 2024

Improved hs-CRP fell from 3.1 to 1.2 mg/L with fortified oil, significantly more than with plain canola (p = 0.003) or sunflower oil; malondialdehyde fell in all groups with no between-group difference.

Design
RCT, n = 92, 2024
Population
Iranian adults with type 2 diabetes
Form
Gamma-oryzanol-fortified canola oil vs plain canola or sunflower oil
Dose
Oil used for home cooking (oryzanol amount not stated in the abstract)
Duration
12 weeks
Source
Reference 4 · PubMed 37971692 (opens PubMed)
Grade DLDL cholesterol in high blood lipidsCholesterolLDL -8 to -12%RCT
n 59 · 2019

Improved LDL fell 8%, 11.8% and 12.2% with the three rice bran oils vs 0.8% with soybean oil (p = 0.012); antioxidant capacity (ORAC, FRAP) rose.

Design
RCT, n = 59, 2019
Population
Thai adults with high blood lipids
Form
Rice bran oil with 4,000, 8,000 or 11,000 ppm gamma-oryzanol vs soybean oil
Dose
30 mL/day of the assigned oil, used in three cooked meals
Duration
4 weeks
Source
Reference 5 · PubMed 30265563 (opens PubMed)
Grade DMuscle strength during resistance trainingStrengthGreater 1-RM gainsRCT
n 30 · 2014

Improved One-repetition maximum for bench press and leg curl rose more than with placebo; anthropometric and skinfold measures did not differ.

Design
RCT, n = 30, 2014
Population
Healthy young men in a 9-week resistance-training program
Form
Gamma-oryzanol capsules
Dose
600 mg/day after training
Duration
9 weeks
Source
Reference 2 · PubMed 25109720 (opens PubMed)
Grade DAdded cholesterol effect of more oryzanol in rice bran oilCholesterolNo extra benefit from 16x more oryzanolRCT
n 30 · 2005

No effect Both oils lowered total cholesterol 6.3%, LDL 10.5% and the LDL/HDL ratio 18.9%; the high-oryzanol oil was no better than the low-oryzanol oil on any cholesterol measure.

Design
RCT, n = 30, 2005
Population
Mildly hypercholesterolaemic men aged 38 to 64
Form
Rice bran oil low (0.05 g/day) vs high (0.8 g/day) in gamma-oryzanol
Dose
50 g/day rice bran oil
Duration
4 weeks
Source
Reference 7 · PubMed 15309429 (opens PubMed)

What the numbers add up to

Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.

The two strength trials disagree

A 1997 trial at 500 mg/day in weight-trained men found no strength gain, while a 2014 trial at 600 mg/day in beginners did; neither was large.12

How we got this: Comparison of the two resistance-training trials

Studied doses

Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.

Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.

Doses studied in human trials

Doses studied in human trials ranged from 500 to 600 mg/day of isolated gamma-oryzanol for 9 weeks; other trials used rice bran oil (30 mL/day for 4 weeks) or fortified oils for up to 12 weeks without stating the oryzanol amount. These are research doses, not recommendations.123

Interactions and safety

Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.

Interactions

0 agents

None found in our sources.

Check with what you take

Kept on this device only

Add what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Gamma-oryzanol and your picks, and between your picks.

Most cited:

Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Gamma-oryzanol.

Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.

Not medical advice, and no dosing advice. An empty result means no row we cite names that pair, by name or through a drug class we can link the medicine to, not that a combination is safe. Where our sources name only a group of medicines we cannot match, the cabinet says so. Ask your pharmacist before you combine supplements and medicines.

Who should be careful

2 groups
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
The trials enrolled non-pregnant adults, and neither LactMed nor LiverTox has an entry for gamma-oryzanol, so there are no safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding. NCCIH notes that many supplements have not been tested in pregnant or nursing women.129
People expecting hormonal effects
Gamma-oryzanol did not raise testosterone or growth hormone in a placebo-controlled trial, so products sold on that basis are not supported.1
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.

How to read the label

What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.

How to read the label

1 checks
Isolated oryzanol vs rice bran oil

Strength trials used 500-600 mg/day of isolated oryzanol. Cholesterol trials used whole rice bran oil, which contains other active fats and sterols.125

Have the bottle? Photograph its Supplement Facts panel and see each line, gamma-oryzanol included, beside the doses and forms the trials used in Label X-Ray.

Where to buy Gamma-oryzanol

Products from brands we partner with that contain Gamma-oryzanol. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.

Gamma-oryzanol products from partner brands

1 product
  • Quick pickHerbsProSource Naturals Gamma Oryzanol, 60 mg, 200 Tabs

    1 tablet: 60 mg gamma-oryzanol; the label also lists 23 mg calcium from the tablet base

    $14.35one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
    Shop at HerbsPro (paid link, opens in new tab)

Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied, and the label for other ingredients.Prices and labels are from each brand’s own site on the date shown; confirm before you buy.

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.

Common questions

6 answers
Does gamma-oryzanol raise testosterone?

No evidence says so. A 9-week placebo-controlled trial at 500 mg/day found no change in testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone or other hormones.1

Does it increase strength?

Results conflict: one trial in weight-trained men found no benefit, while a 30-person trial in beginners reported greater bench-press and leg-curl gains.12

Does gamma-oryzanol lower cholesterol?

Not clearly on its own. Rice bran oils lowered LDL by 8-12% in a small diet study, but oil with 16 times more oryzanol worked no better than low-oryzanol oil, and isolated oryzanol did not change lipids in the 1997 strength trial.571

Does gamma-oryzanol have side effects or drug interactions?

The isolated-supplement trials lasted 9 weeks and reported little safety detail. We found no documented drug interactions in LiverTox, LactMed or PubMed, which reflects a lack of study rather than proven safety.12

Is rice bran oil the same as gamma-oryzanol?

No. Rice bran oil contains gamma-oryzanol plus other sterols, tocotrienols and fats; trials of the oil cannot isolate oryzanol's effect.5

Is isolated gamma-oryzanol better than rice bran oil?

No trial has compared them. Strength trials used 500-600 mg/day of isolated oryzanol; cholesterol and blood-sugar trials used rice bran or fortified oils for cooking, which also supply other sterols and fats.1235

Sources

9 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.

Sources cited on this page

9 sources
  1. 1The effects of gamma-oryzanol supplementation during resistance exercise training.RCT Int J Sport Nutr, 1997 · PMID 9407258
  2. 2Effects of gamma oryzanol supplementation on anthropometric measurements & muscular strength in healthy males following chronic resistance training.RCT Indian J Med Res, 2014 · PMID 25109720
  3. 3Daily consumption of γ-oryzanol-fortified canola oil, compared with unfortified canola and sunflower oils, resulted in a better improvement of certain cardiometabolic biomarkers of adult subjects with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial.RCT Eur J Med Res, 2023 · PMID 37817285
  4. 4Added γ-oryzanol boosted anti-inflammatory effects of canola oil in adult subjects with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial.RCT Eur J Nutr, 2024 · PMID 37971692
  5. 5Rice Bran Oil Containing Gamma-Oryzanol Improves Lipid Profiles and Antioxidant Status in Hyperlipidemic Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.RCT J Altern Complement Med, 2019 · PMID 30265563
  6. 6Oral Intake of Rice Bran Oil Enriched With γ-Oryzanol and Phytosterol Esters Improves Skin Conditions: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Comparative Study.RCT J Dermatol, 2026 · PMID 42138277
  7. 7Similar cholesterol-lowering properties of rice bran oil, with varied gamma-oryzanol, in mildly hypercholesterolemic men.RCT Eur J Nutr, 2005 · PMID 15309429
  8. 8Rice Bran Consumption Improves Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Meta-analysis Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 39796546
  9. 9Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov

What changed

Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.

Change log

2 entries
Dated changes to this page
DateChangeWho and why
allAdded a 2005 trial showing rice bran oil with 16 times more oryzanol lowered cholesterol no more than low-oryzanol oil (PMID 15309429) and a 2024 rice bran lipid meta-analysis (PMID 39796546) as a key fact; re-sourced the pregnancy note to NCCIH. Interactions checked: LiverTox and LactMed have no gamma-oryzanol entry and PubMed has no human interaction or pharmacokinetic study, so the list stays empty. PubMed search through 2026 found no newer trial of isolated oryzanol for strength. Added two FAQs, page questions and goal links; summary updated.Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md
allInitial editorial evidence review (first draft). Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (titles and years taken from the record, none retracted) and the abstract read for each cited row. Studied doses are reported as research doses, not dosing advice.Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page

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