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Introduction
It is estimated that 382 million people having diabetes with gradually increases seen in many
countries around the world. In Thailand, there are 3.2 million people with diabetes and expected to
increase by 1.1 million people with diabetes in the year 2035.[1] Type 2 diabetes is one of the non-
communicable diseases and a major health problem around the world that requires lifelong treatment
and increases risk of dangerous complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney failure,
etc.[2,3] Moreover, it has been reported that oxidative stress was more likely to happen in diabetic
patients than normal people which can damage arterial walls leading to atherosclerosis.[4] Oxidative
stress is a result from imbalance between many free radicals and the antioxidant ability to get rid of
them.[5] Food is an important factor of diabetes care especially carbohydrates food, which is necessary
food source. The recommended daily intake suggests that people should consume carbohydrate food
about 50 percent of total energy intake a day. In addition, people who have diabetes should choose
low glycemic index diet to control blood glucose levels, for example, high fiber diet, unrefined rice,
grains, and beans.
Brown rice with high pigments could act as antioxidant especially phenolic compounds which
can reduce oxidative stress and promote the function of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, the phenolic
compounds can help dilate blood vessels, reduce inflammation, stimulate the immune system, against
cancer, against allergy, as well as damage germs that enter the body.[6-8] Vitamin E or alpha-
tocopherol is a fat soluble vitamin and antioxidant in the body which was found in rice. It can inhibit
the oxidation of free radicals and prevent the destruction of the fat on cell wall. It can prevent LDL
cholesterol from oxidation and also reduced the risk of heart and blood vessels. Gamma Oryzanol is
an antioxidant that is found in the surface of brown rice, which can reduce low density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglyceride levels. It will catch with cholesterol in the bile, increase bile into
the intestine and prevent the reabsorption. Moreover, it helps to increase high density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-c) and decrease the incidence of atherosclerosis.[9] Rattanachitthawat et al found
that rats fed with a mixture of red rice (Hawm Deang Sukhothai 1) for 2 months had antioxidant
activities (measured by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) higher than rats fed with standard formula. In
addition, rats were fed with the mixture of red rice showed significantly decreased in the level of
malondialdehyde which is a product of lipid peroxidation reaction.[10]
Sangyod Phattalong brown rice is a traditional rice variety planted in Phatthalong province for
hundred years.[11] Sangyod Phattalong brown rice had high nutritive contents, consisted of 2.0 mg of
GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid), 7,388 mg of gamma oryzanol, 357.75 μg of vitamin E and 71.93 mg
