Rice has been a staple food for over half of the global population since its domestication and is a major food crop in developing countries especially Asian cultures. It represents a source of about 20% daily calorie intake. Asian culture alone has more than 90% share in global rice consumption. Rice is a major food among Indian diets, and Indian holds the second position after China in terms of total production. White rice is a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
White rice intake and diabetes
Nearly 425 million individuals are currently suffering from diabetes globally and by 2045 it is predicted to rise to 629 million. Rice being the staple food of two Asian giants, China and India, the risk of diabetes is higher among the Asian population. These two Asian giants also top diabetic patients worldwide and are vulnerable to diabetes epidemics.
Researchers across the world have demonstrated that regular white rice intake poses a risk of type-II diabetes. In a study, the comparative analysis of people consuming white rice belonging to Asian countries (China and Japan) and two Western countries (the USA and Australia) postulated that Asian people who consume more serving of white rice daily than western people were highly prone to type-II diabetes which is associated with obesity. With each meal of white rice regularly the diabetes risk escalates by 10%.
Recently, a study by Balaji and co-workers published in ‘Diabetes Care’ international journal of September issue comprehensively demonstrated the link of white rice with diabetes risk. The study was conducted on 1, 32,373 individuals aged 35-70 years, belonging to 21 countries. The results revealed that a higher intake of white rice more than 450 g/day was associated with a higher risk of diabetes. The higher risk was prevalent in South Asia than in other regions of the world as rice is a staple crop of South Asian cultures.
How white rice is linked with diabetes
It is well established that intake of foods rich in the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) is attributed to the enhanced postprandial level of blood glucose. The carbohydrate-rich foods are a major source of these GI and GL components and are associated with type-II diabetes (Fig. 1). The high intake of GI foods over time leads to exhaust of β-cells and their failure increases the incidence of diabetes. As mostly arsenic-contaminated water is utilized for irrigating rice fields and arsenic is attributed to destroy β-cells. The profound replacement of undermilled rice with milled white rice has increased the incidence of diabetes from 2% to 25% in urban areas of India during the past five decades. Although solely white rice is not responsible for this increased figure but has a potential role to play in.
We need to diversify the food habit and swapping white rice with brown rice could be a better alternative. The GI value of brown rice is lower than white rice. Brown rice is also enriched with various nutrients, fiber, and vitamins. We need to just reduce the white rice consumption not completely stop. A balanced diet is good for a healthy immune system as the excess of anything is harmful.
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