In an era where nutrition trends have become more compelling than over before, the global oryzanol market has been riding high on the popularity wave. A highly profound vertical of the food & nutrition cosmos, oryzanol industry has been grabbing attention for all the right reasons, ascribed to the product’s innumerable antioxidant properties that make it indispensable ingredient in nutritional supplements. A vital substance derived from rice bran oil, gamma oryzanol is extensively used as an effective agent against high cholesterol and to fight the symptoms of aging and menopause.
One of the chief parameters that can be aptly credited for the recent expansion trends of the global oryzanol market is the prevalence of escalating cholesterol levels among the worldwide populace, the young and the old people alike. With fast-paced, hectic lifestyles, the demand for packaged meals has depicted a gradual incline, the proliferation of which can also be attributed to the increasing disposable incomes and the rising purchase parity. Driven by lack of physical activity and the consumption of fat-rich, unhealthy food, cholesterol levels have been observed to have depicted a tremendously monumental upsurge since the last decade or so.
Statistics by WHO depict that more than a staggering 133 million suffer from what is colloquially referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’, in five of Europe’s major countries – UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain. According to the Heart Foundation, high cholesterol accounted for more than 36% of the total heart disease burden in Australia – emerging as the second-biggest cause contributing to nation’s burden of heart disease. In 2011/12, close to 33% Australians suffered from high cholesterol. Given that bad cholesterol is a major cause of diabetes and heart disorders, its escalating prevalence among the young and geriatric population has triggered a major demand for oryzanol that seemingly induces cholesterol-lowering action. Irrefutably, driven by the rise in the number of deaths caused due to an elevated cholesterol level, oryzanol is fast-emerging as a viable alternative to combat the condition, thereby paving the path for the expansion of the global oryzanol market.
Global oryzanol market trends from pharmaceutical applications:
Quite overtly, the cholesterol lowering properties in oryzanol have led to its extensive deployment as an alternative medication. A combination of ferulic acid esters of the sterol & triterpene alcohols, gamma oryzanol is present in rice bran oil at a level of 1% to 2%, and is known to have highly curative properties for not only lowering bad cholesterol but also increasing the proportion of good cholesterol simultaneously. The claim has been scientifically validated in numerous studies conducted worldwide, a few of which are enlisted herewith:
These studies quite discernibly showcase that oryzanol is infused with excellent properties that help reduce the fat content in the body. This has led to the incorporation of the constituent in the pharma industry for manufacturing drugs targeting the reduction of bad cholesterol and even menopausal symptoms. As a matter of fact, pharmaceutical applications held an appreciable 50% of the global oryzanol market share in 2018.
Speaking of the geographical spectrum, the North American territory is anticipated to emerge as a highly popular avenue for the expansion of the oryzanol market. The growth undeniably, can be ascribed to the fact that a major proportion of the regional populace suffers from raised cholesterol levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015–2016, over 12% adults in the U.S., aged 20 and above were detected with cholesterol higher than 240 mg/dL, and over 18% had high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol levels lesser than 40 mg/dL.
Given the rising expenditure on healthcare and the urgent requirement to combat bad cholesterol levels in a major percentage of the populace, North America in 2018, accounted for over 30% of the global oryzanol industry share. In the years ahead, North America oryzanol market will continue to traverse alongside a positive growth graph, also aided by the upsurge in government efforts to conduct health awareness campaigns.
The global oryzanol industry is undoubtedly poised to emerge as one of the most lucrative verticals of the nutrition fraternity in the forthcoming years. As per Global Market Insights, Inc., oryzanol industry size will be pegged at USD 3.5 billion by 2025.