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Question:
I have heard that gamma-oryzanol can naturally promote growth hormone secretion and help me build muscle? What exactly is gamma-oryzanol and can it really help increase my muscle mass?
Answer:
Gamma-oryzanol (esters of ferulic acid) is a growth promoting substance found in grains and isolated from rice bran oil. It has been used in Japan as a medicine since 1962. Initially it was used in the treatment of minor anxiety and later became approved in the treatment of menopause (1970) and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels (1986). In Japan, each year approximately 150,00 tons of rice bran are processed to generate 7,500 tons of gamma-oryzanol.
It is commonly believed by bodybuilders that gamma-oryzanol increases growth hormone secretion, but studies in animals have shown gamma-oryzanol to inhibit the secretion of growth hormone. None the less, a number of small, poorly controlled studies found gamma-oryzanol to increase lean body mass, increase strength, improve recovery from workouts, and reduce body fat and post-exercise soreness. These studies spurred researchers to conduct better studies to provide documentation for these effects of gamma-oryzanol. Two double-blind, well-controlled studies upheld the results from the previous studies. The usual recommendation for gamma-oryzanol supplementation is 50-100 mg three times daily.
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