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Is brown rice healthier than white rice? A study reveals the 'toxic' truth

Is brown rice healthier than white rice? A study reveals the 'toxic' truth

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Apr 12, 2025, 14:14 IST

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Research indicates that brown rice contains higher arsenic levels compared to white rice, posing a potential risk, especially for children aged six to 24 months. This is because arsenic accumulates in the outer layer of brown rice, which is removed in white rice processing.

Is brown rice healthier than white rice? A study reveals the 'toxic' truth

Brown rice is often considered a healthier alternative to white rice. Packed with fibre, vitamins, and minerals, its nutrient-dense profile and whole-grain goodness make it a perfect choice for wellness enthusiasts. But this seemingly wholesome food carries a hidden risk that many don't talk about. A published in published in the journal Risk Analysis warns that brown rice has a toxic metal that could have serious consequences for brain health, especially in young children.
Researchers from the Michigan State University have discovered that brown rice has 15 percent higher levels of arsenic, a toxic metal associated with cancer and brain damage. This wouldn't affect a healthy adult so much, but it could be troublesome for brain development in young children.

Which age group is at risk?

The hidden arsenic in brown rice could be detrimental for children between the ages of six to 24 months. Children eating them had twice the estimated arsenic exposure compared to those consuming white rice in similar quantities.

Poll

Do you think brown rice is a healthy option despite the arsenic risk?

No, I would avoid itYes, it's still healthier than white rice

What happens when young children are exposed to arsenic

When young children are exposed to arsenic, it can interfere with their brain development. This exposure is linked to lower IQ, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues. Studies have associated it with higher risks of autism and ADHD. Even low levels, over time, can have lasting effects on cognitive and neurological health.
A number of have shown that arsenic can lead to cognitive deficits in children, even at low concentrations.

Cancer risk

Over a period of time, the long-term exposure to arsenic can increase cancer risk. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds as “carcinogenic to humans.�?These chemicals can cause lung cancer, bladder cancer, and skin cancer. Some studies also link it to kidney cancer, liver cancer and prostate cancer.
"This research is important because it acknowledges the importance of considering food safety along with nutrition when consumers make choices about food. While we found that choosing brown rice over white rice would result in higher arsenic exposure on average, the levels should not cause long-term health problems unless someone ate an enormous amount of brown rice every day for years," said Felicia Wu, a professor at the university and the senior author of the study.

Why brown rice has more arsenic than white rice

This happens because unlike white rice, in case of brown rice, the outer brown layer of the grain called rice bran is not removed. This is where the arsenic is accumulated in higher concentration.
Rice brain is removed in case of white rice, which reduces arsenic concentration, thus lessening risk of complications due to arsenic.
When researchers compared arsenic exposure from brown and white rice, they found that 48 percent of the arsenic in brown rice was in the more toxic inorganic form, compared to 33 percent in white rice, posing a greater potential health risk. Arsenic exists in two main forms: inorganic and organic, and the difference between them lies in both their chemical composition and toxicity. Inorganic arsenic is the more harmful of the two.

Brown rice grown in the rest of the world had a 65 percent inorganic concentration level while white rice also had a 53 percent concentration.
The outer layer of the rice that makes it brown contains arsenic concentrations 10 times higher than the rice endosperm, which is the white interior portion.
It was also found that infants and toddlers between the ages of six to 24 months who consumed brown rice might ingest arsenic at levels of 0.29 to 0.59 micrograms per kilogram of body weight every day far higher than the recommended safe limit of 0.21 micrograms.
"Rice bran and brown rice are shown to have a higher arsenic content and inorganic arsenic concentration than the grain endosperm or white rice," the researchers concluded.

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TOI Lifestyle Desk

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