Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is classified according to the degree of milling;
brown rice (BR) remains unmilled, while white rice (WR) is
milled. In addition to BR and WR, germinated brown rice (GBR)
is a recent rice product that has been gaining popularity worldwide.
Germinated brown rice was developed by soaking BR in
water to induce a slight germination. After germination, GBR does
not have the hardness of brown rice, which is considered an advantage.
More important, following germination, the level of valuable
nutrients within the grain, especially oryzanol and c-aminobutyric
acid (GABA), increases. The oryzanol content is 13-fold higher; the
GABA content is 10-fold higher; the dietary fibre, vitamin E, niacin
and lysine content is nearly 4-fold higher; and the vitamin B1,
vitamin B6 and magnesium content is about 3-fold higher in GBR
than in WR (Kayahara & Tsukahara, 2000). Previous research has