Company Extracts Rice Bran Nutrients Using All-Natural Process

Fayetteville-based Nutraceutical Innovations Inc. has launched a line of ingredients that provide the nutritive properties of fiber-rich rice bran, extracted through a new, all-natural process.

NutraBran Solubles and NutraBran Fiber are plant-based protein and fiber ingredients that can be added to a wide range of foods, including baked goods, meats, cereals, smoothies and other processed foods, according to a company news release.

Nutraceutical Innovations is a portfolio company of VIC Technology Venture Development, a private technology venture development firm based at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park in Fayetteville.

It is marketing its products to the food industry at this time, although the opportunity for supplements marketed to individuals is not out of the question down the line, said Miriam Hudson-Courtney, communications director for VIC.

Although rice bran is nutrient-dense, in its non-processed state, it cannot be easily digested. Products similar to NutraBran are generally created through a process that contains a synthetic element, Hudson-Courtney said.

NutraBran Solubles is unique in that it provides a high protein content while still maintaining a high water solubility, according to the news release. The supplement also offers potassium, calcium, folic acid and inositol.

In addition to fiber, NutraBran Fiber also provides high levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, according to the news release.