Rice protein and absorption of a hop compound in people
What it found
In six healthy people, mixing a hop compound with rice protein raised its levels in the blood over six hours.
The authors found higher amounts of the compound and its breakdown products compared to hops alone.
What they found
Studies in people
Higher blood levels
When the hop compound was taken with rice protein, blood levels of xanthohumol were higher over the 6 hours. This was seen in six healthy people.
More breakdown products
The total amount of xanthohumol plus its breakdown products in the blood was also greater with the rice protein mix. The two treatments did not produce equal results in the body.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that a protein-rich preparation raises blood levels of xanthohumol and its breakdown products after a single dose.
- Their findings suggest rice protein helps the body take in more of this hop compound than plain spent hops powder.
How it was done
Xanthohumol is a plant compound from hops that may fight inflammation and cell damage, but the body absorbs it poorly. The researchers wanted to see if pairing it with a protein could help more of it enter the bloodstream.
Six healthy adults took part in a crossover trial where each person tried both options. They consumed 12.4 mg of xanthohumol either mixed into a rice protein preparation or as plain spent hops. Blood levels of the compound and its breakdown products were tracked for 6 hours.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Only six people took part, so the results might differ in a larger group.
- The trial measured blood levels over just 6 hours, so longer-term effects are unknown.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Oregon State University, USA
The paper
- Title
- Rice Protein Matrix Enhances Circulating Levels of Xanthohumol Following Acute Oral Intake of Spent Hops in Humans
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- O'Connor A, Konda V, Reed RL, Christensen JM, Stevens JF, Contractor N (2018). Rice Protein Matrix Enhances Circulating Levels of Xanthohumol Following Acute Oral Intake of Spent Hops in Humans. Molecular nutrition & food research. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201700692PubMed 29322620DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error