Due to the importance of rice in the diet, its composition and nutritional characteristics are related to human's health. This cereal is a source of energy, due to its high starch content, also providing proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals. The present review aimed at examining rice composition, its nutritional characteristics, and the improvement of these characteristics through genetic modification. Variations in rice composition are observed due to genotype and processing, affecting nutritional characteristics. Rice has a positive effect on the prevention of several chronic diseases due to different constituents, and its composition has been improved through genetic modifications, resulting in grains with more interesting nutritional characteristics.
rice; composition; carbohydrates; proteins; lipids; phenolic compounds
