Insights & Discussion
Daily intake of 3 grams of oat beta-glucans significantly reduces LDL-Cholesterol, Total Cholesterol, and non-HDL-Cholesterol levels without impacting intestinal well-being or glucose levels.
The BELT Study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over randomized clinical trial conducted over 8 weeks. It involved 83 Italian subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia, who had low cardiovascular risk and followed a Mediterranean diet. The participants were administered either 3g/day of oat beta-glucans or a placebo.
The results indicated that beta-glucans significantly reduced LDL-C, TC, and non-HDL-C levels in participants from both the baseline and the 4 and 8-week marks. However, no notable impact was observed on fasting plasma glucose or self-perceived intestinal well-being. These outcomes remained consistent irrespective of whether the subjects were given the beta-glucans or the placebo.
Discover Related Insights
Oat consumption can significantly improve lipid profiles, particularly reducing total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, with potential positive effects on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol under certain conditions.
2023 Current Problems in Cardiology Effect of Oat (Avena sativa L.) Consumption on Lipid Profile With Focus on Triglycerides and High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C): An Updated Systematic Review Amerizadeh A, Ghaheh HS, Vaseghi G, Farajzadegan Z, Asgary S
Systematic Review Cholesterol HDL-C Oats
In the methodology of this review study, information was gathered from various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The gathered data consisted of a total of 17 studies that explored the direct effects of oat consumption on lipid profiles. The focus of the studies included were the impacts of oat on levels of total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C. The review was meticulous, with a detailed examination of each study, particularly those showing positive effects of oat/beta-glucan consumption on triglycerides.
The review's results revealed that oat intake significantly reduces the levels of total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL-C. The effect of oat ingestion on triglyceride levels was varied; of the 17 studies, 6 reported a decrease in triglycerides. Interestingly, one study showed an improvement in HDL-C levels following oat consumption. It was also observed that oat intake might effectively reduce triglycerides in healthy individuals and overweight people or those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, especially when larger amounts of oat were consumed over a longer duration or in conjunction with a calorie-reducing diet. The use of oat together with certain dietary programs was suggested to potentially enhance its positive effects on lipid profiles.
Oat supplementation interventions can improve cardiovascular health markers among adults, regardless of their diet or metabolic conditions.
2022 European Journal of Nutrition Effect of oat supplementation interventions on cardiovascular disease risk markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Llanaj E, Dejanovic GM, Valido E, Bano A, Gamba M, Kastrati L, et al.
Meta-Analysis Cardiovascular Disease Cholesterol Oats
The methodology involved analyzing various randomized clinical trials that tested how oats, or extracts rich in oat beta-glucan and avenanthramides affected markers of cardiovascular disease risk. The sample population was predominantly subjects with high cholesterol, obesity, and mild metabolic disturbances. Interventions were compared to control arms without oats.
In the discussion on results, it was found that subjects receiving the oat supplementation had improved health metrics such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, glucose levels, body mass index, weight, and waist circumference. However, when the oat supplementation was compared to heterogeneous interventions, like wheat, eggs, rice, etc., reductions in the levels of glycated haemoglobin, diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B were also seen. Despite these promising results, there were some concerns around the bias risk associated with the majority of included randomized clinical trials.
Oats improve gastrointestinal health, reduce cholesterol, and regulate satiety, with effects on the gut microbiome constituting an appealing new research area.
2019 Nutrition Reviews Effects of oats on gastrointestinal health as assessed by in vitro, animal, and human studies Korczak R, Kocher M, Swanson KS
Review Article Cholesterol Digestive Health Gut Microbiota
The researchers undertook a comprehensive literature review using predefined search criteria and keywords related to gastrointestinal health outcomes in the PubMed database. They sought to explore the impact of oats on gastrointestinal health in humans, with the intent to identify both human and animal studies, as well as in vitro studies, that met their specific inclusion criteria. They extracted data from eight human studies, nineteen animal trials, and five in vitro studies for this synthesis.
The results underscore that oats, due to their unique composition of bioactive compounds, lipids, and β-glucan, have beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health. The human studies showed consistent beneficial outcomes, with complementary evidence from animal and in vitro studies. The degree of effect, however, appeared to vary depending on the type of oats and dosage used. For instance, oat types providing between 2.5 to 2.9 grams of β-glucan a day were found to decrease fecal pH and alter fecal bacteria, while 40 to 100 grams per day of oat bran was shown to boost bacterial mass and short-chain fatty acids in human feces. The researchers note that different study designs, methodologies, and types of oats used make comparing results challenging.