Oat Beta-Glucan Lowers LDL Cholesterol

TORONTO—Consuming at least 3g a day of bioactive beta-glucan from OatWell oat bran may significantly lower LDL-cholesterol levels in individuals who have high cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The findings reveal beta-glucan affects LDL-cholesterol levels by increasing the viscosity of intestinal contents. Researchers followed men and women from Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom who consumed two servings of OatWell cereal daily for four weeks. At the end of four weeks, the study participants showed a 5.5% average decrease in their LDL-cholesterol levels. They also found there was no significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol in participants who consumed cereal that produced the lowest gut viscosity. The findings also revealed the extrusion process used to make OatWell cereals causes the beta-glucan to become more soluble and produce higher viscosity in the intestines. Natural Products Insider, Oct 22, 2010