The addition of oatbran to a low fat diet has no effect on lipid values in hypercholesterolaemic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
to assess the hypocholesterolaemic effect of adding 50 g of oatbran to the diet of hypercholesterolaemic subjects already prescribed a diet with less than 30% of energy from fat.


METHODS
twenty-nine volunteers aged 21-67 years with total serum cholesterol levels 5.59-8.5 mmol/L prescribed a diet containing less than 30% of energy intake as fat, and with a body mass index between 19.8 and 29.3, were enrolled in a crossover study to assess the effect of the addition to the diet of 50 g daily of oatbran. After six weeks of an oat-free control diet, subjects were randomised to eat 50 g daily of oatbran or to continue on the oat-free diet. Six weeks later the subjects crossed to the alternative diet for a further six week period. Lipid levels were assessed in weeks five and six of each study period.


RESULTS
twenty-four subjects completed the study consuming 51.7 (SD 15.5) g of oatbran daily during the treatment phase. No significant difference was seen between the oatbran and control diet periods in body mass index, energy or fat intake, or in total cholesterol, LDL and HDL fractions, apolipoprotein A1 and B levels, or triglyceride levels. Considerable variation was observed between the paired lipid results.


CONCLUSIONS
ingestion of 50 g of oatbran daily by hypercholesterolaemic subjects on a low fat diet showed no influence on serum lipid levels. The importance of using at least duplicate samples in assessing changes in lipid values is emphasised.
Stewart
F M
FM
Cardiology Department, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland.
Neutze
J M
JM
Newsome-White
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol