Lipid profiles after the daily consumption of an oat-based cereal: a controlled crossover trial.
Water-soluble fiber has been reported to reduce serum cholesterol and consequently, oat bran, which has a high soluble-fiber content, has been recommended as part of a lipid-lowering diet. However, a recent small study of 20 volunteers with low mean serum cholesterol concentrations (4.8 mmol/L) demonstrated no lipid-lowering effect of oat bran. The present study investigated 64 volunteers with cholesterol concentrations much more typical of the UK population (6 mmol/L). Subjects were randomly allocated to receive either a normal-sized helping of an oat-based cereal or a cereal containing no oats for 4 wk and then crossed over to the alternative regimen for a further 4 wk. Small (2.23% and 4.55%) but significant (P < 0.04 and P < 0.05) reductions in total and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, were observed in association with the consumption of oat-based cereal. These data support the view that consumption of oat-based cereals may well contribute usefully to a lipid-lowering diet.
Poulter
N
N
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCMSM, London, UK.
Chang
C L
CL
Cuff
A
A
Poulter
C
C
Sever
P
P
Thom
S
S
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids