Cholesterol-lowering effect of beta-glucan from oat bran in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects may decrease when beta-glucan is incorporated into bread and cookies.
BACKGROUND
Findings about the effects of beta-glucan on serum lipoproteins are conflicting.


OBJECTIVE
The study investigated the effects of beta-glucan from oat bran in bread and cookies (study 1) and in orange juice (study 2) on serum lipoproteins in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.


METHODS
In study 1, 48 subjects (21 men, 27 women) received for 3 wk control bread and cookies rich in wheat fiber. For the next 4 wk, by random assignment, 23 subjects continued to consume the control products, and 25 received bread and cookies rich in beta-glucan. Mean daily intake of beta-glucan was 5.9 g. Total dietary fiber intake did not differ significantly between the groups. In study 2, the same sources of control fiber and beta-glucan (5 g/d) as in study 1 were provided. For 2 wk, 25 of the original 48 subjects (10 men, 15 women) were randomly assigned to consume orange juice containing either wheat fiber (n = 13) or beta-glucan from oat bran (n = 12). After a washout period of 1 wk, dietary regimens were crossed over.


RESULTS
In study 1, the change in LDL cholesterol did not differ significantly (-0.12 mmol/L; P = 0.173) between the 2 groups. In study 2, the drink rich in beta-glucan decreased LDL cholesterol by 0.26 +/- 0.07 mmol/L (6.7 +/- 1.8%; P = 0.001) and the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol by 0.26 +/- 0.11 (5.4 +/- 2.1%; P = 0.029) compared with the other drink. HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The food matrix or the food processing, or both, could have adverse effects on the hypocholesterolemic properties of oat beta-glucan.
Kerckhoffs
Daniëlle A J M
DA
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Hornstra
Gerard
G
Mensink
Ronald P
RP
D018554:Avena; D001628:Beverages; D001939:Bread; D002957:Citrus; D003296:Cooking; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005936:Glucans