title: Whole grain oats improve insulin sensitivity and plasma cholesterol profile and modify gut microbiota composition in C57BL/6J mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whole grain consumption reduces the risk of major chronic diseases. It is not clear how whole grains exert their beneficial effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to compare the physiologic effects of whole grain oat (WGO) flour with low bran oat (LBO) flour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two AIN-93G-based diets were formulated with either WGO or LBO flour. Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed LBO (n = 11) and WGO (n = 13) diets for 8 wk. Cecal microbiota was profiled by pyrosequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Data are reported as means ± SEMs or antilogs of the mean (mean - SEM, mean + SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The weight gain was 14.6% less in the WGO group during week 7 (P = 0.04). WGO improved insulin sensitivity as reflected by significantly lower plasma insulin [1500 (1370, 1650) ng/L vs. 2340 (2090, 2620) ng/L; P = 0.006], C-peptide (3980 ± 548 ng/L vs. 7340 ± 1050 ng/L; P = 0.007), and homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (21.4 ± 2.3 vs. 34.7 ± 4.9; P = 0.03). Plasma total cholesterol was 9.9% less and non-HDL cholesterol was 11% less in the WGO group. A comparison of relative abundance indicated Prevotellaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Alcaligenaceae families were 175.5% (P = 0.03), 184.5% (P = 0.01), and 150.0% (P = 0.004), respectively, greater in the WGO group and Clostridiaceae and Lachnospiraceae families were 527% (P = 0.004) and 62.6% (P = 0.01), respectively, greater in the LBO group. Cecal microbiota composition predicts 63.9% variation in plasma insulin and 88.9% variation in plasma non-HDL cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In mice, WGOs improved insulin sensitivity and plasma cholesterol profile compared with LBOs, and the effects were associated with the changes in cecal microbiota composition. Increasing WGO consumption may help improve insulin sensitivity and dyslipidemia in chronic diseases.
authors: Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), Applied Nutrition Research, and Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences.
authors: Albert Lihong
authors: AL
authors: Zhou
authors: Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), Applied Nutrition Research, and Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences.
authors: Nancie
authors: N
authors: Hergert
authors: Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, UT.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Rompato
authors: Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, UT michael.lefevre@usu.edu.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Lefevre
mesh_terms: D042401:Alcaligenaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D018554:Avena; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007777:Lactobacillaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D064307:Microbiota; D009929:Organ Size; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D052243:Resistin; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: 16S rRNA gene; HDL cholesterol; beta-glucan; chronic disease; gut microbiota; insulin sensitivity; low bran oats; mice; pyrosequencing; whole grain oats