Researchers at the University of Bonn have determined that a brief dietary regimen centered on oats can significantly lower levels of detrimental cholesterol.
A study examining the efficacy of a two-day oat-based diet was conducted, with findings published in the journal Nature Communications.
Sixty-eight individuals participated in the trial. For a period of two days, one cohort consumed meals consisting almost entirely of oatmeal prepared with water, supplemented sparingly with either fruits or vegetables.
Their daily intake amounted to roughly 300 grams of oats, resulting in approximately half the typical caloric consumption. The comparison group followed a restricted-calorie meal plan, but this approach deliberately excluded oats.
Blood tests revealed that the short, two-day oatmeal diet yielded the most significant outcome. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels among those in the primary group dropped by an average of 10%.
Furthermore, these participants shed roughly two kilograms of body mass, and observed a slight reduction in blood pressure. These favorable alterations persisted for up to six weeks, whereas the control group exhibited substantially less pronounced metabolic shifts.
The scientific team also conducted a supplementary test where subjects ingested 80 grams of oats daily over six weeks, without imposing restrictions on their overall calorie intake. Nevertheless, this sustained regimen only impacted cholesterol levels modestly.
The investigators suggested that oats exert their effect via the gut microbiome. This dietary intervention promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, which subsequently break down oat components to generate phenolic compounds impacting cholesterol metabolism.
Concurrently, there was a documented decrease in the activity of microbes associated with impaired insulin sensitivity.
The study authors emphasize that an intensive, short-term oat diet presents a viable, non-pharmacological adjunct strategy for cholesterol management, although it should not substitute prescribed medications and warrants subsequent deeper investigation.
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