Cholesterol Control

Oat β-glucan helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels by increasing viscosity in the intestines. The viscosity reduces the reabsorption of bile acids in the digestive tract and are therefore excreted (1). As less bile acids are absorbed into the bloodstream (2), the bile acids synthesization is increased in the liver (3). Cholesterol is a precursor of the bile acids. As synthesis of bile acid is increased less cholesterol is available for the synthesis of lipoproteins (4) - therefore (1,2,3,4) the level of blood LDL is reduced.

Bile acids are necessary for adequate formation of micelles, where fat and cholesterol are absorbed.The total quantity of bile acids in the human body is 2-4 g. Less than 1 gram (5%) of bile acids escapes the recycling process per day. The loss of bile acids through the feces is the body's only route for cholesterol excretion.

OatWell® oat bran has been clinically shown to reduce both total and LDL cholesterol whereas no differences in HDL rate was seen.

References

Lia Amundsen et al.	Postprandial lipemia in relation to sterol and fat excretion in ileostomy subjects given oat-bran and wheat test meals	Am J Clin Nutr	1997
Lia Amundsen et al.	Oat beta-glucan increases bile acid excretion and fiber-rich barley fraction increases cholesterol excretion in ileostomy subjects	Am J Clin Nutr	1995
Marlett et al.	Mechanism of serum cholesterol reduction by oat bran	Hepatology	1994

Please see SmartHeart under Brand & Concepts for more information about the concept referring to this mechanism of action.