Lipid responses of hypercholesterolemic men to oat-bran and wheat-bran intake

Article Abstract:

Many studies have been performed in an attempt to identify the role, if any, that dietary fiber plays in lowering blood cholesterol levels. Part of the confusion that has been created by this research is due to the fact that there are many different types of fiber, which differ in their ability to lower blood cholesterol levels. To add to the confusion, some studies have involved patients with high blood cholesterol levels (hypercholesteremia), while others have been performed with subjects that had only slightly elevated or normal cholesterol levels. It has been shown that diets rich in water-soluble fiber (from oats and dried beans) are able to reduce blood cholesterol, while diets high in insoluble fibers (from wheat products) have little effect on cholesterol levels. A study was therefore designed to compare the effects of a diet containing oat bran (OB) with a diet containing wheat bran (WB) on blood cholesterol levels in 20 men with hypercholesteremia. The men were randomly assigned to receive either the OB diet (110 grams of OB per day in the form of muffins or cereal) or the WB diet (40 grams of WB per day) for 21 days. Blood cholesterol levels were measured before and after the diet period. The OB diet reduced total cholesterol levels by 13 percent, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 12 percent and apolipoprotein B-100 (a type of fat) by 14 percent, while the WB diet had no effect. Both diets reduced blood triglycerides (fats) by 10 percent, but neither diet increased the amount of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL, the 'good' form of cholesterol). Additional studies are needed to determine if the cholesterol-lowering effect of oat bran is maintained over long periods of time. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Physiological aspects

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Oat-bran cereal lowers serum total and LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic men

Article Abstract:

At least 10 research studies have found that oatmeal and oat bran have a significant beneficial effect on blood cholesterol level in humans and animals. One such study reported that 50 grams per day of oat bran consumed for six weeks lowered blood cholesterol by 12 percent in young, healthy subjects. In the current study, the practical value of using ready-to-eat oat bran cereal for lowering blood lipids was evaluated. Twelve men with high blood cholesterol were admitted to a metabolic ward, where their diets could be carefully controlled. Each man ate 25 grams/day of oat bran cereal for two weeks and the same amount of a control cereal (corn flakes) for another two weeks. The diets were virtually identical in all other ways, such as amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrate and cholesterol. Compared with the corn flakes diet, the oat bran diet lowered total blood cholesterol by 5.4 percent and reduced low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 8.5 percent; both effects were statistically significant. LDL cholesterol is the type of cholesterol thought to raise the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), whereas high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is thought to protect against CHD. The two diets did not have different effects on the subjects' body weights. It is concluded that these results and the findings of other researchers demonstrate that including oat products and other sources of soluble fiber in a healthy diet may substantially lower the risk for coronary heart disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Coronary heart disease, Fiber in human nutrition, Dietary fiber

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Serum lipid response of hypercholesterolemic men to single and divided doses of canned beans

Article Abstract:

Studies have shown that diets containing significant amounts of soluble fiber can lower blood levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. Most of these studies used dried beans, which were cooked before consumption, as the source of soluble fiber. To determine whether canned beans are as effective as dried beans, 24 men with high blood cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia) were fed canned pork and beans in one of three different regimens (varying by amount of beans and time when they were served) for 21 days. When the effects of all three diets were combined, they lowered blood cholesterol by an average of 10 percent and blood triglycerides by an average of 11 percent. The two diets in which the daily dose of beans was divided and consumed at two meals lowered cholesterol more than the third diet, in which the daily dose was served at one meal. The more total dietary fiber and soluble fiber were consumed, the greater was the reduction in blood cholesterol. The ratio of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol to low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol did not change. Subjects lost two to three pounds despite a stable total calorie intake. Side effects included transiently increased flatulence, and one subject had constipation. The study suggests that a diet containing canned beans may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but further study is needed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Legumes, Dried beans, Canned vegetables, Cholesterol metabolism, Canned beans

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