Big analysis of studies shows that Beta-Glucan derived from oats lowers cholesterol

Big analysis of studies shows that Beta-Glucan derived from oats lowers cholesterol

Researchers from the UK and Canada pooled data from 28 randomized controlled, clinical trails evaluating the consumption of 3 grams or more per day of oat Beta-Glucan on serum cholesterol levels. Beta-Glucan definitely lowered cholesterol and in people with relatively good levels of cholesterol it lowered LDL cholesterol by 10 points or 10 mg/dl and total cholesterol by 12 points. There was no effect on HDL or triglycerides. Interestingly, there was no difference in effect between studies for 3 grams a day even with increased intake up to 12 + grams per day meaning you don’t require more than 3 grams a day to lower your cholesterol to the maximum effect for Beta-Glucan and cholesterol lowering occurred within the first two-weeks of usage. The LDL and total cholesterol lowering effect was stronger in patients with higher cholesterol with a high LDL-cholesterol and in patients with diabetes. The researchers were from Lancaster University in the UK, the School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong in Australia, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. The study is soon to be published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.