Khaberni - A new study has shown that following a short-term oat-based diet can be surprisingly effective in lowering cholesterol levels.
The study, conducted by the University of Bonn in Germany and published in the journal "Nature Communications", involved participants who consumed a low-calorie diet almost entirely based on oats for two days.
The results showed a significant improvement in cholesterol levels compared to the control group, and this effect lasted for up to 6 weeks after the experiment.
Marie-Christine Simon, an assistant professor at the Institute of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Bonn, explained that oats promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, which play an important role in food metabolism and the production of compounds beneficial for cholesterol.
She added that some bacteria produce ferulic acid when breaking down oats, which is a compound proven to improve cholesterol metabolism.
These bacteria also help eliminate an amino acid that may contribute to insulin resistance, a condition associated with an increased risk of diabetes.
The trial included 32 men and women who consumed 300 grams of oats cooked in water daily, with only the addition of fruits or vegetables allowed, and the calories consumed approximated half of the usual daily calories.
Participants showed a 10% reduction in harmful LDL cholesterol, also lost an average of two kilos in weight, and experienced a slight decrease in blood pressure. The researchers explained that reducing harmful LDL cholesterol is important for cardiovascular health because it reduces the deposits of plaque that may lead to artery blockage or heart and brain clots.
The study showed that the short-term, high-concentration oat diet was more effective than a six-week long-term diet containing 80 grams of oats daily without reducing calories, as the latter achieved less clear effects.
The researchers used randomized controlled trials to ensure the accuracy of the results, with blood and stool samples evaluated without the researchers knowing which group each sample belonged to, to avoid any potential bias. Blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat percentage were also measured at various stages before and after the diet.
The analyses showed that oats improve the gut microbiome, allowing the body to release beneficial compounds in the blood that boost cholesterol metabolism and reduce the risk of insulin resistance.
