Khaberni - Researchers around the world are studying the impact of simple dietary systems on human health, trying to understand the role of certain foods in preventing chronic diseases and improving quality of life.
In this context, a scientific team at the University of Bonn in Germany conducted a study that looked at the impact of a diet based on oats in individuals suffering from health disorders associated with weight gain and metabolism.
The study included participants suffering from metabolic syndrome, a condition associated with weight gain, high blood pressure, and elevated levels of sugar and fats in the blood, linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The researchers relied on a low-calorie diet that is almost entirely based on oat flour for two consecutive days, where participants ate three meals a day of boiled oats, allowing limited amounts of fruit or vegetables.
Conversely, another group underwent a low-calorie diet without incorporating oats, to compare the results between the two groups.
A total of 32 men and women completed this diet program, consuming about 300 grams of oat flour daily, with calories reduced to nearly half compared to their usual diet.
After completing the trial, the researchers noticed greater improvements in participants who followed the oat diet, represented by a decrease in harmful cholesterol levels, a slight reduction in blood pressure, and an average weight loss. These positive effects continued for several weeks after the diet ended.
Marie Christine Simon, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Bonn, explains that interest in dietary treatment has declined over the past decades with the development of drugs, although some foods, such as oats, have shown effectiveness since the early twentieth century in supporting the health of diabetes patients.
To understand the reasons for this effect, the researchers focused on studying gut bacteria, which play a fundamental role in digesting food and regulating metabolic processes within the body.
Analyses showed that consuming oats contributes to an increase in certain types of beneficial bacteria, which produce compounds that help improve fat and cholesterol metabolism, including phenolic compounds proven beneficial in previous studies.
It was also found that these bacteria help reduce some substances linked to an increase in insulin resistance, a major factor in the development of diabetes.
In a parallel experiment, researchers tested a less intense dietary regimen based on eating 80 grams of oats daily for six weeks, but its results were less clear compared to the short-term intensive regimen.
Researchers indicate that following an intensive dietary regimen based on oats at intervals may be a practical way to maintain health and prevent some chronic diseases, emphasizing the need for further studies to confirm these findings.
The study used a precise scientific methodology, including randomly dividing participants into groups, analyzing blood and stool samples impartially, in addition to monitoring multiple health indicators, such as weight, blood pressure, and body fat levels.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
