LIPID PROFILES AFTER THE DAILY CONSUMPTION OF AN OAT-BASED CEREAL - ACONTROLLED CROSSOVER TRIAL

Water-soluble fiber has been reported to reduce serum cholesterol and consequently, oat bran, which has a high soluble-fiber content, has be en recommended as part of a lipid-lowering diet. However, a recent sma ll study of 20 volunteers with low mean serum cholesterol concentratio ns (4.8 mmol/L) demonstrated no lipid-lowering effect of oat bran. The present study investigated 64 volunteers with cholesterol concentrati ons much more typical of the UK population (6 mmol/L). Subjects were r andomly allocated to receive either a normal-sized helping of an oat-b ased cereal or a cereal containing no oats for 4 wk and then crossed o ver to the alternative regimen for a further 4 wk. Small (2.23% and 4. 55%) but significant (P<0.04 and P<0.05) reductions in total and low-d ensity-lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, were observed in associa tion with the consumption of oat-based cereal. These data support the view that consumption of oat-based cereals may well contribute usefull y to a lipid-lowering diet.