BREATH HYDROGEN AND METHANE EXPIRATION IN MEN AND WOMEN AFTER OAT EXTRACT CONSUMPTION

Oat extract has been shown to modify blood glucose response and fastin g lipids after dietary incorporation although some abdominal discomfor t and increased flatulence were noted. To determine the extent of gas production, hydrogen and methane were determined after tolerance tests containing cooked and uncooked oat extract and after dietary incorpor ation. Breath gases were determined before and periodically after tole rance tests. Study 1: While consuming a maintenance diet, 24 subjects (55.3-112.5 kg body weight) underwent a tolerance test (1 g carbohydra te/kg body wt) of glucose (GTT, 1700 kJ/100 g) or uncooked, baked, or boiled pudding [2191 kJ/100 g carbohydrate, (0.67 glucose and 0.33 oat extract containing 10 g/100 g beta-glucan)]. Hydrogen and methane exp iration after all tolerance tests with the oat extract puddings, regar dless of cooking method, was significantly higher than expirations aft er the GTT. Cooking the oat extract did not significantly change hydro gen or methane expiration. Study 2: Twenty-three subjects consumed a m aintenance diet followed by the incorporation of oat extracts (50 g/8. 33 MJ, 1 or 10 g/100 g beta-glucan) to the diet in a crossover pattern . A GTT and a tolerance test containing 0.67 g glucose and 0.33 g of t he respective oat extract/kg body weight were consumed after the maint enance and oat extract diet periods. Breath hydrogen was significantly higher after both oat extract tolerance tests than after the GTT. Hyd rogen excretion after the 10% beta-glucan oat extract was higher at 4, 5 and 6 h than after the 1% beta-glucan oat extract; breath methane w as not significantly different. These data indicate that cooking did n ot alter the influence of oat extracts on intestinal function, and inc reased beta-glucan marginally increased hydrogen expiration.