EFFECTS OF CONSUMPTION OF OAT MILK, SOYA MILK, OR COWS MILK ON PLASMA-LIPIDS AND ANTIOXIDATIVE CAPACITY IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

A drink based on oats has been developed with new technology. In this study the effects of this oat milk, soya milk and cow's milk on plasma lipid, glucose, insulin, and antioxidant status (measured as the abil ity of serum to suppress the formation of the radical cation ABTS(.+)) were compared in 24 healthy men and women. Half of the subjects (grou p A) consumed 0.75-1 liters/day of oat milk and soya milk for 4 weeks each, and the other half (group B) consumed oat milk and cow's milk fo r two 4-week periods. In the combined groups A plus B the oat milk reg imen resulted in decreased plasma cholesterol (4%) and low-density lip oprotein (LDL) cholesterol (9%) levels as compared with baseline, but no changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglycer ide values were observed. Also soya milk consumption resulted in decre ased LDL cholesterol concentrations. The only significant plasma lipid change observed during consumption of cow's milk was an increase in H DL cholesterol. No consistent changes in body weight, fasting blood gl ucose, serum insulin, and antioxidant status occurred after consumptio n of any milk regimen. A significant correlation between baseline anti oxidant status and total plasma cholesterol was found (r = -0.56). It is proposed that the high content of P-glucans in oat milk was respons ible for the decreased plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentr ations, but the effect could also be due to a replacement of saturated fat in the customary diet by unsaturated fat. It is concluded that oa t milk can be used as an alternative to other milk drinks by subjects who would benefit from reduced LDL cholesterol values.