Rickard Öste

Consumption of Oat Milk for 5 Weeks Lowers Serum Cholesterol and LDL Cholesterol in Free-Living Men with Moderate Hypercholesterolemia

The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of a newly developed oat milk deprived of insoluble fiber would result in lower serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in men with moderate hypercholesterolemia. The study had a randomized, controlled double-blind design, and oat milk was compared with an identically flavored control drink. Sixty-six men were recruited from a screening program and were randomly assigned to two groups. Each group took either oat milk or a control drink (rice milk) for 5 weeks (0.75 liters/day) and then switched to the other drink regimen for another 5-week period with a 5-week washout period between the test periods. The oat milk contained more dietary fiber, especially β-glucan (0.5 g/100 g), than the control drink (<0.02 g/100 g). Both drinks were well appreciated and got similar sensory evaluation, indicating that the double-blind design had been attained. In the final analysis 52 subjects remained. Compared with the control drink, intake of oat milk resulted in significantly lower serum total cholesterol (6%, p = 0.005) and LDL cholesterol (6%, p = 0.036) levels. The decrease in LDL cholesterol was more pronounced if the starting value was higher (r = –0.55, p < 0.001). The concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not significantly different after consumption of the two drinks. Serum triglycerides did not change significantly after intake of oat milk, but a significant increase was observed after intake of the control drink (p = 0.003). It is concluded that also oat milk deprived of insoluble fiber has cholesterol-reducing properties.

The effect of yoghurt culture on the survival of probiotic bacteria in oat-based, non-dairy products

The survival of the probiotic strains Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730, Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20079 and Bifidobacterium bifidum DSM 20456, all of human origin, were investigated in three different oat-based, non-dairy products (Adavena M40, MG20 and G40). The products were fermented by the three strains with and without the presence of a commercial yoghurt culture (V2). Samples were stored at 6 degreesC up to 30 days. In general, the oat-based products were shown to be a suitable support for these intestinal bacteria. L. reuteri ATCC 55730 had the highest viability in all of the products investigated. After 30 days the cell viability of L. reuteri ATCC 55730 was 10(8) CFU ml(-1) in all three oat-based products. Lower viability was seen when the strains were grown in the presence of the yoghurt culture compared to when they were grown as pure cultures. These products also exhibited a lower pH value in comparison to products fermented with the pure cultures. The milisation of the main fermentable carbohydrates in the products varied across the bacterial strains. A decrease in beta-glucan content was seen for the products fermented by the B. bifidum DSM 20456 strain. This work shows that these oat-bases with different mono- and disaccharide composition can be used to support the growth of human intestinal bacteria and also maintain high cell viability during cold storage.

The effects of various thermal processes on protein quality, vitamins and selenium content in whole-grain wheat and white flour

Whole-grain wheat and white flour from wheat were subjected to various thermal processes - steam flaking, autoclaving, popping, extrusion cooking, and drum-drying - under both mild and severe conditions. The effects of processing on protein quality were evaluated (by comparing biological and chemical methods), and on retention of vitamins (vitamin E, thiamin and folacin) and selenium. Protein quality was affected most by popping and autoclaving. Changes in biological value correlated significantly ( P

Effects of consumption of oat milk, soya milk, or cow's 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 ability of serum to suppress the formation of the radical cation ABTS·+) were compared in 24 healthy men and women. Half of the subjects (group 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 for two 4-week periods. In the combined groups A plus B the oat milk regimen resulted in decreased plasma cholesterol (4%) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (9%) levels as compared with baseline, but no changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglyceride values were observed. Also soya milk consumption resulted in decreased LDL cholesterol concentrations. The only significant plasma lipid change observed during consumption of cow’s milk was an increase in HDL cholesterol. No consistent changes in body weight, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and antioxidant status occurred after consumption of any milk regimen. A significant correlation between baseline antioxidant status and total plasma cholesterol was found (r = –0.56). It is proposed that the high content of β-glucans in oat milk was responsible for the decreased plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations, but the effect could also be due to a replacement of saturated fat in the customary diet by unsaturated fat. It is concluded that oat milk can be used as an alternative to other milk drinks by subjects who would benefit from reduced LDL cholesterol values.

Changes in plasma insulin, enterostatin, and lipoprotein levels during an energy-restricted dietary regimen including a new oat-based liquid food.

The changes in plasma insulin, enterostatin, lipid, and glucose levels during weight reduction were studied in 32 subjects having a body mass index of 25-35. The 31 subjects who completed the study followed for 23 weeks an energy-restricted dietary regimen which included a new oat-based soup as the main meal once or twice daily. The intake of energy decreased from 8.9 to 6.2 MJ/day from 0 to 22 weeks, the energy percentage from fat decreased from 35 to 30%, and the intake of dietary fiber increased from 21 to 25 g/10 MJ. The body weight decreased from 83 to 78 kg after 6 weeks and to 77 kg after 23 weeks. Plasma glucose had decreased significantly from 5.4 to 5.2 mmol/l, and plasma insulin from 122 to 98 pmol/l after 23 weeks. In contrast, the plasma enterostatin concentration did not vary significantly over five sampling times, the mean values ranging from 25 to 30 nmol/l. Plasma cholesterol declined from 5.6 to 5.2 mmol/l, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from 3.8 to 3.3, and plasma triglycerides from 1.5 to 1.3 mmol/l from 0 to 23 weeks. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased from 1.1 to 1.3 mmol/l. It is concluded that an energy-restricted regimen leading to lower plasma insulin, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not significantly affect the plasma enterostatin concentration in overweight subjects. A new oat-based liquid food as a part of the dietary regimen was well tolerated.

Enantioseparation of d- and l-amino acids by a coupled system consisting of an ion-exchange column and a chiral column and determination of d-aspartic acid and d-glutamic acid in soy products

A coupled system, consisting of a conventional ion-exchange column and a chiral column, was used for separation of the D- and L-enantiomers as constituents of an amino acid mixture. The ion-exchange column was connected to an amino acid analyser and the eluents necessary for the chiral column were delivered by an HPLC pump. With this on-line system the D- and L-forms of eight of the proteinogenic amino acids were separated. An alternative method was also investigated, in which single amino acids or groups of amino acids were fed to the chiral column via a three-way divider, in order to subject the column to less aggressive conditions. By using aspartic acid and/or glutamic acid as an index of racemization and, if necessary, increasing the number of peaks investigated, a simple and fast method for the determination of the degree of racemization was achieved. The method was applied to three soy products. The products contain 3.4-5.8% D-aspartic acid and 1.4-2.4% D-glutamic acid (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)

Effects of oat bran, processed to different molecular weights of beta-glucan, on plasma lipids and caecal formation of SCFA in mice.

In the present study, we evaluated the cholesterol-lowering effects of different oat bran (OB) preparations, differing regarding their peak molecular weight (MWp) of beta-glucans (2348, 1311, 241, 56, 21 or < 10 kDa), in C57BL/6NCrl mice. The diets were designed to be atherogenic (0.8 % cholesterol and 0.1 % cholic acid), and they reflected the Western diet pattern (41 % energy fat). All OB preparations that were investigated significantly reduced plasma cholesterol when compared with a cellulose-containing control diet, regardless of the molecular weight of beta-glucan. Moreover, the difference in viscous properties between the processed OB (from 0.11 to 17.7 l/g) did not appear to play a major role in the cholesterol-lowering properties. In addition, there was no correlation between the molecular weight of beta-glucan and the amount of propionic acid formed in caecum. Interestingly, however, there was a significant correlation between the ratio of (propionic acid+butyric acid)/acetic acid and the MWp of beta-glucans: the ratio increased with increasing molecular weight. The results of the present study suggest that the molecular weights and viscous properties of beta-glucan in oat products may not be crucial parameters for their cholesterol-lowering effects.

Wheat bran increases high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in the rat.

1. Five groups of male Sprague Dawley rats were given for 6 months a diet with high protein and fat contents but a very low dietary fibre content (group B), and this diet mixed with (g/kg) 50 low-methoxyl pectin (group L), 50 high-methoxyl pectin (group H), 50 guar gum (group G) and 200 wheat bran (group WB, corresponding to 100 wheat fibre) respectively. 2. The weight increment was significantly lower in group G than in the other groups. Assuming no energy value of the dietary fibre, the weight increment (/kJ) was the same in groups B, L and H, lower in group G and higher in group WB, indicating that a proportion of the bran fibre might in fact be available as a source of energy. 3. Wheat bran increased total plasma cholesterol and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol after 6, 12 and 26 weeks. Group G had significantly lowered plasma cholesterol after 12 weeks. Pectin on the other hand did not significantly influence total or HDL-cholesterol levels. It is therefore possible that the plasma cholesterol lowering effect of pectin previously demonstrated in the rat is dependent on the presence of significant amounts of dietary cholesterol as our diets did not contain added cholesterol. Plasma triglycerides decreased with age but were similar in all groups.

Oats (Avena sativa) reduce atherogenesis in LDL-receptor-deficient mice.

AIM The cholesterol-lowering properties of oats, largely ascribed to its contents of soluble fibers, beta-glucans, are well established, whereas effects on atherogenesis are less well elucidated. Oats also contains components with reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may affect atherogenesis. In this work we examined effects of oat bran on plasma cholesterol, markers of inflammation, eNOS expression and development of atherosclerosis in LDL-receptor-deficient (LDLr(-/-)) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Female LDLr(-/-) mice were fed Western diet+/-oat bran. Two concentrations of oat bran (40 and 27%) were compared regarding effects on plasma lipids. There was a dose-dependent reduction of plasma cholesterol by 42 and 20% with 40 and 27% oat bran, respectively. Both concentrations also lowered plasma triglycerides (by 45 and 33%) and relative levels of plasma LDL+VLDL. The reduction of plasma lipids was accompanied by increased faecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids. Oat bran (40%) efficiently reduced atherosclerotic lesion area in the descending aorta (-77%) and aortic root (-33%). Plasma levels of fibrinogen and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were significantly lower, and immunofluorescence of aortic sections revealed a 75% lower expression of VCAM-1 in oat-fed mice. The expression of eNOS protein in the aortic wall was increased in mice fed oat bran. CONCLUSIONS Oat bran supplemented to a Western diet lowers plasma cholesterol, reduces levels of some inflammatory markers, increases eNOS expression and inhibits atherosclerotic lesion development in LDLr(-/-) mice. It remains to be investigated which components in oats contribute to these effects.

Short-chain fatty acid formation in the hindgut of rats fed native and fermented oat fibre concentrates

The formation of SCFA in rats fed fermented oat fibre concentrates was compared with that of rats fed native oat fibre concentrate. The cultures used were lactic acid bacteria consisting of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus (V2), the exopolysaccharide-producing strain Pediococcus damnosus 2.6 (Pd) and L. reuteri (Lr). The materials were incorporated into test diets yielding a concentration of indigestible carbohydrates of 80 g/kg (dry weight). Rats fed the V2-fermented fibre-concentrate diet yielded higher caecal and distal concentrations of acetic acid (P < 0.01) than rats fed the native fibre concentrate. All the fermented fibre concentrates resulted in a higher propionic acid concentration in the distal colon (P < 0.05), while rats fed Pd-fermented fibre concentrate resulted in lower concentration of butyric acid (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in all parts of the hindgut as compared with rats fed the native fibre concentrates. Butyrate concentrations ranged between 5-11 micromol/g (distal colon) and 6-8 micromol/g (13 d faeces). Higher proportions of acetic acid (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) were observed in the caecum of rats fed the fermented fibre concentrates. Rats fed Pd- and Lr-fermented fibre concentrates produced higher proportions of propionic acid (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) in the caecum. Changes in SCFA formation in the caecum, distal colon and faeces of rats fed the fermented samples compared with the native sample indicate that these microbes probably survive in the hindgut and that modification of the microflora composition with fermented foods is possible. This may be important for the gastrointestinal flora balance in relation to colonic diseases.