Scientists at the University of Bonn have reported that consuming oats for just two days helps reduce cholesterol levels and supports metabolism, with effects lasting for several weeks.
اضافة اعلان
According to Nature Communications, the study involved 68 participants with metabolic syndrome—a combination of overweight, high blood pressure, and disturbances in blood sugar and lipid levels. Over the two-day period, participants consumed oats almost exclusively. As a result, their LDL (“bad”) cholesterol dropped by 10%, they lost an average of about 2 kilograms, and their blood pressure decreased. These benefits persisted for up to six weeks.
Experts attribute these effects to oats stimulating the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that produce compounds influencing cholesterol metabolism. Ferulic acid helps regulate lipid levels, while byproducts from the breakdown of the amino acid histidine reduce the risk of insulin resistance, a major factor in type 2 diabetes.
Participants consumed 300 grams of oat porridge cooked with water, along with small amounts of fruit or vegetables, three times daily. The control group followed a low-calorie diet without oats, showing less pronounced improvements. In contrast, a longer, lighter diet that included 80 grams of oats daily did not produce significant changes in cholesterol levels.
To prevent bias, biological samples (blood and stool) and physiological measurements (blood pressure and weight) were taken blind, meaning the researchers did not know which participants belonged to the experimental or control groups.
Researchers conducted five assessments: the first before dietary changes, the second immediately after the two-day oat diet, and three follow-ups at two, four, and six weeks. At each assessment, they recorded key health indicators, including blood pressure, weight, height, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and collected blood and stool samples. A similar protocol was used in a second study, in which participants consumed 80 grams of oat porridge daily for six weeks.
The researchers conclude that a short-term diet based on oat porridge can alter the gut microbiome and metabolism, contributing to lower cholesterol levels and supporting vascular health.
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