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OAT BRAN HAS NO UNIQUE CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING EFFECT.

Studies in recent years have indicated that supplementing the diet with oat bran may lower cholesterol levels. Intensive advertising and development of new food products have led to a huge increase in oat bran sales. Now, a new study raises questions about oat bran's efficacy.

In a double-blind crossover trial, 20 healthy adults (ages 23 to 49) consumed diets supplemented with either high-fiber oat bran or low-fiber refined wheat products. Both types of supplements were shown to lower total cholesterol levels by 7 to 8 percent, but the oat bran was no better than the low-fiber diet. Indeed, the likely reason why both regimens lowered cholesterol was because the subjects ate less saturated fat and cholesterol while their diets were being supplemented with grains.

This study offers no support for the idea that oat bran has some special virtue in lowering cholesterol, but it does suggest that a diet enriched with grains tends to be lower in fat. Surely -- as if we didn't already know it -- the consumption of rich oat bran pastries cannot be regarded as health-conscious behavior.

— ALK

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine January 26, 1990

Citation(s):

Swain JF et al. Comparison of the effects of oat bran and low-fiber wheat on serum lipoprotein levels and blood pressure. N Engl J Med 1990 Jan 18 322 147-152.

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