Oat is among the food crops and ancient grains cultivated and consumed worldwide. It is gaining in popularity owing to its nutritional composition and multifunctional benefits of select bioactive compounds. Beta-glucan is an important component of dietary fiber found in oat grains. It is the major active compound in oats with proven cholesterol-lowering and antidiabetic effects. Oats also provide substantial levels of other bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, tocols, sterols, avenacosides, and avenanthramides. The consumption of oats has been determined to be beneficial for human health by promoting immunomodulation and improving gut microbiota. In addition, oat consumption assists in preventing diseases such as atherosclerosis, dermatitis, and some forms of cancer. While much has been published in relation to oat nutrients and oat fibers and their impact on major diseases, the oat industries and consumers may benefit from greater knowledge and understanding of clinical effects, range of occurrence, distribution, therapeutic doses and food functional attributes of other oat bioactives such as avenanthramides and saponins as well as other anti-inflammatory agents found in the cereal. This review focuses on the various studies relevant to the contribution of the consumption of oats and oat-based products in preventing human diseases and promoting human health.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) can cause toxicogenic effects in humans and animals when contaminated food products are consumed. Oat ( Avena sativa), like any other cereal grain, can be contaminated with OTA when storage conditions are favorable for fungal growth and toxin production. South Dakota is among the leading oat-producing states in the United States. It is therefore important to determine the frequency of occurrence of the primary OTA-producing fungal species on oat grains produced in the state. In this study, we evaluated oat grain samples from South Dakota for the incidence of Penicillium verrucosum, the major ochratoxigenic fungus in temperate regions. Kernels from 12 oat cultivars grown at multiple locations in South Dakota from 2014 to 2016 (15 location-year combinations) were plated on dichloran yeast extract sucrose glycerol agar medium. P. verrucosum was detected on 0.30, 0.19, and 0.05% of the kernels tested in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. Overall, 22 of the 360 evaluated samples had kernels contaminated with P. verrucosum. The fungal incidence of the contaminated samples ranged from 1 to 16%, and the majority of those samples originated from one location. All samples from 2014 and 2015 ( n = 240), except two, had no detectable levels of OTA. The concentration of OTA was well under the maximum limit recommended by the European Union for the two samples with detectable levels of OTA.

Background and objectives Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins in cereal grains. In temperate climates, Penicillium verrucosum is the primary OTA producer. Our objectives were (a) to determine the effects of various factors on OTA accumulation in oat grain inoculated with P. verrucosum and (b) to develop a method to screen oat cultivars for OTA accumulation. Findings Grain samples from three oat cultivars were inoculated with three different isolates of P. verrucosum, incubated at two water activity levels (0.85 and 0.90 aw) and two temperatures (22.5 and 27.5°C) for 4, 7, and 10 weeks. A water activity of 0.90 and a temperature of 22.5°C provided the highest level of OTA accumulation. Isolate C1136‐1 was the highest OTA producer among the isolates of P. verrucosum studied. The longer the incubation period, the higher the OTA accumulation in oat grain samples was. Conclusions The P. verrucosum isolate, the water activity and temperature during incubation, and the incubation period, all had an effect on the level of OTA accumulation. Inoculating grains with isolate C84‐2 and incubating at 22.5°C and 0.90 aw for 7 weeks provided adequate conditions to screen oat cultivars for OTA accumulation. Significance and novelty A new protocol was developed that can be used for discriminating among oat cultivars for level of OTA accumulation. It would ultimately help breeders and pathologists in selecting genotypes with reduced OTA accumulation.

Background and objectives Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a carcinogenic and nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by various Penicillium and Aspergillus species. Cereal grains, including oats, are among the food sources that can be contaminated with OTA. Grains of twelve oat cultivars grown in seven environments were inoculated with P. verrucosum and incubated at 0.90 aw and 22.5°C for 7 weeks. Our objectives were to (a) determine the effect of cultivar and growing environment on OTA contamination in oat grain and (b) identify oat grain characteristics associated with OTA accumulation. Findings The effect of the cultivar was significant in two of the environments considered. When data from all seven environments were combined for analysis, significant differences among oat cultivars were also observed. Grain composition and grain physical characteristics were determined to identify characteristics associated with OTA accumulation. We found that test weight, groat percent, the proportion of plump groats, and groat oil content were significantly correlated with the level of OTA accumulation in the grains. Conclusions Significant differences among genotypes for level of OTA accumulation suggest that cultivars with lower levels of OTA accumulation can be used to help mitigate risks of OTA contamination in oat grain. Significance and novelty This study is the first to report differences among oat cultivars for OTA accumulation.