Oat Prevents Obesity and Abdominal Fat Distribution, and Improves Liver Function in Humans

Abstract

Obesity is associated with a great diversity of diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Our recent report suggested that oat, rich in beta-glucan, had a metabolic-regulating and liver-protecting effect in an animal model. In this study, we performed a clinical trial to further confirm the effect of oat. Subjects with BMI ≥27 and aged 18-65, were randomly divided into a control (n=18) and an oat-treated (n=16) group, taking a placebo or beta glucan-containing oat cereal, respectively, for 12 weeks. Our data showed that consumption of oat reduced body weight, BMI, body fat and the waist-to-hip ratio. Profiles of hepatic function, including AST, but especially ALT, were useful resources to help in the evaluation of the liver, since both showed decrements in patients with oat consumption. Nevertheless, anatomic changes were still not observed by ultrasonic image analysis. Ingestion of oat was well tolerated and there was no adverse effect during the trial. In conclusion, consumption of oat reduced obesity, abdominal fat, and improved lipid profiles and liver functions. Taken as a daily supplement, oat could act as an adjuvant therapy for metabolic disorders.

Dietary approach in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…The consumption of oat reduced the levels of AST and ALT, body weight, BMI, percentage of body fat, and waist-to-hip ratio. However, the anatomic changes were not observed on ultrasound examination [67] .…”

Functional foods to promote weight loss and satiety

“…Supplementation of oat cereal containing 3 g of b-glucan for 12 weeks reduced body weight and body fat, compared with a cereal without b-glucan [44]. The addition of oat bran (4 or 8 g b-glucan) to biscuits and juice increased satiety compared with the control meal without b-glucan, but b-glucan added only to biscuits did not produce this effect [42].…”

“…Recent studies increasingly point to a satietyenhancing effect of oat products, probably attributable to its b-glucan component [42][43][44]. Supplementation of oat cereal containing 3 g of b-glucan for 12 weeks reduced body weight and body fat, compared with a cereal without b-glucan [44].…”

Advances in the Use of Caenorhabditis Choose in the Nutritional Study of Obesity

“…As well as the use of legumes, it has been shown that oats, a nutritionally rich cereal, can also prolong life and reduce fat [47]. It provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties, and its consumption introduces a lowcalorie intervention through caloric dilution, as well as lowering lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, reducing body fat and risk factors for coronary disease [48][49][50][51][52][53].…”