Oat fiber lowered cholesterol and risk for heart and blood-
vessel disease, according to the results of a new study from the
Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of
Minnesota in St. Paul. Researchers recruited 75 healthy, non-
smoking men and women aged 22 to 65 with total cholesterol
levels of 200 mg per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or more, a level
which doctors say is the beginning of high risk for heart and
blood-vessel disease. Participants took 6 grams of concentrated
oat beta-glucan twice per day at morning and evening meals or a
placebo for six weeks. Doctors measured weight, blood pressure
and blood fats at the beginning of the study, and after three
and six weeks. The researchers asked participants to maintain
the usual diet and physical activity and to keep a diet diary
for three days at three and six weeks, which doctors analyzed
for nutrients. At the end of the study period, low-density
lipoprotein (LDL, the “bad” cholesterol) and total cholesterol
had both dropped in the beta-g