Oat Β-glucan Research Articles

Effect of Optimizing Fiber Intake of Mice on Weight Gain, Fat Mass, Oral Glucose and Insulin Tolerance Tests in Mice Fed a High Fat Diet

ObjectivesIn humans, fiber intakes close to recommended levels (14g/1000 kcal, Institute of Medicine (IOM)) are associated with less chronic disease. In most semi-purified rodent diets, the only fiber source is cellulose. The main objective of this work was to determine if substituting a complex fiber blend for cellulose would affect metabolism of mice fed a 45% kcal from fat diet.MethodsTo model a recommended human fiber profile for rodents, the relative proportions of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin and beta-glucan were estimated from a one-day meal plan with the recommended fiber level using a food fiber composition database. Subsequently, a mix of oat hull fiber, pectin and beta-glucan was added to a high-fat rodent diet at the typical US intake or at the recommended level (8 g/1000kcal (low), 14 g/1000 kcal (high)). Three groups of C57Bl/6 mice (n = 12) were fed the experimental diets for 16 weeks. The third diet was also high fat but only contained cellulose. Body composition was measured by MRI at weeks 7 and 14. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT), were conducted at weeks 8 and 15 (OGTT) and week 16 (ITT).ResultsThere were no differences in final weight or weight gain in mice between the groups. There was a trend for mice fed the low complex fiber profile diet to have a higher body fat percentage than mice fed the other groups (p = 0.08). However, there were no differences in fasting glucose at week 8 or 15, and no significant differences in OGTT or ITT between the groups.ConclusionsRodent models are used extensively to investigate the role of nutrients in maintaining metabolic health and the prevention of chronic disease. These results indicate that exogenous fiber added to a high fat, semi-purified rodent diet does not improve body composition or glucose metabolism in mice.Funding SourcesThe National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Feeding cats with chronic kidney disease food supplemented with betaine and prebiotics increases total body mass and reduces uremic toxins.

Cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a decreased ability to maintain body weight. As CKD advances, loss of body weight contributes to morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of feeding betaine and prebiotics on body weight of both CKD and healthy cats. The pre-trial food (control food) was a complete and balanced dry food designed to aid in the management of CKD. Test food was the control food supplemented with betaine (0.500%) and prebiotics: long-chain oat beta-glucan (0.586%) and 0.407% short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS). The CKD cats (n = 7) were fed pre-trial food for 28 days and then randomly assigned to control food or test food. Each food was fed for 8 weeks in a cross-over study design. In a second study, healthy cats received control food or test food for 8 weeks (n = 8 each group). Blood, urine, and fecal samples were collected to evaluate concentrations of relevant kidney function biomarkers and metabolites at the end of each feeding period for CKD cats, and blood samples were collected monthly to evaluate concentrations of plasma metabolites for healthy cats. Body weight and composition were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan at baseline and after each feeding period. Total body mass was significantly higher in CKD cats after consuming test food compared with control food (P = 0.004), with no significant difference in food intake while consuming test or control food (P = 0.34). Test food did not affect total body mass or composition of healthy cats. Indole compounds produced by bacterial metabolism were decreased in urine and increased in feces of CKD cats fed test food, and plasma concentrations were negatively correlated with the level of kidney function, indicating a potential benefit of consuming test food. In healthy cats, consuming test food resulted in significantly decreased concentrations of plasma P-cresol sulfate (P = 0.004) and increased concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; both P < 0.05), despite the fact that both control and test foods had similar concentrations of these long-chain fatty acids, 0.03% and 0.02%, respectively. These results suggest that the addition of betaine and prebiotics to the control food formula may have increased total body mass in CKD cats by enhancing one-carbon metabolism and by modulating the gut microbiome.

Effects of Oat Beta-Glucan Intake on Lipid Profiles in Hypercholesterolemic Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

(1) Background: hyperlipidemia is one of the cardiovascular diseases which becomes a great threat to the health of people worldwide. Oat beta-glucan is reported to have a beneficial effect on lowering blood lipids. To probe the effect of oat beta-glucan consumption on serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, total triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol), we carried out a systematic search on randomized controlled trials of oat beta-glucan intervention on hypercholesterolemic individuals. (2) Methods: the pieces of literature were obtained from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the Embase from inception to 28 February 2022. The results were presented with the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% CI. The random-effects or fixed-effects model was applied according to the heterogeneity. The subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to identify the source of heterogeneity. (3) Results: thirteen trials with 927 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Overall, oat beta-glucan supplementation significantly reduced levels of TC (pooled WMD = −0.24 mmol/L; 95%CI: −0.28 to −0.20 mmol/L), LDL-c (pooled WMD = −0.27 mmol/L; 95%CI: −0.35 to −0.20 mmol/L). Furthermore, beta-glucan consumption did not show significant effects on TG (pooled WMD = −0.04 mmol/L; 95%CI: −0.13 to 0.05 mmol/L), HDL-c (pooled WMD = 0.00 mmol/L; 95%CI: −0.05 to 0.05 mmol/L). Subgroup analysis indicated that critical factors, such as disease severity of participants, the daily intervention of oat beta-glucan, source of oat beta-glucan, and duration of intervention had impacts on outcomes. (4) Conclusions: oat beta-glucan intake may significantly decrease the level of TC and LDL-c while no significant changes in TG and HDL-c were observed. This meta-analysis supports the health benefits of oat beta-glucan, especially for its cholesterol-lowering features, although it has some inevitable limitations.

Oat β Glucan Ameliorates Renal Function and Gut Microbiota in Diabetic Rats.

Diabetic nephropathy is a severe complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease and death. Therefore, we must find effective prevention and treatment approaches to the problem. Oat has a long history of use for its nutritional and medicinal properties, such as maintaining physiological blood glucose levels. Oat β glucan is one of the major bioactive substances produced by oat. However, the protective effects of oat β glucan on diabetic nephropathy are still unclear. This study generated a rat model of diabetic nephropathy to explore the potent therapeutic ability and mechanism of oat β glucan in renal function by 16S rRNA genes sequencing. Diabetic nephropathy model was established in forty rats by left nephrectomy and single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. These rats were randomly divided into the model group and three oat β glucan intervention groups. Twenty rats underwent sham operation and were randomly divided into normal control group and oat β glucan control group. Animals were treated by oral gavage for 8 consecutive weeks. The results showed that oat β glucan reduced blood glucose level and improved renal function (P < 0.05). Oat β glucan significantly improved serum inflammatory levels (P < 0.05). The diversity of intestinal microflora in diabetic nephropathy rats decreased with time prolongation, while oat β-glucan reversed the result. Compared with the model group at week 8, the abundances of Eubacterium, Butyricicoccus, and Ruminococcus were elevated significantly after oat β glucan intervention (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that abundances of Eubacterium, Butyricicoccus, and Ruminococcus were significantly negatively correlated with the levels of renal impairment markers. In summary, the findings of this study showed that oat β glucan can increase the diversity of intestinal flora, regulate the composition of intestinal flora, modulate intestinal flora metabolism, alleviate the inflammatory response, and further delay the development of diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, oat β glucan has the potential to be developed into the novel and safe drug for diabetic nephropathy.

Formation and Characterization of the Complex of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Oat β-Glucan

Formation and Characterization of the Complex of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Oat β-Glucan

Efficacy of oats for dyslipidaemia: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionDyslipidaemia is a critical factor in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Concerning dyslipidaemia regulation, we advocate for lifestyle interventions such as diet to complement drug treatment. Numerous studies have...

Physicochemical and functional characterisation of pectin from margarita sweet potato leaves

Underutilised agricultural biomass is a rich source of food ingredients. In this study, pectin from Ipomoea batatas (Margarita) leaves (SPL, or sweet potato leaves) was extracted and evaluated for its physicochemical and functional properties. SPL pectin was composed of galacturonic acid (55.21 ± 2.57%), with a high methylation level of 61.60% and an acetylation level of 3.27%. In comparison to commercially available oat beta-glucan (Promoat® β-glucan), SPL pectin achieved better water holding capacity and emulsion stability index. In vitro starch digestibility test also revealed a dose–response inhibitory effect with increased SPL pectin in both wheat and rice noodles, respectively. Based on these findings, SPL leaves could potentially be upcycled into new functional food ingredients, thereby achieving an effective valorisation process.

Regular Consumption of Green Coffee Phenol, Oat β-Glucan and Green Coffee Phenol/Oat β-Glucan Supplements Does Not Change Body Composition in Subjects with Overweight and Obesity.

Many in vitro and in vivo studies support that green coffee polyphenols (GCP) and beta-glucans (BG) present important hypolipidaemic and hypoglycaemic effects. However, their weight-management/-reducing properties are less clear. Considering that these compounds act on different metabolic pathways, their combination could increase their beneficial health effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of regularly consuming supplements containing GCP, BG or the novel GCP/BG combination on body composition in overweight/obese subjects without changing their dietary and physical activity habits, hence addressing the difficulty to adapt to lifestyle changes. A randomised, cross-over, blind trial was carried out in 29 volunteers who consumed GCP (300 mg), BG (2.5 g) or GCP/BG (300 mg + 2.5 g) twice a day for 8 weeks. At the beginning and end of each of the interventions, body weight, body mass index, body fat%, intracellular and extracellular water, skinfolds (tricipital, bicipital, subscapularis, suprailiac, leg and thigh) and body circumferences (waist, hip, thigh, calf, branchial) were measured. Along the study, volunteers filled out 72 h dietary records, and physical activity was measured using accelerometers. The results show that dietary intake and physical activity were unchanged throughout the study; however, there were no changes in any of the body composition parameters analysed with any of the food supplements. In conclusion, the regular intake of GCP, BG and GCP/BG, without changes in diet and physical activity, is not an efficient strategy to lose weight or induce other positive changes in body composition, although results should be taken with caution as the study was underpowered.

Study on the Incorporation of Oat and Yeast β-Glucan into Shortbread Biscuits as a Basis for Designing Healthier and High Quality Food Products.

According to international health and food organizations and authorities, people should limit fat intake since fat is the most caloric component of food and it is often a source of unsafe saturated fatty acids (FA) and trans isomers. The greatest health benefits come from replacing shorts with dietary fiber molecules. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of reducing shortening content, which has an undesirable profile of FA, by addition of β-glucan molecules in shortbread biscuits. The effect of oat and yeast β-glucan supplementation on physical and sensory quality of products with reduced fat content (max 15%) were studied. It was shown that the substitution of shortening by β-glucan in shortbread biscuits is possible to a limited extent. Reduction in product energy value (up to 36 kcal/100 g) and content of undesirable FA (maximum 2.1 g/100 g) and increased of β-glucan content, regardless of the type, caused deterioration of biscuits quality and affected changes during storage. The substitution of shortening by β-glucan in food is a good way to improve nutritional value by increasing the amount of dietary fiber molecules, reducing calories, and amount of SFA in diets.

Colon Expression of Chemokines and Their Receptors Depending on the Stage of Colitis and Oat Beta-Glucan Dietary Intervention-Crohn's Disease Model Study.

Crohn’s disease (CD), a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission, is becoming common around the world. This study aimed to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of oat beta-glucans of varying molar masses by modulating the expression of chemokines and their receptors as well as other proteins related to both stages of TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzosulfonic acid)-induced colitis, which is an animal model of CD. The experiment involved 96 Sprague–Dawley rats, which were divided into two main groups: control and TNBS-induced colitis. Both groups of rats were further divided into three dietary subgroups, which were fed with standard feed or feed supplemented with low- or high-molar-mass oat beta-glucans for 3 (reflecting acute inflammation) or 7 days (reflecting pre-remission). The gene expression of chemokines and their receptors in the colon wall was determined by RT-PCR, and the expression of selected proteins in the mucosa was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that acute and pre-remission stages of colitis were characterized by the increased gene expression of seven chemokines and four chemokine receptors in the colon wall as well as disrupted protein expression of CXCL1, CCL5, CXCR2, CCR5, and OPN in the mucosa. The consumption of oat beta-glucans resulted in decreased expression of most of these genes and modulated the expression of all proteins, with a stronger effect observed with the use of high-molar-mass beta-glucan. To summarize, dietary oat beta-glucans, particularly those of high molar mass, can reduce colitis by modulating the expression of chemokines and their receptors and certain proteins associated with CD.

Management of Hypercholesterolemia Through Dietary ß-glucans–Insights From a Zebrafish Model

Consumption of lipid-rich foods can increase the blood cholesterol content. β-glucans have hypocholesterolemic effect. However, subtle changes in their molecular branching can influence bioactivity. Therefore, a comparative investigation of the cholesterol-lowering potential of two β-glucans with different branching patterns and a cholesterol-lowering drug, namely simvastatin was undertaken employing the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Fish were allocated to 5 dietary treatments; a control group, a high cholesterol group, two β-glucan groups, and a simvastatin group. We investigated plasma total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, histological changes in the tissues, and explored intestinal transcriptomic changes induced by the experimental diets. Dietary cholesterol likely caused the suppression of endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis, induced dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and altered the histomorphology of the intestine. The two β-glucans and simvastatin significantly abated the rise in plasma cholesterol levels and restored the expression of specific genes to alleviate the endoplasmic reticulum-related effects induced by the dietary cholesterol. Furthermore, the distinct patterns of transcriptomic changes in the intestine elicited by the oat and microalga β-glucans impacted processes such as fatty acid metabolism, protein catabolic processes, and nuclear division. Oat and microalgal β-glucans also altered the pattern of lipid deposition in the liver. Our study provides insights into the effectiveness of different β-glucans to alleviate dysfunctions in lipid metabolism caused by dietary cholesterol.

The interplay between oat beta glucan, gut microbiota and gut-liver axis in treatment of obesity associated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and Type II diabetes mellitus

Dietary fibers regulate host health through various mechanisms related to their physicochemical structure and physiological properties in the gut. The interplay between diet, gut microbiota and human host appear to play a significant role in pathogenesis of obesity associated complications. This study was designed to unravel oat beta glucan modulatory effect on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and type II diabetes mellitus in high fat fed rats and to explain possible pathomechanics involving gut microbiota and gut liver axis. Sixty male albino rats were included and randomly divided into four equal groups: control group; positive control group; diet induced obesity group; oat beta glucan treated group. All were subjected to assessment of glycemic profile; liver enzymes; serum trimethylamine-N-oxide levels; hepatic G-protein coupled receptor 43 relative gene expression. Histopathological examination of hepatic tissue was performed. Results revealed that oat beta glucan administration improved the biochemical changes. The histopathological findings confirmed the biochemical changes. Gut microbiota appeared to be highly implicated via its metabolites short chain fatty acids and trimethylamine. Our conclusion was that oat beta glucan was a successful compliance in the management strategy of hepatic steatosis and diabetes mellitus via modulating a number of gut microbial products.

Oat β-glucan and L-arabinose synergistically ameliorate glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and exert anti-diabetic activity via activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in db/db mice.

Oat β-glucan (OBG) and L-arabinose (LA) have exhibited positive effects on diabetes and its complications. However, it is unclear whether OBG and LA have a synergistic effect. We investigated the effect of variable compositions (OBG : LA = 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4,1 : 6, 1 : 8, 1 : 10, 2 : 1, 4 : 1, 6 : 1, 8 : 1, 10 : 1) on glucose uptake in IR-HepG2 cells induced by dexamethasone (DEX) to find out the optimal composition showing synergistic effects. Furthermore, this study evaluated the anti-diabetic activity of the optimal composition in db/db mice. In vitro, the OBG : LA = 1 : 1 group showed the strongest synergistic effects among the varied compositions, outperforming OBG and LA alone. In vivo, there were more beneficial effects in the OBG : LA = 1 : 1 group compared with the OBG and LA single-dosing groups. OBG : LA = 1 : 1 supplementation markedly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin (INS) in serum, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lowered blood lipid levels, and reduced liver lipid accumulation. Moreover, the western blot results indicated that the OBG : LA = 1 : 1 group up-regulated the protein expression of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and phospho-protein kinase B (p-AKT), while down-regulating the protein expression of phospho-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (p-IRS1) to enhance insulin transduction in liver tissues. These findings suggest that OBG : LA = 1 : 1 synergistically ameliorated glucose metabolism disorders and alleviated insulin resistance by promoting the PI3K/AKT pathway in the liver.

Effects of whole-grain barley and oat β-glucans on postprandial glycemia and appetite: a randomized controlled crossover trial.

This study aimed to determine the postprandial effects of barley bread (BB) and oat bread (OB), grain sources of β-glucans, on glycaemia and appetite by comparison with white bread (WB) and whole-wheat bread (WWB). This randomized controlled crossover trial included 20 healthy individuals (10 males and 10 females) who consumed WB, WWB, BB, and OB with a standard breakfast followed by an ad libitum lunch. Postprandial glucose and appetite responses were quantified as the incremental area under the curve (iAUC). Although the iAUC for glycaemic response was lower by 23.7%, 29.9%, and 27.9% after the consumption of BB, OB, and WWB compared with WB (p = 0.023), no differences were observed between BB, OB, and WWB (p > 0.05). BB had a lower iAUC for appetite sensation by 21.5%, 23.9%, and 55.7% compared with WB, WWB, and OB (p = 0.005). OB had no effect on appetite and was also less palatable than BB. Subsequent food intakes were similar after the consumption of all test breads (p > 0.05). The encouragement of healthier bread formulations that can beneficially modulate postprandial glycemia and appetite may contribute to the promotion of public health. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04749498.

Influence of 8-week daily consumption of a new product combining green coffee hydroxycinnamates and beta-glucans on polyphenol bioavailability in subjects with overweight and obesity.

Nutraceuticals based on plant extracts rich in polyphenols, as well as dietary fibres, are new means to fight overweight/obesity and associated diseases. However, to understand the potential effects of polyphenols on health it is critical to study their bioavailability and metabolic fate. Consumption of a green coffee phenolic extract (GCPE) in combination with oat beta-glucan (BG) could affect the pharmacokinetic profile of the main polyphenols present in coffee (hydroxycinnamates). Moreover, the regular intake of the combination could also induce changes. Nine overweight men and women consumed a novel nutraceutical product containing 300 mg of green coffee hydroxycinnamic acids and 2.5 g of BG twice a day for 8 weeks. A pharmacokinetic study was carried out in blood and urine samples taken before (baseline) and at week 8 after the nutraceutical intervention, collecting samples at different times in a 0-24 h interval. Faecal samples were also obtained at 0 and 24 h after the intake of the nutraceutical at baseline and week 8. Phenolic metabolites were analysed by LC-MS-QToF. Results showed that polyphenols were differentially absorbed and extensively metabolized throughout the gastrointestinal tract. An apparent reduction in the excretion of small intestinal metabolites was accompanied by a tendency to increase colonic metabolites after sustained intake (p = 0.052). In conclusion, continued consumption of the GCPE/BG nutraceutical appears to enhance the absorption of hydroxycinnamates by increasing the colonic bioavailability of their derived metabolites compared to baseline, although the regular intake of the nutraceutical did not modify the metabolite profile in any of the biological samples.

Whole grain benefit: synergistic effect of oat phenolic compounds and β-glucan on hyperlipidemia via gut microbiota in high-fat-diet mice.

Increasing evidence has confirmed that whole grain oats are effective in regulating hyperlipidemia. However, which specific ingredient is crucial remains unclear. This study focused on which whole grain components, oat phenolic compounds (OPC) or oat β-glucan (OBG), can regulate lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. The experiment unveiled that OPC and/or OBG not only reduced the body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) but also regulated serum and hepatic lipid levels in high-fat-diet (HFD) fed mice. There was no significant difference in the regulatory effects of OPC and OBG (p > 0.05). The combination of OPC and OBG (OPC + OBG) significantly decreased the body weight (p < 0.01) and reduced the blood glucose (p < 0.01) and lipid profile levels (p < 0.01). The real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) study revealed that OPC + OBG significantly altered mRNA expression related to lipid metabolism. Histopathological analysis showed that OPC + OBG improved liver lipid deposition as well as liver oxidative stress (p < 0.05). In addition, OPC + OBG combination regulated the gut microbiota community phenotype and increased probiotics. OPC + OBG significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and reduced the abundance of Firmicutes (p < 0.05) compared with the OPC and OBG fed mice. In conclusion, OPC + OBG has a synergistic effect in alleviating hyperlipidemia via lipid metabolism and gut microbiota composition. This finding also provided a potential justification for the advantages of whole grains in preventing hyperlipidemia.

Evaluation of novel nutraceuticals based on the combination of oat beta-glucans and a green coffee phenolic extract to combat obesity and its comorbidities. A randomized, dose-response, parallel trial.

Obesity and its associated comorbidities are a major public health concern worldwide. Reduced energy intake and increased physical activity interventions have limited success in the long term. Nutraceuticals might be an alternative means to help lose weight and reduce obesity-associated cardiometabolic risk factors without changes in the habitual diet. The objective of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the efficiency of nutraceuticals based on the combination of a decaffeinated green coffee bean extract (GCBE) and two types of oat beta-glucans (BG) with different physiochemical properties on obesity related biomarkers in overweight/obese subjects. A randomized, dose-response, parallel, blind study was carried out in four groups of subjects (n = 15 each) who consumed for 6 weeks, twice a day, a nutraceutical containing 3 g d-1 or 5 g d-1 doses of 35% or 70% BG and a fixed amount of GCBE providing 600 mg d-1 of phenols. 35% BG showed a 10 and 100 times higher molecular weight and viscosity, respectively, compared to 70% BG. Food intake, anthropometry and different cardiometabolic markers were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention. According to the general model of variance with repeated measure analysis, the intervention caused positive changes in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, haemoglobin A1c, insulin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total body fat percentage (TBF%), visceral fat percentage, and waist and hip circumferences without differences among the treatments, except for SBP and TBF%. Looking into the rates of change [(end value - beginning value)/beginning value] of these parameters, 5 g - 70% BG was the treatment that lowered TBF% the most. In conclusion, 5 g - 70% BG may be more effective in helping to lose weight and additionally, it produced the least bloating according to participants' subjective perception.

Oats as a Functional Food

Oat (Avena sativa) belongs to the grass (Poaceae) family. It has been recognized as a healthful and nutritious cereal containing high concentration of soluble fiber compounds such as β-glucan, which are beneficial for digestive system and preventive against colon rectal cancer help to maintain an optimal weight due to high fiber content. It also contains antioxidants, vitamins, phenolic acids sterols and phytic acid which has essential role in our body functioning. The key cholesterol lowering ingredient in oats is soluble fiber. β-glucans, the most important cereal non-starch. β-glucan, is abundant in oat kernels and exhibits a high viscosity at relatively low concentrations. Viscosity is an important rheological property of β-glucan and is associated with beneficial physiologic responses that mediate appetite regulation. Oats were traditionally eaten as porridge with salt or sugar were added recent modern product innovation has created an array of oat products (Oat breads, oat cakes and oats milk etc.). Oats are used as an additive in Cereal breakfast, baked goods, oat milk and oat powder is incorporated in many Dairy products like (low-fat ice creams, yoghurts, cheese and other fermented drinks). It is stated that 3 g/day oat β-glucan reduced the total and LDL cholesterol by five to ten per cent.

Acute effect of oat β-glucan on the bioavailability of orange juice flavanones

The impact of β-glucan on the bioavailability of orange juice (OJ) flavanones was investigated in a randomised controlled trial. Volunteers consumed 500 mL of OJ without or with either 3 g (OB-3) or 6 g (OB-6) of β-glucan. Urine samples, collected 12 h before and over a 0–24 h period post-supplementation, were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The overall 0–24 h urinary excretion of the 17 flavanone metabolites identified and quantified in urine after OJ ingestion corresponded to 29.7 µmol, and 25.0 and 9.3 µmol, respectively, after OB-3 and OB-6 intake. This corresponds to 9.3, 7.9, and 2.9% recoveries of the 318 µmol of the ingested flavanones. The acute ingestion of OJ with 6 g, but not 3 g of β-glucan led to a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the excretion of flavanone metabolites compared with consumption of OJ alone.

Preparation and characterization of feruloylated oat β-glucan with antioxidant activity and colon-targeted delivery

Ferulic acid (FA) is an effective chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer. However, FA cannot stably reach the colon through human digestive system, and it can be grafted into oligosaccharides to improve its digestion stability. Therefore, in this study, different degrees of substitution of feruloylated oat β-glucan (FA-OβG) were prepared by grafting FA onto water soluble oat β-glucan. FA grafting changed the crystallinity and surface morphology of OβG, and the thermal stability of the FA-OβG improved. As the DS increased, the antioxidant activity of FA-OβG increased, and FA-OβG III with DS of 0.184 showed the same antioxidant activities compared to the equal amount of free FA. The FA-OβG showed higher stability under gastrointestinal and colonic conditions than free FA. Furthermore, the FA-OβG conjugates exhibited good in vitro anticancer activity against human colorectal cancer cells, while FA-OβG III showed better anticancer activity than an equal amount of free FA.