Cholesterol-lowering effects of oat β-glucan: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 25411276 · doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.086108
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of 28 randomized controlled trials (searched across PubMed, AGRICOLA, Scopus, and industry in-house reports from 1966 to 2013) to quantify the effect of ≥3 g/day of oat beta-glucan compared with control diets on serum cholesterol concentrations and potential effect modifiers.
What was found
Intake of ≥3 g/day oat beta-glucan significantly reduced LDL cholesterol by 0.25 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.20, 0.30; P < 0.0001) and total cholesterol by 0.30 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.24, 0.35; P < 0.0001). There was no significant effect on HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. Dose (range: 3.0–12.4 g/d) and duration (range: 2–12 weeks) did not alter outcomes. Greater LDL lowering occurred in participants with higher baseline LDL cholesterol, and stronger effects were observed in individuals with diabetes.
Why it matters
These findings reinforce established dietary health claims that consuming at least 3 g/day of oat soluble fiber meaningfully lowers circulating LDL and total cholesterol.
Limits
The total number of human participants across the 28 trials was not reported in the abstract. Interventions were short (2 to 12 weeks), searches included internal industry reports, and the diabetic subgroup analysis was based on few studies.