A research team led by Dr. Vladimir Vuksan, a scientist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, analyzed and reviewed the results of 58 randomized, controlled trials involving the consumption of oats in which 4,000 people participated internationally. In an attempt to understand more thoroughly why oats can help lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health, the research team found two new biomarkers:
- Non-HDL Cholesterol – Total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, believed to contribute to cardiovascular disease
- Apolipoprotein B – Also called apoB, a lipoprotein that transmits low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, through the bloodstream
They believe that these biomarkers, with further study, will help determine what makes oats so effective at helping lower cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.
What Do We Know Now About Oats and Cholesterol?
Current research has shown strong links between the regular consumption of oats and reduced levels of LDL cholesterol. LDL's connection to heart disease is simple: bad cholesterol collects over time in blood vessel walls, where it causes blockages that prevent the flow of blood. The higher your LDL cholesterol levels, the higher your risk of heart attack from blood clots.
Oats contain polysaccharides called beta-glucans (β-Glucans). When beta-glucans come from an oat source, they efficiently lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol in the blood. Also, the fiber in oats helps raise the productivity of our digestive system, which allows our bodies to deliver nutrients and create and expel waste with greater potency.
What Do We Know About the Two New Biomarkers?
Dr. Vuksan's team discovered that among their test subjects eating oats, LDL cholesterol was reduced by 4.2%, non-HDL cholesterol fell by 4.8%, and apoB dropped by 2.3%. The reductions show that the two new biomarkers, non-HDL cholesterol and apoB, could play a considerable role in the way that our bodies use oats to reduce cholesterol levels.
These biomarkers are significant because:
- Non-HDL cholesterol encompasses all forms of cholesterol that have been proven to promote fatty deposit formation in arteries.
- ApoB exists on all lipoproteins that help create fat buildup in the cardiovascular system.
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| LDL cholesterol can dangerously build up in your arteries if left unchecked. Source: hhs.gov |
Research performed on these biomarkers so far has revealed that they associate strongly with the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with LDL-cholesterol levels in a normal range.
What Are the Problems Going Forward?
Foremost is the unexpected connection between the presence of type-2 diabetes and increases in LDL cholesterol levels despite the expecting reduction of non-HDL cholesterol and apoB. Historically, there has existed no such link between diabetes and increased LDL cholesterol.
Researchers still know very little about the action of oat consumption and how it carries out the task of lowering non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. A thorough understand of the underlying actions behind oats and reduced cholesterol will require studies of great magnitude and extremely focused research. However, the realization that the two new biomarkers could contribute drastically to the positive effect of oats on cholesterol helps to pave the path for future researchers interested in finally solving the mystery of the power of oats.
