Beta Glucan: Reduction of Cholesterol and Increase Intestinal Health

 Beta Glucan can offer an elegant solution for high cholesterol levels and intestinal health.

Heart and Gut balance is the focus of this detailed and well designed study.

All it took was 3 grams (about a tablespoon) of the beta glucan fiber from oat to balance their lipid profile and calm the gut (Cicero et al., 2020).

The study is double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over randomized clinical trial with 83 Italians that ate mediterranean diet. 

For 4 weeks the participants ate a prescribed mediterranean diet with low amounts of red meat and fats, then had a 4 weeks of either the placebo or beta glucan - but not knowing that there is a placebo/real materials (double-blind).

After a 8 weeks of supplementation they had a break ("wash out") before they crossed to 8 more weeks of supplementation. 

Blood work was taken throughout the trial.  

Abstract

The Beta-glucan Effects on Lipid profile, glycemia and inTestinal health (BELT) Study investigated the effect of 3 g/day oat beta-glucans on plasma lipids, fasting glucose and self-perceived intestinal well-being. The Study was an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over randomized clinical trial, enrolling a sample of 83 Italian free-living subjects, adherent to Mediterranean diet, with a moderate hypercholesterolemia and a low cardiovascular risk profile. Beta-glucans reduced mean LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from baseline by 12.2% (95%CI: −15.4 to −3.8) after 4 weeks of supplementation and by 15.1% (95%CI: −17.8 to −5.9) after 8 weeks of supplementation (p < 0.01 for both comparison and versus placebo). Between baseline and 4 weeks Total Cholesterol (TC) levels showed an average reduction of 6.5% (95%CI: −10.9 to −1.9) in the beta-glucan sequence; while non-HDL-C plasma concentrations decreased by 11.8% (95%CI: −14.6 to −4.5). Moreover, after 8 weeks of beta-glucan supplementation TC was reduced by 8.9% (95%CI: −12.6 to −2.3) and non-HDL-C levels by 12.1% (95%CI: −15.6 to −5.3). Decreases in TC and non HDL-C were significant also versus placebo (respectively p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 to both follow-up visits). Fasting plasma glucose and self-perceived intestinal well-being were not affected by both beta-glucan and placebo supplementation. Article

References

• Cicero, A. F., Fogacci, F., Veronesi, M., Strocchi, E., Grandi, E., Rizzoli, E., ... & Borghi, C. (2020). A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Medium-Term Effects of Oat Fibers on Human Health: The Beta-Glucan Effects on Lipid Profile, Glycemia and inTestinal Health (BELT) Study. Nutrients, 12(3), 686. Article
  

Dohrea 

We have developed our products based on scientific research and/or the practical experience of many healthcare practitioners. There is a growing body of literature on food based nutrition and supplements and their application in support of our health. Please use our products under the advisement of your doctor.

 PS. Beta Glucan has both the gluten free oat beta glucan fibers and probiotics for heart - gut health

Suggested amount: 1 tablespoon

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