Carbohydrates and Health

8.81 The trial not included in the meta-analysis reports no significant effect of oat bran
on blood pressure (Swain et al., 1990). The trial identified in the update search
reports no significant effect of β-glucan-rich oat products on blood pressure.
Oat bran and β-glucans and systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• Effect
• Moderate evidence
• The direction of the effect demonstrates higher consumption of oat bran and oat
β-glucans is beneficial to health
• The effect is biologically relevant
Fasting blood lipids
8.82 Seven randomised controlled trials were identified that presented evidence on
oat bran or β-glucan supplementation in relation to fasting total cholesterol,
LDL- and HDL- cholesterol concentration all of which were included in a metaanalysis
(Swain et al., 1990; Johnston, 1998; Romero et al., 1998; Saltzman et al.,
2001; Davy et al., 2002b; Chen et al., 2006; Keenan et al., 2007). All of the trials,
except one (Swain et al., 1990), also presented evidence on oat bran or β-glucan
supplementation in relation to fasting triacylglycerol concentration and were
included in a meta-analysis. One trial was subsequently identified in the update
search (Charlton et al., 2012) (Cardio-metabolic review, hyperlipidaemia and blood
lipids chapter; Update search). All trials, except one that supplemented subjects’
diets with refined barley β-glucans (Keenan et al., 2007), compared oat bran and/
or oat meal containing diets to a refined wheat control or in one case wheat bran
(Romero et al., 1998). One trial also supplemented subjects’ diets with refined oat
β-glucan (Charlton et al., 2012). One of the trials was a weight-loss trial (Saltzman
et al., 2001).
8.83 An effect is demonstrated for the consumption of oat bran or β-glucan supplements
on lowering fasting total cholesterol concentration (-0.27mmol/L, 95% CI -0.43,
-0.10; p=0.002). The trial identified in the update search reports no significant
effect of β-glucan-rich oat products on fasting total cholesterol concentration.
8.84 An effect is demonstrated for the consumption of oat bran or β-glucan supplements
on lowering fasting LDL-cholesterol concentration (-0.22mmol/L, 95% CI -0.34,
-0.10; p