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Oat Prevents Obesity and Abdominal Fat Distribution, and Improves Liver Function in Humans

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Abstract

Obesity is associated with a great diversity of diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Our recent report suggested that oat, rich in beta-glucan, had a metabolic-regulating and liver-protecting effect in an animal model. In this study, we performed a clinical trial to further confirm the effect of oat. Subjects with BMI ≧27 and aged 18–65, were randomly divided into a control (n = 18) and an oat-treated (n = 16) group, taking a placebo or beta glucan-containing oat cereal, respectively, for 12 weeks. Our data showed that consumption of oat reduced body weight, BMI, body fat and the waist-to-hip ratio. Profiles of hepatic function, including AST, but especially ALT, were useful resources to help in the evaluation of the liver, since both showed decrements in patients with oat consumption. Nevertheless, anatomic changes were still not observed by ultrasonic image analysis. Ingestion of oat was well tolerated and there was no adverse effect during the trial. In conclusion, consumption of oat reduced obesity, abdominal fat, and improved lipid profiles and liver functions. Taken as a daily supplement, oat could act as an adjuvant therapy for metabolic disorders.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine transaminase

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

BMI:

Body mass index

BUN:

Blood urea nitrogen

FFA:

Free fatty acids

FS:

Fatty liver scores

γ-GT:

gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

TG:

Triacylglycerol

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Acknowledgments

We thank STANDARD Foods Co., Taiwan for providing all experimental diets.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medicine, Chung-Shan Medical University, Number 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

    Hong-Chou Chang & Chien-Ning Huang

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Number 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

    Chien-Ning Huang

  3. School of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Number 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

    Da-Ming Yeh

  4. Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Number 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

    Da-Ming Yeh

  5. Division of Research and Development, STANDARD Foods Co., Taipei, Taiwan

    Shing-Jung Wang

  6. Division of Basic Medical Science, Hungkuang University, Number 34, Chung Chie Road, , Shalu County,, Taichung 433, Taiwan

    Chiung-Huei Peng

  7. Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung-Shan Medical University, Number 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

    Chau-Jong Wang

  8. Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Number 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

    Chau-Jong Wang

Authors
  1. Hong-Chou Chang
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  2. Chien-Ning Huang
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  3. Da-Ming Yeh
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  4. Shing-Jung Wang
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  5. Chiung-Huei Peng
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chiung-Huei Peng or Chau-Jong Wang.

Additional information

Chiung-Huei Peng and Chau-Jong Wang contributed equally to this work and therefore, share the corresponding authorship.

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Chang, HC., Huang, CN., Yeh, DM. et al. Oat Prevents Obesity and Abdominal Fat Distribution, and Improves Liver Function in Humans. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 68, 18–23 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-013-0336-2

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