Oats May Help Prevent Clogged Arteries

Oats May Help Prevent Clogged Arteries

BOSTON--Already known for their ability to help lower cholesterol levels,oats may have additional cardiovascular benefits. A compound contained in oatsmay keep blood cells from sticking to artery walls, helping to prevent cloggedarteries and atherosclerosis, according to new research published in the Juneissue of Agricultural Research magazine (www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR).

Researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) HumanNutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Bostonpurified avenanthramides from oats and exposed them to human arterial wall cellsfor 24 hours. While observing the mixture under incubation, researchers foundsignificant reductions in both the expression of adhesion molecules (that glueblood cells to artery walls) and the sticking of blood cells to arterial wallcells. They concluded the adhesion suppression by the oat-compound may preventthe narrowing of artery walls caused by a buildup of blood cells andinflammation, which eventually leads to atherosclerosis.

Research has also proven fiber from oats helps reduce LDL cholesterol,reiterating the heart-healthy benefits of oats. Adding oat products as partof an overall healthy diet and cutting down on high-fat, high-cholesterol foodsare important to gaining these benefits, said Mohsen Meydani, DVM, Ph.D.,nutritionist and lead researcher of the study.