What is Oat beta-glucan?
Oat beta-glucan is a soluble (dissolves in liquid) dietary fiber that is made from oats. Beta-glucan is found naturally in several foods, including oats and barley. People have been growing and eating oats for more than 2,000 years and numerous food products containing oats are available in the US and around the world. Since the late 1980s, oat beta-glucan soluble fiber has been recognised as a beneficial dietary component. Originally, it was most commonly consumed in whole oats, rolled oats and oat bran, but oat beta-glucan is now also available as an additional ingredient for a variety of food products.
Beta-glucan is a major component of water soluble fiber from cereal grains including oat and barley. Beta-glucan in oats, mostly found in the bran, is extracted and then purified to remove other parts of the oat plant.
Benefits of Oat β-D Glucan
Oat beta glucans and weight management
Oat beta glucans are a special type of fiber because they can help slow the emptying of food from the stomach. This not only helps with the feeling of fullness but is believed to be one of the reasons why oat beta glucans have been found to be beneficial for blood sugar balance. Oat beta glucans can also bind to some of the calories you eat and carry them out of the body before they are even absorbed. Fiber is also helpful for cleansing the body which is important during any weight loss program.
Oat beta glucans and Cholesterol
Oat beta glucans have been studied for decades and have been shown to help lower cholesterol naturally. Oat beta glucans work through four main mechanisms. They have been shown to remove cholesterol already in the body, flush out cholesterol from the diet, bind to saturated fat and trans fat, and are transformed by good bacteria into substances that block cholesterol production.
Bioactive oat beta-glucan has been proven to reduce blood cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. This benefit is achieved with a daily intake of 3g bioactive oat beta-glucan and the claim can be used for foods containing at least 1g per serving.
Oat beta glucans and blood sugar balance
Oat beta glucans are a soluble fiber that is beneficial for supporting healthy blood sugar balance. They are a low glycemic index food which means they don’t negatively affect blood sugar levels. Actually they can lower the glycemic load, or the affect a whole meal has on blood sugar, of any meal they are added to. Oat beta glucans have been shown to blunt the blood sugar response to a given meal.
Oat beta glucans and Digestive Health
Oat beta glucans are known as what we now refer to as a prebiotic. This means they supply needed nutrients to good bacteria and help facilitate their health and growth. Good bacteria are very important for our overall health as they support the body by: breaking down and activating certain nutrients, creating necessary nutrients for the body, helping to improve immune function, fighting off harmful microbes such as candida and infectious bacteria, and supplying fuel to the cells that line the intestines.
Oat beta glucans and Immune Health
Many people don’t realise that much of our immune function comes from the gut. This is where our bodies interact with the outside world. New substances are introduced to the body through the gut. Oat beta glucans have been shown to have positive effects on immune function. One explanation for this can be shown through its benefits to good bacteria. Good bacteria, or probiotics, help to enhance our resistance to infection from bad bacteria, yeasts, and parasites.
Oat beta glucans and Metabolic Syndrome
The research on oat beta glucans and the multiple aspects of metabolic syndrome is compelling. Research has shown oat beta glucans have positive effects on many of the factors involved in metabolic syndrome. One animal study showed that Nutrim had a positive effect on slowing weight gain (19% reduction compared to control group), reducing blood sugar levels (32% reduction compared to control group) and reducing triglycerides (39% reduction compared to control group).
OatcanTM Specifications
- OatcanTM 10%
- OatcanTM 20%
- OatcanTM 55%
- OatcanTM 70%
- OatcanTM 80%
- OatcanTM 90%
Application
- Dietary supplements, foods, and beverages:
- Ingredients of health food
- Meal replacements
- Bakery goods
- Dairy products
- Functional beverage
- Solid beverage.
- Skin care
- Facial cream / lotion
- Eye cream / serum
- Body cream / lotion
- Hand cream / lotion
- Moisturising cream / lotion
- Face mask
- Cleanser
- Pre-sun cream / lotion
- After-sun cream / lotion
- Lip balms
- Wound dressings.
Recommended Daily Intake
The FDA and EU have authorised health claims based on a daily consumption of 3g of oat beta-glucan, the amount shown to significantly reduce total and LDL cholesterol levels. In most countries where a claim is allowed, the daily dose can be divided among three to four servings of food. The FDA authorized health claim requires a minimum of 0.75g per reference serving of food, for a daily intake of 3g.
