NatCom: Two Days on an Oatmeal Diet Significantly Lower “Bad” Cholesterol

Researchers at the University of Bonn have found that a short-term oatmeal-based diet can significantly reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol. The results of the study were published in Nature Communications (NatCom).

The study involved 68 participants. Some volunteers ate almost exclusively oatmeal cooked in water for two days, with small amounts of fruits or vegetables. They consumed about 300 grams of oats per day, receiving roughly half their usual caloric intake. The control group also followed a low-calorie diet but without oatmeal.

Analyses showed that the two-day oatmeal diet produced the most pronounced effect. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in participants in the experimental group dropped by an average of 10%. They also lost about two kilograms of body weight, and their blood pressure decreased slightly. These changes persisted for up to six weeks, whereas the metabolic improvements in the control group were less noticeable.

The researchers also conducted an additional experiment in which participants ate 80 grams of oatmeal per day for six weeks without restricting calories. However, this regimen had only a modest effect on cholesterol levels.

According to the scientists, the mechanism behind oatmeal’s effect appears to involve the gut microbiome. The diet stimulated the growth of beneficial bacteria that break down oatmeal components and produce phenolic compounds, which influence cholesterol metabolism. At the same time, activity of microbes associated with metabolism that impairs insulin sensitivity decreased.

The authors note that a short but intensive oatmeal diet could serve as an additional non-pharmacological approach to lowering cholesterol, although it does not replace medication and requires further research.

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