Proven to lower cholesterol for a healthy heart

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 with at least 1g per quantified portion.

*Following an application from CreaNutrition, the EU Commission has given final authorisation on the oat beta-glucan disease risk reduction health claim and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 15. November 2011 (Commission Regulation (EU) NO 1160/2011).

**Bioactivity: An in vitro method is used to determine the characteristics of the oat beta-glucan in the small intestine. It can be used as an indicator of biological effectiveness of a food product. All health benefits are scientifically substantiated by OatWell® human intervention trials.

The cholesterol lowering concept is based on the active and natural soluble fiber in oat bran (Oat ß-glucan). The daily intake of 3 g oat ß-glucan has, in numerous clinical trials over the last two decades, been proven to significantly reduce cholesterol levels. This has been affirmed by the allowance of approved health claims in the US, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and EU Comission associating the consumption of soluble fiber from oats and oat bran, to the reduction of cholesterol and decreased risk of CHD. The cholesterol lowering concept, with the inclusion of OatWell oat bran, offers a wide range of reliable food product applications applying to consumer’s current eating habits.

Functional Properties

Oat ß-glucan helps reduce blood cholesterol levels by increasing viscosity in the intestines. The viscosity reduces the reabsorbing of bile acids into the digestive tract, which are therefore excreted. As less bile acids are absorbed into the bloodstream, less are available for the synthesis of cholesterol – hence, the level of blood cholesterol is reduced.

Target customers

• Health-conscious consumers
• Consumers with elevated cholesterol levels
• Consumers with additional CHD risk factors.

Please see Mechanism of action, cholesterol control under science for more information.