# Out and Out Processed Products--Technology, Composition, Nutritional Value, and Health
## 5 Oat in the Treatment of Diseases of Affluence
### Out in the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases  
A well-documented property of \(\beta\)-glucan is its beneficial effect on glucose metabolism. For this reason, the use of oatmeal treatment is particularly recommended for people suffering from advanced type 2 diabetes. The hypoglycemic effect of \(\beta\)-glucans starts already at the stage of food digestion in the stomach. In an acidic environment, these soluble components of dietary fiber form solutions of very high viscosity, slowing down the digestion process. Consequently, there is a slower ejection of gastric contents into the duodenum and a slower further digestion of carbohydrates. Due to that fact, there is a lower rate of glucose release, which translates into lower postprandial glycemia and lower insulin requirements [110]. In a study conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes, it was found that the consumption of oat fiber reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an indicator that controls blood glucose levels, leading to lower levels [111]. Research also shows the potential of avenanthramides from oats to lower postprandial blood glucose levels. Both avenanthramides C and B have been shown to significantly inhibit the activity of the intestinal glucose-transporting proteins GLUT2 and SGLT1. These results suggest that avenanthramides may contribute to the antihyperglycemic properties associated with oat consumption [112]. Oat products, especially flour, bran, and oatmeal, have a significantly lower glycemic index compared to barley, wheat, or maize products [105; 113]. The in vivo study has shown that consumption of \(\beta\)-glucans from oat helped to lower total cholesterol and LDL fraction in plasma, with an additional positive effect on body weight reduction in obese individuals [5]. A study of the effects of \(\beta\)-glucans on cardiovascular disease risks (in vivo in animals) has shown that they reduced LDL cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) by 25-31% and 0.2-2.3%, respectively, and lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides levels [114]. \(\beta\)-glucans have the effect of reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine by forming a gel that binds cholesterol molecules. In one study, 33 volunteers with high LDL cholesterol levels consuming 3 g of \(\beta\)-glucans per day for 4 weeks acquired a 5.4% reduction in LDL cholesterol levels [115]. Another study of 60 overweight or obese individuals found that consuming 6 g of \(\beta\)-glucans per day for 12 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 5.5% and LDL cholesterol by 7.5% [116]. The findings of these studies confirm that the consumption of oat products can be an effective way to lower blood cholesterol levels, with \(\beta\)-glucans being the main component responsible for this effect. Studies have shown that human intestinal microflora metabolizes dietary fiber and \(\beta\)-glucans and provides the body with short-chain fatty acids. Increasing the ratio of propionate to acetic acid (the main substrate for cholesterol biosynthesis) results in a decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis [117]. The study showed that propionic acid and butyric acid decreased mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-Co-A) (rate-limiting enzyme) of cholesterol synthesis in Caco-2/TC-7 enterocytes [118]. Regular consumption of oat grain and oat products can help prevent and treat hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is a major contributor to heart diseases including coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke [119]. The mechanism of the influence of oat products on hypertension is complex and involves many factors. Oatmeal and other oat products contain high amounts of dietary fiber, \(\beta\)-glucans, and phytosterols, which may have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. \(\beta\)-glucan, which is the main component of oat fiber, works in several ways to lower blood pressure.