Daily oats improve high blood pressure
26 April 2002
A daily serving of whole oats rich in soluble fibre can improve blood pressure control and reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication, US research shows.
A total of 88 people being treated for hypertension were randomly assigned to a daily serving of whole grain oat-based cereal (containing about 3 g of soluble fibre) or refined grain wheat-based cereal (less than 1 g of soluble fibre) for 12 weeks.
In the oats group, 73 per cent stopped or reduced their medication by half during the study, compared to 42 per cent of people in the wheat group (Journal of Family Practice 2002; 51: 353-59).
People in the oats group who were unable to reduce medication still had substantial improvements in blood pressure, the researchers said.
People eating oats also had a 15 per cent drop in total cholesterol, a 16 per cent drop in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and improvement in blood glucose.
Last Reviewed: 26 April 2002
- Medical Observer Weekly 26/04/02
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