Plasma cholesterol reduction in hamsters fed all barley, oat or wheat breads with and without soluble cellulose

All oat and barley breads, commercially unavailable, were developed and evaluated for their cholesterol lowering properties. The two cereal grains, oat and barley, contain significant amounts of beta‐glucan soluble fiber. FDA has allowed heart health claims if serving size meets the prescribed minimal amounts of whole grain oat or barley. Oat and barley breads were formulated by the addition of 5% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) as a gluten replacer and as an additional source of soluble fiber. The breads were freeze dried and ground into a powder that was incorporated into diets. Hamsters fed a high fat diet including 0.1% cholesterol were fed diets containing wheat, oat and barley breads with and without HPMC. Compared to the animals fed the control diet containing 5% microcrystalline cellulose wheat, oat and barley fed animals had about 30% lower LDL cholesterol. The addition of 5% additional HPMC further reduced LDL cholesterol 50% in diets containing oat and barley but not wheat compared to control. The plasma cholesterol profile of oat bread containing soluble cellulose resembled plasma from animals fed low fat (chow) diets. Liver weight and lipids, fecal sterols and bile acids from cereal grain only and HPMC supplemented hamsters were also correlated with diet. Whole grain and flours containing bran and germ, including wheat, were effective in lowering plasma cholesterol.