Oats (Avena sativa) Research

Latin Name: Avena sativa

Family: Poaceae

GENERAL

• Natural Medicines (2015).  Oats Monograph.  Retrieved in July, 2016.  Retrieved from www.naturalmedicines.com
• Petersen, D. (2016).  Course Material.  HERB503, Advanced Herbal Materia Medica II.  American College of Healthcare Sciences.  www.achs.edu.
• Chatuevedi, N., Yadav, S., & Shukla, K. (2011). Diversified therapeutic potential of Avena sativa: an exhaustive review. Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 1(3), 103-114.
• Wallo, W. (2007). COLLOIDAL OATMEAL: HISTORY, CHEMISTRY AND CLINICAL PROPERTIES.  Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

CARDIAC HEALTH

• In a randomized controlled dietary trial in middle-aged healthy individuals, daily consumption of 3 portions of whole-grain foods significantly reduced cardiovascular disease risk mainly through blood pressure–lowering mechanisms. From:  Tighe, P., Duthie, G., Vaughan, N., Brittenden, J., Simpson, W. G., Duthie, S., … & Thies, F. (2010). Effect of increased consumption of whole-grain foods on blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk markers in healthy middle-aged persons: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 92(4), 733-740.
• A human study of 43 adults showed a diet containing oats consumed over 6 wk resulted in greater improvements in systolic blood pressure and lipid profile. From:  Saltzman, E., Das, S. K., Lichtenstein, A. H., Dallal, G. E., Corrales, A., Schaefer, E. J., … & Roberts, S. B. (2001). An oat-containing hypocaloric diet reduces systolic blood pressure and improves lipid profile beyond effects of weight loss in men and women. The Journal of nutrition, 131(5), 1465-1470.
• A review of 21 high quality human intervention studies showed that regular oat consumption is an effective way to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors.  From:  Ruxton, C. H. S., & Derbyshire, E. (2008). A systematic review of the association between cardiovascular risk factors and regular consumption of oats. British Food Journal, 110(11), 1119-1132.

​CHOLESTEROL LOWERING

• Beta-glucan from oats significantly reduced the total and LDL cholesterol levels of 19 hypercholesterolemic subjects.  From:  Braaten, J. T., Wood, P. J., Scott, F. W., Wolynetz, M. S., Lowe, M. K., Bradley-White, P., & Collins, M. W. (1994). Oat beta-glucan reduces blood cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolemic subjects. European journal of clinical nutrition, 48(7), 465-474
• Seventy-five hypercholesterolemic patients who took oat beta glucan reduced LDL cholesterol compared to the control.  From:  Queenan, K. M., Stewart, M. L., Smith, K. N., Thomas, W., Fulcher, R. G., & Slavin, J. L. (2007). Concentrated oat β-glucan, a fermentable fiber, lowers serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults in a randomized controlled trial. Nutrition Journal, 6(1), 6.
• Oat fiber extracts containing either low or high beta-glucan content were given to 23 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects and total cholesterol levels from the higher beta-glucan extract diet were significantly lower.   From:  Behall, K. M., Scholfield, D. J., & Hallfrisch, J. (1997). Effect of beta-glucan level in oat fiber extracts on blood lipids in men and women. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 16(1), 46-51.
• A review of research showed that four major water-soluble fibers:  β-glucan, psyllium, pectin and guar gum, effectively lowered serum LDL cholesterol levels, without affecting HDL cholesterol or triacylglycerol concentrations.  From:  Theuwissen, E., & Mensink, R. P. (2008). Water-soluble dietary fibers and cardiovascular disease. Physiology & behavior, 94(2), 285-292.
• A compilation of research showed the following herbs to have a hypolipidemic effect:  yarrow, onion, garlic, dill, celery, burdock, oats, barberry, cabbage, chili pepper, safflower, chicory, chickpea, bitter orange, orange, guggul, coriander, cranberry, melon, pumpkin, artichoke, ginseng, eugenol, schelelecht, ginkgo, soy, walnut, apple, nutmeg, red yeast rice, miswak, evening primrose, basil, bulacy, orchis, avocado, plantain, blond plotitago, green bean, purslane, black cherry, pomegranate, milk thistle, brinjal, tomato, tamarind, thea, thyme, fenugreek, bilberry, grape, ginger, and corn.  From:  Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).

​DIABETES

• Sixteen volunteers with type 2 diabetes were given food high in beta glucans, which predictably reduces their glycemic index.  From:  Jenkins, A. L., Jenkins, D. J. A., Zdravkovic, U., Wursch, P., & Vuksan, V. (2002). Depression of the glycemic index by high levels of beta-glucan fiber in two functional foods tested in type 2 diabetes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56(7), 622.

​GASTRIC CANCER

• Avenothramides in oats attenuate proliferation of colonic cancer cells in vitro.  From:  Guo, W., Nie, L., Wu, D., Wise, M. L., Collins, F. W., Meydani, S. N., & Meydani, M. (2010). Avenanthramides inhibit proliferation of human colon cancer cell lines in vitro. Nutrition and cancer, 62(8), 1007-1016.

​​ANTI-ITCH

• Based on in vitro and animal studies, avenanthramides from oats were a potent skin anti-itch and anti-inflammatory. From:  Sur, R., Nigam, A., Grote, D., Liebel, F., & Southall, M. D. (2008). Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity. Archives of dermatological research, 300(10), 569.
• Colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) has been used for centuries as a topical treatment for various skin conditions and was used in a blind study on twenty-nine female subjects with mild to moderate itching on their dry lower legs. The oatmeal significantly improved skin dryness, texture, and itch intensity.  From:  Michelle Garay, M. S., Judith Nebus, M. B. A., & Menas Kizoulis, B. A. (2015). Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 14(1), 43-48.
• Active colloidal oatmeal moisturizer showed effectiveness in this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study. From:  Kalaaji, A. N., & Wallo, W. (2014). A randomized controlled clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of an active moisturizing lotion with colloidal oatmeal skin protectant versus its vehicle for the relief of xerosis. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 13(10), 1265-1268.
• This overview of oatmeal (Avena sativa) shows research for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can be useful in topically treating pruritus, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and viral and fungal infections. From:  Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Kazerouni, A., & Feily, A. (2012). Oatmeal in dermatology: a brief review. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, 78(2), 142.

DIURETIC

• A compilation of research showed the following herbs to have a diuretic effect:  yarrow, lemon verbena, pineapple, dill, gorden asparagus, mugwort, oats, barberry, Indian tree, turnip, marigold, chicory, lemon, cucumber, pumpkin seed, quince, carrot, flix weed, horsetail, asafetida, fig, barely, St. John’s wort, bay, alfalfa, European pennyroyal, mulberry, water cress, catnip, black cumin, parsley, green bean, pistachio, cherry, pomegranate, purstane, savory, tomato, brinjal, tea, haritali, coltsfoot, nettle, bell bean, and corn.  From:  Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated 3/7/19