Hi-Fi® Oats Health Benefits

Beta-Glucan Basics
We like to describe beta-glucan as the friendly little polymer that makes soluble fiber. Many people are not familiar with beta-glucan, the word sounds like a new Star Trek planet. But soluble fiber is a common part of our vocabulary so we use the word soluble fiber instead of beta-glucan. The only other whole grain that has beta-glucan in substantial quantities is barley.

Common Beta-Glucan Benefits:

Reduces Cholesterol
(Heart Healthy)
Low Glycemic Index Rating
Immune System Stimulant

How does beta-glucan work?
Reducing Cholesterol:
Beta glucan helps lower cholesterol in two ways. First, it forms a viscous gel that absorbs “bad” LDL cholesterol. The body then eliminates the cholesterol as waste. Secondly, beta-glucan provides fiber for good bacteria in the digestive track that produce short chain fatty acids.

Julie Jones, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and a fiber researcher at College of St. Catherine in Minnesota describes how this second benefit works, “These good fatty acids are reabsorbed in the bloodstream and picked up by the liver where they inhibit enzymes that synthesize blood cholesterol---much in the same way statin drugs do.” In these two ways, beta-glucan helps lower cholesterol levels and make a powerful heart healthy food out of oats.

Low Glycemic Index:
Beta-glucan has been shown to moderate blood sugars by lowering them to pre-mealtime levels after eating oats. Some labels have started to advertise a Low Glycemic Index (GI) and research is available that supports this claim. This could be an important advantage to diabetics, Hi-Fi oats can provide more nutrition in less food.

Immune System Stimulant:
Beta-glucan is also a “PRE-BIOTIC”, or “FOS”, fructooligosaccharides, or “PRO-BIOTIC” food. Beta glucan is able to “activate” white blood cells and stimulate the immune system. Beta glucan forms a short chain inulin fiber that is fermentable in the lower digestive tract. The fiber is a food source for beneficial microflora and their healthy presence helps maintain colon health.

Where is Beta-Glucan found in the oat?
Beta-glucan is found in the cell walls of the oat kernel and is concentrated in the bran. Any whole grain oat product will have beta-glucan in it. It is a large particle and develops as the groat matures. The beta-glucan level will not vary much in any whole oat product, as long as the larger particles are not screened out.

Scientists are still studying exactly how beta-glucan is formed in the oat and do not have a full understanding of the factors that increase or decrease beta-glucan. The most consistent explanation is that higher levels are due to genetic pedigree and also due to environmental factors. When farmers have high yields, beta glucan levels generally respond in kind.

Other Oat Health Benefits:

Avenanthramides
AV’s are antioxidant compounds found in the oat groat, specifically they are a type of oat polyphenol. A little known antioxidant, AV is starting to get the attention of several nutraceutical companies and scientists.

AV’s relax artery walls and prevent blood cells from bonding to artery walls, effectively stopping plaque from building up—the first steps of atherosclerosis. AV’s are also used in skin-care products, cosmetics and lotions. They are a powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-itch and antihistamine when used in a colloidal type of oat extract.

AV studies have been funded by the US Agricultural Research Service and conducted extensively at Tufts University and the USDA Human Nutrition Center.

Preliminary research at NDSU has shown that AV concentrations are greater in the Hi-Fi oat variety than other oats. AV is most likely to occur in wet conditions and the Hi-Fi variety is able to withstand rust diseases that decrease yields in most wet years. Several companies are currently evaluating Hi-Fi’s use for AV extraction

Beta-Glucan Levels
The Ceres Organic Harvest standard for beta-glucan levels to meet the Hi-Fi nutritional claim is 6.0%. Crop values in 2005 and 2006 have ranged from 6.0-7.0%.

Beta-glucan level testing on a variety of major name brand oat products for regular rolled oats and old-fashioned type oatmeal yielded levels of 4.16-4.99% beta-glucan. At a consistent 6.0% beta-glucan , Hi-Fi makes a strong higher fiber claim.

Data on Hi-Fi variety and other variety beta-glucan levels is available dating back to 2003, and NDSU trial data is available from 2001.

Here is some basic information on beta-glucan levels:

Eating Well, "Featured Nutrient: Beta-Glucan," Sylvia Geiger, M.S., R.D., December 2006, p. 42

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 61, 379-384, 1995, "Diets containing soluble oat extracts improve glucose and insulin responses of moderately hypercholesterolemic men and women."

American Journal of Regulatory, Integrative, Comparative Physiology, 286: R 366-372, 2004. "Effects of Oat [beta]-Glucan on innate immunity and infection after exercise and stress."

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ORGANIC GRAIN & MILLING PRODUCT LISTING GRAIN PROCESSING CROP PLAN PRODUCTION HI-FI OATS About Hi-Fi Oats Health Benefits	Hi-Fi® Oats Health Benefits Beta-Glucan Basics We like to describe beta-glucan as the friendly little polymer that makes soluble fiber. Many people are not familiar with beta-glucan, the word sounds like a new Star Trek planet. But soluble fiber is a common part of our vocabulary so we use the word soluble fiber instead of beta-glucan. The only other whole grain that has beta-glucan in substantial quantities is barley. Common Beta-Glucan Benefits: Reduces Cholesterol (Heart Healthy) Low Glycemic Index Rating Immune System Stimulant How does beta-glucan work? Reducing Cholesterol: Beta glucan helps lower cholesterol in two ways. First, it forms a viscous gel that absorbs “bad” LDL cholesterol. The body then eliminates the cholesterol as waste. Secondly, beta-glucan provides fiber for good bacteria in the digestive track that produce short chain fatty acids. Julie Jones, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and a fiber researcher at College of St. Catherine in Minnesota describes how this second benefit works, “These good fatty acids are reabsorbed in the bloodstream and picked up by the liver where they inhibit enzymes that synthesize blood cholesterol---much in the same way statin drugs do.” In these two ways, beta-glucan helps lower cholesterol levels and make a powerful heart healthy food out of oats. Low Glycemic Index: Beta-glucan has been shown to moderate blood sugars by lowering them to pre-mealtime levels after eating oats. Some labels have started to advertise a Low Glycemic Index (GI) and research is available that supports this claim. This could be an important advantage to diabetics, Hi-Fi oats can provide more nutrition in less food. Immune System Stimulant: Beta-glucan is also a “PRE-BIOTIC”, or “FOS”, fructooligosaccharides, or “PRO-BIOTIC” food. Beta glucan is able to “activate” white blood cells and stimulate the immune system. Beta glucan forms a short chain inulin fiber that is fermentable in the lower digestive tract. The fiber is a food source for beneficial microflora and their healthy presence helps maintain colon health. Where is Beta-Glucan found in the oat? Beta-glucan is found in the cell walls of the oat kernel and is concentrated in the bran. Any whole grain oat product will have beta-glucan in it. It is a large particle and develops as the groat matures. The beta-glucan level will not vary much in any whole oat product, as long as the larger particles are not screened out. Scientists are still studying exactly how beta-glucan is formed in the oat and do not have a full understanding of the factors that increase or decrease beta-glucan. The most consistent explanation is that higher levels are due to genetic pedigree and also due to environmental factors. When farmers have high yields, beta glucan levels generally respond in kind. Other Oat Health Benefits: Avenanthramides AV’s are antioxidant compounds found in the oat groat, specifically they are a type of oat polyphenol. A little known antioxidant, AV is starting to get the attention of several nutraceutical companies and scientists. AV’s relax artery walls and prevent blood cells from bonding to artery walls, effectively stopping plaque from building up—the first steps of atherosclerosis. AV’s are also used in skin-care products, cosmetics and lotions. They are a powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-itch and antihistamine when used in a colloidal type of oat extract. AV studies have been funded by the US Agricultural Research Service and conducted extensively at Tufts University and the USDA Human Nutrition Center. Preliminary research at NDSU has shown that AV concentrations are greater in the Hi-Fi oat variety than other oats. AV is most likely to occur in wet conditions and the Hi-Fi variety is able to withstand rust diseases that decrease yields in most wet years. Several companies are currently evaluating Hi-Fi’s use for AV extraction Beta-Glucan Levels The Ceres Organic Harvest standard for beta-glucan levels to meet the Hi-Fi nutritional claim is 6.0%. Crop values in 2005 and 2006 have ranged from 6.0-7.0%. Beta-glucan level testing on a variety of major name brand oat products for regular rolled oats and old-fashioned type oatmeal yielded levels of 4.16-4.99% beta-glucan. At a consistent 6.0% beta-glucan , Hi-Fi makes a strong higher fiber claim. Data on Hi-Fi variety and other variety beta-glucan levels is available dating back to 2003, and NDSU trial data is available from 2001. Here is some basic information on beta-glucan levels: Eating Well, "Featured Nutrient: Beta-Glucan," Sylvia Geiger, M.S., R.D., December 2006, p. 42 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 61, 379-384, 1995, "Diets containing soluble oat extracts improve glucose and insulin responses of moderately hypercholesterolemic men and women." American Journal of Regulatory, Integrative, Comparative Physiology, 286: R 366-372, 2004. "Effects of Oat [beta]-Glucan on innate immunity and infection after exercise and stress."


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