A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on the Effects of Oats and Oat Processing on Postprandial Blood Glucose and Insulin Responses.

BACKGROUND: Oats are a whole grain cereal with potentially favorable effects on the postprandial glycemic response; however, the effects of oat processing on these glycemic benefits are not well understood. OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to determine the effects of differently processed oats on the postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses relative to refined grains. METHODS: Eleven electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies published up to and including May 2019. Randomized controlled trials comparing the postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses to oats compared with any refined grain were included, so long as the available carbohydrate content of the test meals was similar. Pooled effect sizes were computed using the difference in incremental area under the curves for blood glucose and insulin following the consumption of oats compared with the refined grain control. RESULTS: Ten publications were included, with intact oat kernels studied in 3 comparisons, thick oat flakes (>0.6 mm) in 7 comparisons, and thin/quick/instant oat flakes (≤0.6 mm) in 6 comparisons. Compared with the consumption of the refined grain control, the consumption of intact oat kernels was associated with significant reductions in postprandial blood glucose (-45.5 mmol x min/L; 95% CI: -80.1, -10.9 mmol x min/L; P = 0.010) and insulin (-4.5 nmol x min/L; 95% CI: -7.1, -1.8 nmol x min/L; P = 0.001) responses; the consumption of thick oat flakes was associated with significant reductions in postprandial blood glucose (-30.6 mmol x min/L; 95% CI: -40.4, -20.9 mmol x min/L; P < 0.001) and insulin (-3.9 nmol x min/L; 95% CI: -5.3, -2.5 nmol x min/L; P < 0.001) responses; but, the consumption of thin/quick/instant oat flakes was not associated with any effects on the postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses. CONCLUSIONS: A disruption in the structural integrity of the oat kernel is likely associated with a loss in the glycemic benefits of oats.

Effect of Two Oat-based Cereals on Subjective Ratings of Appetite.

Viscosity generated by oat ß-glucan induces gastrointestinal mechanisms that influence appetite. Two oat-based ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) with similar amounts of ß-glucan but differing in their protein and sugar content were compared for their effects on appetite. Forty-seven healthy individuals, ≥18 years old, enrolled in a crossover trial consumed RTEC1 or RTEC2 in random order at least a week apart. Breakfasts contained 250kcals cereal and 105kcals fat-free milk. Subjective ratings of appetite were completed at baseline, and at 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes after consumption of the breakfast meals. Responses were analyzed as area under the curve (AUC) and per time-point. Significance was set at α=0.05. Fullness (p=0.01) and stomach fullness (p=0.02) were greater with RTEC 1 compared to RTEC 2 at 240 minutes. Stomach fullness (p=0.01) was greater at 30 minutes, and desire to eat (p=0.04) was reduced at 120 minutes with RTEC2 compared to RTEC1. There was no difference in the AUC for hunger, fullness, stomach fullness, desire to eat, or prospective intake. Ready-to-eat cereals containing similar amounts of oat ß-glucan differed in the timing of significant differences in fullness or desire to eat, but appetite ratings over a four hour period did not differ.

Instant Oatmeal Increases Satiety and Reduces Energy Intake Compared to a Ready-to-Eat Oat-Based Breakfast Cereal: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: Foods that enhance satiety can help consumers to resist environmental cues to eat and help adherence to calorie restriction. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of 2 oat-based breakfast cereals on appetite, satiety, and food intake. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy individuals, 18 years of age or older, were enrolled in a randomized, crossover trial. Subjects consumed isocaloric servings of either oatmeal or an oat-based ready-to-eat breakfast cereal (RTEC) in random order at least a week apart. Visual analogue scales measuring appetite and satiety were completed before breakfast and throughout the morning. Lunch was served 4 hours after breakfast. The physicochemical properties of oat soluble fiber (ß-glucan) were determined. Appetite and satiety responses were analyzed by area under the curve. Food intake and ß-glucan properties were analyzed using t tests. RESULTS: Oatmeal increased fullness (p = 0.001) and reduced hunger (p = 0.005), desire to eat (p = 0.001), and prospective intake (p = 0.006) more than the RTEC. Energy intake at lunch was lower after eating oatmeal compared to the RTEC (p = 0.012). Oatmeal had higher viscosity (p = 0.03), ß-glucan content, molecular weight (p < 0.001), and radius of gyration (p < 0.001) than the RTEC. CONCLUSIONS: Oatmeal suppresses appetite, increases satiety, and reduces energy intake compared to the RTEC. The physicochemical properties of ß-glucan and sufficient hydration of oats are important factors affecting satiety and subsequent energy intake.

The role of meal viscosity and oat ß-glucan characteristics in human appetite control: a randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Foods that enhance satiety can help consumers to resist environmental cues to eat, and improve the nutritional quality of their diets. Viscosity generated by oat ß-glucan, influences gastrointestinal mechanisms that mediate satiety. Differences in the source, processing treatments, and interactions with other constituents in the food matrix affect the amount, solubility, molecular weight, and structure of the ß-glucan in products, which in turn influences the viscosity. This study examined the effect of two types of oatmeal and an oat-based ready-to-eat breakfast cereal (RTEC) on appetite, and assessed differences in meal viscosity and ß-glucan characteristics among the cereals. METHODS: Forty-eight individuals were enrolled in a randomized crossover trial. Subjects consumed isocaloric breakfast meals containing instant oatmeal (IO), old-fashioned oatmeal (SO) or RTEC in random order at least a week apart. Each breakfast meal contained 218 kcal (150 kcal cereal, and 68 kcal milk) Visual analogue scales measuring appetite were completed before breakfast, and over four hours, following the meal. Starch digestion kinetics, meal viscosities, and ß-glucan characteristics for each meal were determined. Appetite responses were analyzed by area under the curve. Mixed models were used to analyze response changes over time. RESULTS: IO increased fullness (p = 0.04), suppressed desire to eat (p = 0.01) and reduced prospective intake (p < 0.01) more than the RTEC over four hours, and consistently at the 60 minute time-point. SO reduced prospective intake (p = 0.04) more than the RTEC. Hunger scores were not significantly different except that IO reduced hunger more than the RTEC at the 60 minute time-point. IO and SO had higher ß-glucan content, molecular weight, gastric viscosity, and larger hydration spheres than the RTEC, and IO had greater viscosity after oral and initial gastric digestion (initial viscosity) than the RTEC. CONCLUSION: IO and SO improved appetite control over four hours compared to RTEC. Initial viscosity of oatmeal may be especially important for reducing appetite.

Acute effect of oatmeal on subjective measures of appetite and satiety compared to a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal: a randomized crossover trial.

OBJECTIVE: The physicochemical properties of soluble oat fiber (ß-glucan) affect viscosity-dependent mechanisms that influence satiety. The objective of this study was to compare the satiety impact of oatmeal with the most widely sold ready-to-eat breakfast cereal (RTEC) when either was consumed as a breakfast meal. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy individuals ≥18 years of age were enrolled in a randomized crossover trial. Following an overnight fast, subjects consumed either oatmeal or RTEC in random order at least a week apart. The breakfasts were isocaloric and contained 363 kcal (250 kcal cereal, 113 kcal milk). Visual analogue scales measuring appetite and satiety were completed before breakfast and throughout the morning. The content and physicochemical properties of oat ß-glucan were determined. Appetite and satiety responses were analyzed by area under the curve (AUC). Physicochemical properties were analyzed using t tests. RESULTS: Oatmeal, higher in fiber and protein but lower in sugar than the RTEC, resulted in greater increase in fullness (AUC: p = 0.005 [120 minute: p = 0.0408, 180 minute: p = 0.0061, 240 minute: p = 0.0102]) and greater reduction in hunger (AUC: p = 0.0009 [120 minute: p = 0.0197, 180 minute: p = 0.0003, 240 minute: p = 0.0036]), desire to eat (AUC: p = 0.0002 [120 minute: p = 0.0168, 180 minute: p < 0.0001, 240 minute: p = 0.0022]), and prospective intake (AUC: p = 0.0012 [120 minute: p = 0.0058, 180 minute: p = 0.006, 240 minute: p = 0.0047]) compared to the RTEC. Oatmeal had higher ß-glucan content, higher molecular weight (p < 0.0001), higher viscosity (p = 0.025), and larger hydration spheres (p = 0.0012) than the RTEC. CONCLUSION: Oatmeal improves appetite control and increases satiety. The effects may be attributed to the viscosity and hydration properties of its ß-glucan content.

Activation of PPARγ and δ by dietary punicic acid ameliorates intestinal inflammation in mice.

The goal of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms of immunoregulation by which dietary punicic acid (PUA) prevents or ameliorates experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The expression of PPARγ and δ, their responsive genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines was assayed in the colonic mucosa. Immune cell-specific PPARγ null, PPARδ knockout and wild-type mice were treated with PUA and challenged with 2·5 % dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). The prophylactic efficacy of PUA was examined in an IL-10(-/-) model of IBD. The effect of PUA on the regulatory T-cell (Treg) compartment was also examined in mice with experimental IBD. PUA ameliorated spontaneous pan-enteritis in IL-10(-/-) mice and DSS colitis, up-regulated Foxp3 expression in Treg and suppressed TNF-α, but the loss of functional PPARγ or δ impaired these anti-inflammatory effects. At the cellular level, the macrophage-specific deletion of PPARγ caused a complete abrogation of the protective effect of PUA, whereas the deletion of PPARδ or intestinal epithelial cell-specific PPARγ decreased its anti-inflammatory efficacy. We provide in vivo molecular evidence demonstrating that PUA ameliorates experimental IBD by regulating macrophage and T-cell function through PPARγ- and δ-dependent mechanisms.

A Progressive Nutrient Profiling System to Guide Improvements in Nutrient Density of Foods and Beverages.

Improving the nutrient density of processed foods is one way to bring the global food supply closer to the WHO Sustainable Development Goals. Nutrient profiling (NP) has emerged as the preferred method of monitoring the progress toward product innovation and reformulation. This paper presents PepsiCo Nutrition Criteria (PNC), a new internal NP model that was designed to guide and monitor improvements in nutrient density and overall nutritional quality of foods and beverages. The new PNC NP model assigns food products into four classes of increasing nutritional value, based on the content of nutrients to limit, along with nutrients and ingredients to encourage. The nutrient standards used for category assignment followed those developed by global dietary authorities. Standards are proposed for calories, sodium, added sugars, saturated, and industrially produced trans fats. Also included are minimum values for food groups to encourage, low-fat dairy, and for country-specific gap nutrients. Internal use of the NP model has spurred product changes that are consistent with WHO goals for industry transparency. An audited review of company products showed that 48% met added sugar, 65% met sodium, and 71% met saturated fat goals. By the end of 2020, in the top 26 regions in which products are sold, 48% of the total sales volume of global beverages had 100 kcal or less from added sugars per 355 ml serving representing 80% of beverage volume and over 90% of food volume sold globally. The PNC NP model is not consumer-facing but is specifically intended for internal use to motivate stepwise and incremental product innovation and reformulation. Transparent and published NP models further WHO goals of engaging industry stakeholders in the (re)formulation of processed foods and beverages consistent with public health goals.

Surge-in-Place: Conversion of a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Into a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit and Back Again.

In Spring 2020, the United States epicenter of COVID-19 was New York City, in which the borough of the Bronx was particularly affected. This Fall, there has been a resurgence of COVID-19 in Europe and the Midwestern United States. We describe our experience transforming our cardiac catheterization laboratories to accommodate an influx of COVID-19 patients so as to provide other hospitals with a potential blueprint. We transformed our pre/postprocedural patient care areas into COVID-19 intensive care and step-down units and maintained emergent invasive care for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction using existing space and personnel.

Effects of dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on experimental human rhinovirus infection and illness.

BACKGROUND: Because studies suggest that the dietary supplement conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has immunomodulatory activities that might benefit common colds, we performed two studies of CLA effects in experimental human rhinovirus (HRV) infection. METHODS: The first study explored whether CLA supplementation (Safflorin; Loders Croklaan, BV, Wormerveer, the Netherlands) altered the virological or clinical course of experimental HRV infection, and the second explored whether CLA affected the frequency and severity of HRV cold-associated sore throat and cough. The trials were randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled. In total, 50 healthy volunteers aged 18-45 years and susceptible to HRV type-39 (serum neutralizing antibody titre < or = 1:2) participated in study 1 and 80 similar volunteers susceptible to Hank's HRV participated in study 2. Participants ingested CLA 2 g/day or placebo for 4 weeks before and 4 days following intranasal HRV inoculation. The primary endpoint for study 1 was the frequency of colds and for study 2 was the symptom severity scores for sore throat and cough. RESULTS: In study 1, 10/24 (42%) placebo compared with 7/21 (33%) CLA participants developed colds (P = 0.53). CLA was associated with significant reductions in mean scores for cough (0 CLA versus 0.9 placebo) and sore throat (0.8 CLA versus 2.9 placebo). In study 2, clinical colds developed in 19/33 (58%) placebo and 27/43 (63%) CLA participants. Symptom scores for cough (0.9 CLA versus 1.0 placebo) and sore throat (2.6 CLA versus 3.2 placebo) were not significantly different. Similarly no differences in nasal viral titres or serological responses were found. CONCLUSIONS: CLA dietary supplementation had no consistent effects on the virological or clinical course of experimental HRV colds. A larger study would be required to detect more subtle effects of CLA on HRV cold-associated symptoms.

Activation of PPAR gamma and alpha by punicic acid ameliorates glucose tolerance and suppresses obesity-related inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) is the molecular target for thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of synthetic antidiabetic agents. However, the naturally occurring agonists of PPARs remain largely unknown. Punicic acid (PUA) is a conjugated linolenic acid isomer found in pomegrante. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that PUA activates PPAR gamma and thereby ameliorates glucose homeostasis and obesity-related inflammation. METHODS: The ability of PUA to modulate PPAR reporter activity was determined in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. A cell-free assay was used to measure PUA's binding to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of human PPAR gamma. The preventive actions of PUA were investigated using genetically obese db/db mice and a model of diet-induced obesity in PPAR gamma-expressing and tissue-specific PPAR gamma null mice. Expression of PPAR alpha, gamma, PPAR-responsive genes and TNF-alpha was measured in tissues controlling glucose homeostasis. RESULTS: PUA caused a dose-dependent increase PPAR alpha and gamma reporter activity in 3T3-L1 cells and bound although weakly to the LBD of human PPAR gamma. Dietary PUA decreased fasting plasma glucose concentrations, improved the glucose-normalizing ability, suppressed NF-kappaB activation, TNF-alpha expression and upregulated PPAR alpha- and gamma-responsive genes in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Loss of PPAR gamma impaired the ability of dietary PUA to improve glucose homeostasis and suppress inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies demonstrate that PUA binds and robustly activates PPAR gamma, increases PPAR gamma-responsive gene expression and the loss of PPAR gamma in immune cells impairs its ability to ameliorate diabetes and inflammation.

The effect of Korean pine nut oil on in vitro CCK release, on appetite sensations and on gut hormones in post-menopausal overweight women.

Appetite suppressants may be one strategy in the fight against obesity. This study evaluated whether Korean pine nut free fatty acids (FFA) and triglycerides (TG) work as an appetite suppressant. Korean pine nut FFA were evaluated in STC-1 cell culture for their ability to increase cholecystokinin (CCK-8) secretion vs. several other dietary fatty acids from Italian stone pine nut fatty acids, oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and capric acid used as a control. At 50 muM concentration, Korean pine nut FFA produced the greatest amount of CCK-8 release (493 pg/ml) relative to the other fatty acids and control (46 pg/ml). A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over trial including 18 overweight post-menopausal women was performed. Subjects received capsules with 3 g Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) nut FFA, 3 g pine nut TG or 3 g placebo (olive oil) in combination with a light breakfast. At 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 minutes the gut hormones cholecystokinin (CCK-8), glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY) and ghrelin, and appetite sensations were measured. A wash-out period of one week separated each intervention day.CCK-8 was higher 30 min after pine nut FFA and 60 min after pine nut TG when compared to placebo (p < 0.01). GLP-1 was higher 60 min after pine nut FFA compared to placebo (p < 0.01). Over a period of 4 hours the total amount of plasma CCK-8 was 60% higher after pine nut FFA and 22% higher after pine nut TG than after placebo (p < 0.01). For GLP-1 this difference was 25% after pine nut FFA (P < 0.05). Ghrelin and PYY levels were not different between groups. The appetite sensation "prospective food intake" was 36% lower after pine nut FFA relative to placebo (P < 0.05). This study suggests that Korean pine nut may work as an appetite suppressant through an increasing effect on satiety hormones and a reduced prospective food intake.

The effects of whole-grain compared with refined wheat, rice, and rye on the postprandial blood glucose response: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Whole grains are often referred to collectively, despite differences in their composition, physical structure, processing, and potential health benefits. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the postprandial blood glucose response of whole-grain with refined wheat, rice, or rye, while controlling for the food delivery matrix and the processing of the grain (e.g., grinding, germination). Design: Eleven electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies published up to and including November 2017. Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of whole-grain wheat, rice, or rye with those of each grain's refined counterpart on postprandial blood glucose area under the curve (AUC) were included. Pooled effect sizes were computed by using the difference in the blood glucose AUC after the consumption of the whole compared with the refined grain. Results: Twenty publications were included, with 10, 14, and 5 strata (or active-control comparisons) on whole-grain wheat, rice, and rye, respectively. The consumption of ground (wholemeal) wheat, compared with white wheat, was not associated with a significant reduction in blood glucose AUC (-6.7 mmol/L ⋅ min; 95% CI: -25.1, 11.7 mmol/L ⋅ min; P = 0.477). The consumption of wholemeal rye, compared with endosperm rye, was not associated with a significant reduction in blood glucose AUC (-5.5 mmol/L ⋅ min; 95% CI: -24.8, 13.8 mmol/L ⋅ min; P = 0.576). The consumption of intact (whole-grain) rice, compared with white rice, was associated with a significant reduction in blood glucose AUC (-40.5 mmol/L ⋅ min; 95% CI: -59.6, -21.3 mmol/L ⋅ min; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with white rice, whole-grain rice significantly attenuates the postprandial blood glucose response. In most of the studies on wheat and rye, the postprandial blood glucose responses to foods formulated with wholemeal compared with refined flours were compared. Whether reductions in the blood glucose AUC can be achieved with whole-grain (as opposed to wholemeal) wheat and rye requires further investigation.

Rapid quantitation of avenanthramides in oat-containing products by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-TQMS).

Avenanthramides (AVNs) are a family of nitrogen-containing phenolic compounds produced in oat; AVN 2c, 2p, and 2f are the three major members. An LC-MS/MS method was developed, with the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) being, respectively, 0.29ng/mL and 1.96ng/mL for AVN 2c, 0.24ng/mL and 0.60ng/mL for AVE 2p, and 0.42ng/mL and 2.2ng/mL for AVN 2f. The method was validated in oat-containing hot cereal and snack bar samples. The recovery of AVN 2c, 2p, and 2f from these two oat products was 95-113%, and the relative standard deviations ranged from 5% to 9%. This method was used to evaluate oat products and raw oat samples. The effects of location and variety on AVN composition were investigated. The method presented here provides a novel and rapid tool to quantitate the abundance of AVN 2c, 2p, and 2f in oat-containing products.

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid and exercise on bone mass in young male Balb/C mice.

There is an increase in obesity among the population of industrialized countries, and dietary supplementation with Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) has been reported to lower body fat mass. However, weight loss is generally associated with negative effects on bone mass, but CLA is reported to have beneficial effects on bone. Furthermore, another factor that is well established to have a beneficial effect on bone is exercise (EX). However, a combination therapy of CLA and EX on bone health has not been studied. In this paper, we report the beneficial effects of CLA and EX on bone, in four different groups of Balb-C young, male mice. There were 4 groups in our study: 1. Safflower oil (SFO) sedentary (SED); 2. SFO EX; 3. CLA SED; 4. CLA EX. Two months old mice, under their respective treatment regimens were followed for 14 weeks. Mice were scanned in vivo using a DEXA scanner before and after treatment. At the end of the treatment period, the animals were sacrificed, the left tibia was removed and scanned using peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT). The results showed that although CLA decreased gain in body weight by 35%, it however increased bone mass by both reducing bone resorption and increasing bone formation. EX also decreased gain in body weight by 21% and increased bone mass; but a combination of CLA and EX, however, did not show any further increase in bone mass. In conclusion, CLA increases bone mass in both cancellous and cortical bones, and the effects of CLA on bone is not further improved by EX in pure cortical bone of young male mice.

Conjugated linoleic acid and chromium lower body weight and visceral fat mass in high-fat-diet-fed mice.

More than half of the U.S. population has a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or more, which classifies them as overweight or obese. Obesity is often associated with comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. CLA and chromium have emerged as major dietary supplements that reduce body weight and fat mass, and increase basal metabolic rate in animal models. However, studies show that CLA induces insulin resistance in mice and in humans, whereas Cr improves insulin sensitivity. Hence, we designed the present study to examine the combined effect of CLA and Cr on body composition and insulin sensitivity in a Balb/c mice (n = 10/group) model of high-fat-diet-induced obesity. CLA alone lowered body weight, total body fat mass, and visceral fat mass, the last of which decreased further with the combination of CLA and Cr. This effect was accompanied by decreased serum leptin levels in CLA-fed and CLA + Cr-fed mice, and by higher energy expenditure (EE) and oxygen consumption (OC) in CLA + Cr-fed mice. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as insulin resistance index (IRI), decreased with CLA, whereas CLA and Cr in combination had significant effects on insulin and IL-6 concentrations and IRI. In summary, CLA + Cr decreased body weight and fat mass in high-fat-diet-fed mice, which may be associated with decreased leptin levels and higher EE and OC.

Assessment of Intakes and Patterns of Cooked Oatmeal Consumption in the U.S. Using Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

The objective of the present study was to characterize the consumption of cooked oatmeal in the United States (U.S.) and to determine whether oatmeal consumption is associated with body mass index (BMI). To estimate current intakes of cooked oatmeal in the various age and gender population groups, we used dietary intake data from Day 1 of the U.S. 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). We also used dietary intake data from Day 1 of the U.S. 2003-2012 NHANES to assess associations between intakes of cooked oatmeal (in g/kg body weight) and NHANES cycle (2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012), age category (3-11 years, 12-18 years, 19-44 years, 45 years+), gender, and BMI classification (underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese), using a multiple linear regression model. A consumer of oatmeal was defined as any individual who reported the consumption of any amount of oatmeal on Day 1 of the survey. Approximately 6% of the total population consumed oatmeal, with an average intake of 238 g/day of cooked oatmeal among consumers. The greatest prevalence of oatmeal consumption was in infants (14.3%) and older female adults (11.1%). Amongst oatmeal consumers, underweight, normal weight, and overweight individuals consumed significantly more oatmeal than obese individuals. Oatmeal was consumed almost exclusively at breakfast and, among consumers, contributed an average of 54.3% of the energy consumed at breakfast across all age groups examined. The association between oatmeal consumption and BMI is interesting and requires confirmation in future clinical studies.

Thinking critically about whole-grain definitions: summary report of an interdisciplinary roundtable discussion at the 2015 Whole Grains Summit.

Definitions for whole grain (WG) have been published by governments, the food industry, and grain organizations and generally fall into 2 categories: WG and WG food. WG definitions focus on the principal components of the WGs and their proportions, whereas WG-food definitions describe the quantity of WGs present in food. In the United States, widespread agreement exists on the main parts of a definition for a WG, with a definition for a WG food still in its early stages; a standard definition that has been universally accepted does not exist. Furthermore, nutrition policy advises consumers to eat WGs for at least one-half of their total grain intake (2010 and 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans), but confusion exists over which foods are considered WGs and how much is needed to achieve health benefits. In December 2014, a workshop sponsored by the subcommittee on collaborative process of the US Government's Interagency Committee on Human Nutrition Research convened in Washington, DC, and recognized WG definitions as a key nutrition and public health-related issue that could benefit from further collaboration. As a follow-up to that meeting, an interdisciplinary roundtable meeting was organized at the Whole Grains Summit on 25 June 2015 in Portland, Oregon, to help resolve the issue. This article summarizes the main opportunities and challenges that were identified during the meeting for defining WGs and WG foods internationally. Definitions of WGs and WG foods that are uniformly adopted by research, food industry, consumer, and public health communities are needed to enable comparison of research results across populations.

Oatmeal consumption is associated with better diet quality and lower body mass index in adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2001-2010.

Data from the 2001-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to assess the relationship between oatmeal consumption and nutrient intake, diet quality, and physiological measures in adults 19 years and older (n = 22,823). We hypothesized that oatmeal consumption is associated with a more favorable nutrient intake profile, better diet quality, and healthier physiological end points. Oatmeal consumers (n = 1429) were defined as those who had consumed any amount of cooked oatmeal cereal during a 24-hour recall period. Multiple regression analysis, after transforming variables to normality and using appropriate sample weights to ensure national representation, was used to assess differences between oatmeal consumers and nonconsumers in terms of demographics, and covariate-adjusted analysis of variance was used to assess differences between consumers and nonconsumers in nutrient intakes, diet quality (calculated using the Healthy Eating Index-2010), and physiological measures. Our results show that oatmeal consumers were older than nonconsumers and more likely to be female; they also were less likely to smoke and consumed less alcohol. Consumers had higher intakes of protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, thiamin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, selenium, and potassium and lower intakes of total, monounsaturated, and saturated fats; cholesterol; and vitamin B12. Oatmeal consumers had higher Healthy Eating Index-2010 scores and lower body weights, waist circumferences, and body mass indices. To conclude, our results suggest that consuming oatmeal is consistent with better nutrient intakes and a higher diet quality.

Immunomodulatory properties of conjugated linoleic acid.

In vitro studies of the use of immune cells and animal models demonstrate that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a lipid, modulates immune function. In addition, recent publications demonstrate that 2 active CLA isomers (ie, cis-9,trans-11 CLA and trans-10,cis-12 CLA) modulate immune function in humans. Aspects of both the innate and adaptive immune responses are affected by dietary CLA supplementation. CLA consists of a mixture of isomers, which reduced immune-induced wasting and enhanced ex vivo lymphocyte proliferation in broilers and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production in rat models. In mice, ex vivo lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production were increased. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomers exert distinct effects on immune function. Specifically, these 2 isomers have differential effects on specific T cell populations and immunoglobulin subclasses in animal and human studies. Herein, a systematic review of the literature and relevant new data are presented with an aim to compare data and to present an overview covering the innate and adaptive components of the immune response that are regulated by CLA. In addition, potential mechanisms of action are discussed and the need for future studies on the immunomodulatory properties of CLA are outlined in detail. The understanding of the mechanism(s) by which CLA increases immune function will aid in the development of nutritionally based therapeutic applications to augment host resistance against infectious diseases and to treat immune imbalances, which result in inflammatory disorders, allergic reactions, or both.

In vitro antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory activity of seven common oats.

Oats are gaining increasing scientific and public interest for their purported antioxidant-associated health benefits. Most reported studies focused on specific oat extracts or particular oat components, such as ß-glucans, tocols (vitamin E), or avenanthramides. Studies on whole oats with respect to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities are still lacking. Here the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities from whole oat groats of seven common varieties were evaluated. All oat varieties had very similar oxygen radical absorption capacity compared with other whole grains. In an anti-inflammatory assay, oat variety CDC Dancer inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α induced nuclear factor-kappa B activation by 27.5% at 2 mg/ml, whereas variety Deiter showed 13.7% inhibition at a comparable dose. Avenanthramide levels did not correlate with the observed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Further investigations are needed to pinpoint the specific antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, and potential synergistic and/or matrix effects that may help explain the mechanisms of oat's anti-inflammatory actions.