Effects of Avena nuda L. on metabolic control and cardiovascular disease risk among Chinese patients with diabetes and meeting metabolic syndrome criteria: secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Most patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM) also have metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease prevalence. Limited information is available on the effect and effective doses of oat intake with a structured dietary intervention in metabolic control and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prevention with the population who has Type 2 DM and meets the MetS criteria.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 260 Type 2 DM patients meeting MetS National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were selected from 445 patients between 50 and 65 years of age, and they participated in a single-blinded, 30-day centralized management of a dietary program in China. Participants in the program were randomly assigned into one of the four groups: usual care group (control group, only basic health advice), diet group (systematic diet plans and intensive education), 50 g-organic naked oat with whole germ group (ONOG) and 100 g-organic naked oat with whole germ group (daily ONOG replacement boiled into porridge based on diet group). The primary outcomes were the relative changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin resistance after a 30-day intervention among the four groups.

RESULTS: HbA1c decreased significantly with the increase in interventions (Ptrend<0.05). Similar results were also obtained in plasma glucose, serum lipid and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). For the 100 g-ONOG group but not 50 g-ONOG group, HbA1c and hs-CRP reduced significantly by 0.51% and 1.29 mg/l (P<0.05, vs diet group), respectively. The 100 g-ONOG group showed a reduction by 0.22 U*mol/l(2) in insulin resistance, compared with the 50 g-ONOG group (P=0.039).

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with diet alone or no diet, 50-100 g/day ONOG supplement to structured dietary intervention, at a dose of 100 g/day especially, contributes to the Type 2 DM patients meeting MetS criteria in their metabolic control and CVD risk prevention, with external factors being controlled.