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Nature has endowed the oat seed with an active component called "beta-glucan", a unique soluble fibre with important benefits for cardiovascular health and weight control.
• Effective solution to elevated LDL cholesterol
• Helps reduce cravings and appetite
• 18X more potent than rolled oats
• 10X more potent than oat bran
• Practical and convenient - no cooking, no mess, no time
• Manufactured from non-GMO oats
• Naturally processed with no solvents
• No side effects
• Vegan-friendly
• Each vegetarian capsule contains 600mg of OatVantage™ fibre, standardized to 54% oat beta-glucan
First, it is important to understand that Flora Oat Beta-Glucan is not merely oat bran in a capsule. Beta-glucan is the active ingredient in oat soluble fibre, recognized by the United States FDA as an effective way to lower blood cholesterol. Flora uses OatVantage™ soluble fibre, which contains 54% oat beta-glucan – that's 18 times stronger than whole oats (containing approximately 3% beta-glucan) and 10 times more potent than oat bran (5.5% beta-glucan). It is produced from non-GMO oats using a proprietary, all natural, water-based process.
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Percent Soluble Fibre (Beta-Glucan)
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Beta-glucans are found in the cell walls of several yeasts, bacteria, fungi and grains. There are many beta-glucan supplements on the market, but oat beta-glucan is unique and has a different therapeutic effect that targets high LDL cholesterol.
The cardiovascular benefits of oats are well-documented. More than 40 human studies have shown that oat beta-glucan can lower total and LDL cholesterol levels by up to 23%. Recent clinical research studies showed the effects of OatVantage™ oat soluble fibre on serum lipids in just 6 weeks. Even modest cholesterol reductions have a significant impact: for every 1% reduction in blood cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is reduced by 2-4%.
Oat Beta-Glucan Mechanism of Action
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Oat beta-glucan works non-systemically, passing safely through the digestive tract without ever entering the bloodstream or being filtered by the liver or kidneys. Best taken with meals, oat beta-glucan forms a highly viscous solution in the stomach. This gel passes into the intestines and binds to bile acids, which the liver produces out of cholesterol in the blood. Once bound, these bile acids pass from the body as part of normal excretion. Lower levels of bile acids in the blood stimulate the production of additional bile acid, thereby further reducing blood cholesterol levels. Decomposition of beta-glucans begins in the colon. Fibre is required to carry the cholesterol-rich bile acids out of the body, otherwise they will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
 How much do I need?
According to the United States FDA, a daily intake of 3g of oat beta-glucan provides a significant cholesterollowering effect. To get this amount of beta-glucan, you would have to eat 3 bowls of instant oatmeal every day! An effective alternative is to supplement your diet with Flora Oat Beta-Glucan.
1 vegetarian capsule provides 324mg (0.324g) of oat beta-glucan
3 vegetarian capsules are equivalent to 1 bowl of instant oatmeal
If you love your oats in the morning, try adding 2 capsules, 3 times throughout the day to achieve the maximum benefit. Instead, you may take 3 capsules, 3 times a day (for a total of 9 capsules) for the ultimate in convenience.
When taken with meals, oat beta-glucan increases the viscosity of the food in the stomach and forms a gelatinous mass. This slows the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine, thereby sustaining satiety (the feeling of fullness) and reducing hunger and cravings. The basic principles of weight loss still hold true: eat less and exercise. If you are better able to control your appetite, you will find it much easier to meet your goals of weight loss or maintenance. Here's what's being said about Oat Beta-Glucan
Dear Flora,
When I went to the doctor for my annual check-up in January 2005, I was told my LDL cholesterol count was very high.
I went to the health food store in my neighborhood and researched health products that would help to decrease my LDL levels of cholesterol and still maintain my excellent health regime. The health food store suggested I try oat betaglucan. This product, when taken as directed, works to lower and maintain a good ratio of your cholesterol and triglycerides.
I followed the directions on the bottle and took 3 capsules a day with meals, and within the 3 months between doctor visits and lab blood tests, my LDL levels dropped from 4.06 to 3.5 and all this with only taking the oat beta-glucan along with proper exercise and healthy lifestyle. I am very happy with the excellent results that I gained from taking the oat beta-glucan. It will be a staple for my diet to take a capsule a day as directed from now on.
Thank you
B.B.
Vancouver, BC
OAT BETA-GLUCAN
A natural solution to high cholesterol.
By Richard C. Potter, Ph.D.
In 1963, it was discovered that soluble fiber in the oat (also called oat beta-glucan) significantly reduces harmful LDL cholesterol. Since then, dozens and dozens of additional studies have confirmed this important finding.
In fact, the sheer weight of the evidence supporting the effectiveness of oat soluble fiber is virtually unrivaled by any other dietary supplement. And, although other cholesterol-lowering agents are available, none come close to the safety and palatability of oat beta-glucan. This simple fact and the preponderance of scientific proof led the Food & Drug Administration in the United States to issue its first 'food-specific' health claim in 1997. As a result of this historic action by FDA, manufacturers of products containing prescribed amounts of oat soluble fiber are permitted to make label claims for reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
What is the significance of an FDA health claim compared to claims typically made for other supplements? A health claim is the only type of claim that the FDA has reviewed and fully endorses the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of a product. In the world of dietary label claims, it is the "gold standard." With the advent of Flora Oat Beta Glucan, it is now possible to get all of the safety and effectiveness of oat soluble fiber in a convenient, concentrated form, unless you actually prefer to eat oatmeal.
How Does Oat Beta-Glucan work?
Oat beta-glucan is one of the most important dietary supplements available to today's health-conscious consumer, because it safely and effectively reduces LDL ("bad") cholesterol when taken regularly in modest amounts. In contrast to virtually any other cholesterol-lowering agent, it has no side-effects and it is highly palatable.
Beta-glucan is the soluble fiber which occurs naturally in the oat. In general, soluble fiber differs from other types of dietary fiber in that it is not digested in the small intestine but, instead, it is broken down in the colon (large intestine). Beta-glucan is a water-soluble polymer and, like many other water-soluble polymers, it forms thick, viscous solutions when dissolved, even at low concentrations. Although science has not completely deciphered the way in which beta-glucan reduces cholesterol, it is generally accepted that the ability of beta-glucan to form a viscous mass in the gastrointestinal tract is the trigger required for cholesterol reduction. This mass absorbs bile acids which are derived from cholesterol preventing their return to the bloodstream. This, in turn, requires that the liver convert more cholesterol into bile acids, effectively reducing the amount of cholesterol retained by the body.
Cholesterol reduction can be as much as 20%, particularly for health-conscious individuals willing to reduce their intake of saturated fat. The most convenient and effective way to avail yourself of this benefit is in a concentrated form of oat beta-glucan.
How much Oat Beta-Glucan is required?
According to the FDA approved health claim, you can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by taking a daily beta-glucan dose of at least 3 grams. However, beta-glucan is found exclusively in the microscopically thin cell walls of the oat seed so, as you can imagine, you have to eat a lot of oat products to reach the recommended 3 gram amount. For example, there are 3 grams of beta-glucan in: 1.5 bowls of oatmeal, or 3 oat bran muffins, or 3 bowls of cold oat cereal, or 27 oatmeal cookies.
On a daily basis, that's pretty burdensome for most folks. A typical diet usually contains about 1.25 grams of oat beta-glucan, obtained from a variety of food sources. That still leaves a "glucan gap" of about 1.75 grams. The FDA says that it's perfectly okay to get your glucan in increments throughout the day, as long as you don't go below 0.75 grams per serving. Flora Oat Beta Glucan offers a convenient, safe, and effective way to bridge the glucan gap. Each 600 mg vegicap contains 54% beta-glucan, which allows you to easily reach the recommended daily minimum – or beyond. It is widely recognized that cholesterol reduction with oat beta-glucan is dose-dependent. The more you take, the bigger the effect – without any side-effects or safety issues.
What could be more convenient?
Flora Oat Beta Glucan is a superior alternative for cholesterol reduction. The many advantages of oat beta-glucan include:
• Efficacy demonstrated by over forty years of research and dozens of clinical studies
• Affirmation by FDA through a specific health claim
• No side-effects
• Non-allergenic
• Highly palatable
• No safety limit on dosage
• Major dietary constituent for 4 millennia
About the author:
Richard C. Potter, Ph.D.
Dr. Potter is the Chief Science Officer for Nurture, Inc., a manufacturer of oat bran concentrate. He has extensive experience in process and product development and has led much of Nurture's technical effort for many years. Dr. Potter is a chemical engineer and holds a B.S.E. from Princeton and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Yale.
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