Oats Lower Age-Related Systemic Chronic Inflammation (iAge) in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Nutritional Science
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading global cause of death, often linked to systemic chronic inflammation (SCI).
• Targeting SCI presents a potential strategy for CVD prevention and promoting healthy aging.
• Previous research indicated oat beta-glucan improves cholesterol and cardiovascular risk in adults with borderline high cholesterol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of an oat product on SCI and clinical outcomes related to healthy aging.
• To assess the impact of the oat product on Inflammatory Age® (iAge®), a novel metric for SCI.
• To explore the potential of oats in functional, preventative, and personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

• A secondary analysis of serum samples from a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted.
• The study measured the effects of an oat product (3g beta-glucan) on iAge®, a metric predicting multimorbidity, frailty, and mortality.
• Serum samples were analyzed to identify changes in aging-related proteins, such as Eotaxin-1.

Main Results:

• The oat product significantly improved iAge® in subjects with elevated baseline iAge® (>49.6 years) within two weeks.
• A control group receiving rice showed no significant changes in iAge®.
• The beneficial effect of oats on iAge® was primarily attributed to a reduction in the Eotaxin-1 protein, independent of demographic factors.

Conclusions:

• Oat products demonstrate a novel anti-SCI role, potentially impacting healthy aging.
• The findings suggest oats can reduce Inflammatory Age® by targeting specific aging-related chemokines like Eotaxin-1.
• This research supports the use of oats in functional and personalized medicine for cardiovascular health and longevity.