Mechanism of serum cholesterol reduction by oat bran

Nine normolipidemic young men consumed a constant diet for 2 mo into which oat bran was incorporated during the second month so that we might test the hypotheses that oats lower serum cholesterol concentrations by decreasing bile acid and fat absorption and increasing bile acid synthesis. Bile acid kinetics were determined by measuring the 13C enrichment of serum cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids. Oat bran consumption decreased serum cholesterol levels (p < 0.01) and cholic acid pool size (p < 0.05). Deoxycholic acid pool size (p < 0.01) and the synthesis and fractional turnover rates of both primary bile acids (p < 0.05) increased. Total bile acid pool size did not change. Fecal excretion of total bile acids, the two secondary bile acids and fat increased significantly. The results demonstrate that oat bran lowers serum cholesterol levels in part by altering bile acid metabolism. In addition, the substantial increase in the proportion of the total bile acid pool that was deoxycholic acid is consistent with the hypothesis that oat bran also decreases cholesterol synthesis.