Whole Oats Supplementation in a Low Calorie Diet Efficiently Reduces Cardio-Metabolic Disorders in Obese Rats

Abstract

The hypocaloric diets (HCD) are an approach for controlling weight but can lead to a risk of nutritional deficiency. Whole grain contain bioactive com-pounds with health benefits; their incorporation into HCD can improve their nutritional value due to their richness in soluble fibers and their low glycae-mic index. The effects of incorporating oats in HCD were evaluated on growth parameters, lipid and glycaemic abnormalities, nitric oxide level and redox status in obese rats. Albinos rats were rendered obese after ingestion of a hyperlipidic (HL) diet and were then divided into three homogeneous groups: A first group was submitted for 28 days to a caloric restriction (CR) supplemented with oat (CR–Oat group). The second was fed a CR diet with-out supplementation (CR group) and the third obese group continued to con-sume the HL diet (Ob-HL). A fourth group (T) of normal weight rats is taken as a reference. Body weight, food and energy intake, glycaemia, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulinemia and blood lipids were decreased in obese rats treat-ed with HCD with or without oat compared with Ob-HL. However, glycaemia, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum lipids were more reduced in CR–oat group and its value became similar to that of normoponderal rats. Fur-thermore, oxidative biomarkers in red blood cells, liver and adipose tissue were lowered in groups treated with HC diets, especially in oat diet. Further-more, we noted improved enzymatic antioxidant defense and endothelial dysfunction. Oats, by their functional properties seems to effectively rein-force the anti-obesity effect of the hypocaloric diet.