Effect of Beta Glucan on Cardiovascular Health
Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 159 - 164, 31.08.2021
Rabia EGE
Sabiha Zeynep Aydenk KÖSEOĞLU
https://doi.org/10.47769/izufbed.915997
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading diseases that cause death in the world. Since CVD is a preventable disease, studies on it are important. Improving eating habits and lifestyle are at the forefront in preventing and treating CVD. In addition to adequate and balanced nutrition, a diet rich in dietary fiber also contributes to the increase in blood levels that cause CVD; It has been observed that it reduces the risk of developing the disease by reducing the levels of parameters such as total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins. As a result of clinical and experimental studies, the beneficial effect of consuming oats and oat-containing products on serum cholesterol and other cardiovascular disease markers has been determined. It is thought that the cholesterol-lowering effect of oats is related to the β-glucan and fiber it contains. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the cholesterol-lowering effect of oat β-glucan in 1997 and the United Kingdom Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI) in 2004. There are also studies in the literature showing that β-glucan prevents the formation of CVD by acting not only on cholesterol but also on chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to contribute to science by examining the effects of β-glucan on cardiovascular health and evaluating to what extent we should include β-glucan in a healthy diet. Based on the information provided in the recent literature, the effect of β-glucan, one of the soluble fibers, on the prevention and treatment of CVD has been proven, and it has been determined that it may be appropriate for dietitians to recommend foods containing β-glucan in daily nutrition.
Keywords: β-Glucan, Fiber, Nutrition, Cardiovascular Health, Cholesterol