According to a 2021 meta-analysis published in Nutrients, people with a high intake of oats had a lower risk of death from all causes compared with those who consumed the least amount of oats.
The result is based on a single study that included three large population groups and showed a lower risk for both men and women.
At the same time, the evidence base is limited because only a few studies have specifically examined mortality.
The finding should therefore be interpreted with caution and viewed as a possible, but not definitive, result.
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How was the study conducted?
The researchers reviewed previous population-based studies in which participants’ diets were recorded and then followed over time to determine who developed disease or died.
In total, just under half a million people from Europe, the United States, and Asia were included.
However, oats were not measured in the same way across all studies. Some focused on oatmeal, others on whole-grain oats or oat fiber.
This makes it more difficult to compare the results directly.
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Diabetes and cardiovascular disease
For type 2 diabetes, the researchers found a more consistent pattern.
People with a high intake of oats had a lower risk of developing the disease than those with a low intake.
For cardiovascular disease, the picture was less clear, and no clear overall association was found.
Oats do not prevent all diseases, but a high intake may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and possibly lower overall mortality.
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At the same time, the researchers emphasize the need for more and more standardized studies.
Sources: Nutrients.
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