Effects of oat bran on anthropometric and biochemical parameters of outdoor runners

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations on anthropometric and biochemical parameters before and after chronic supplementation with oat bran in outdoor runners aged between 18 and 52 years. The runners were divided into two groups: placebo group (GP) and experimental group (GE), n = 7 and n = 12, respectively. The analyzed variables were: body mass, body fat percentage, abdominal circumference (AC), body mass index (BMI), leukocytes, lymphocytes as well as immunoglobulin A, G and A salivary. During 8 weeks GP received 20g of talc and GE 30g of oat brain. The oat bran group reduced body mass, BMI and AC, which was not observed for GP after 8 weeks. There was a decrease in immunoglobulins A and G for GE, and a decrease in immunoglobulin G if compared to GP. Oat brain supplementation induced positive results on anthropometric parameters, with minor alterations on the biochemical variables.