Effects of overnight soaking on nutritional functionality, gut microbiota, and metabolic outcomes of oats: A mini review

Open Access

Issue		BIO Web Conf. Volume 241, 2026 3^rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Horticulture Research (ICRAHOR 2026)


Article Number		05002
Number of page(s)		6
Section		Horti-Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Success Stories
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202624105002
Published online		26 June 2026

P. Williams, The benefits of breakfast cereal consumption: a systematic review of the evidence base. Adv. Nutr. 5, 636S (2014). https://doi.org/10.3945/an.114.006247 [Google Scholar]
D. Leszczyńska, A. Wirkijowska, A. Gasiński, D. Średnik-Tober, J. Trafiłek, R. Kazimierczak, Oat and oat processed products: technology, composition, nutritional value, and health. Appl. Sci. 13, 11267 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011267 [Google Scholar]
K. Prasanthi, R. Dhar, K. Rana, P. Kumar, Oats (Avena sativa) as a functional food: nutritional significance, processing approaches and multifaceted applications. J. Sci. Res. Rep. 31(2025). https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2025/v31i53054 [Google Scholar]
R. Djorgbenoo, J. Hu, C. Hu, S. Sang, Fermented oats as a novel functional food. Nutrients 15, 3521 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15163521 [Google Scholar]
C. Zhou, G. Anderson, W. Fan, S. Vien, Y. Ai, M. Tulbek, H. Fabek, Increasing particle size of oat flours decreases postprandial glycemia and increases appetite in healthy adults. Nutr. Res. 130, 81 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2024.07.006 [Google Scholar]
S. Tosh, N. Bordenave, Emerging science on benefits of whole grain oat and barley and their soluble dietary fibers for heart health, glycemic response, and gut microbiota. Nutr. Rev. 78, 13 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz085 [Google Scholar]
D. Pallavi, J. Hiremath, M. Mrutyunjaya, N. Narayanaswamy, Oats as a functional food. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika (2021). https://doi.org/10.18805/bkap366 [Google Scholar]
G. Alemayehu, S. Forsido, Y. Tola, E. Amare, Nutritional and phytochemical composition and associated health benefits of oat (Avena sativa) grains and oat-based fermented food products. Sci. World J. 2023, 2730175 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2730175 [Google Scholar]
A. Singla, O. Gupta, V. Sagwal, A. Kumar, N. Patwa, N. Mohan, A. Arya, D. Kumar, O. Vir, J. Singh, L. Kumar, C. Lal, G. Singh, Beta-glucan as a soluble dietary fiber source: origins, biosynthesis, extraction, structural characteristics, biofunctional attributes, and global trade. Nutrients 16, 900 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060900 [Google Scholar]
T. Wolever, S. Tosh, S. Spruill, A. Jenkins, A. Ezatagha, R. Duss, J. Johnson, Y. Chu, R. Steinert, Increasing oat β-glucan viscosity in a breakfast meal slows gastric emptying and reduces glycemic and insulinemic responses in healthy humans: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 111, 319 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz285 [Google Scholar]
J. Bai, T. Li, W. Zhang, M. Fan, H. Qian, Y. Li, L. Wang, Systematic assessment of oat β-glucan catabolism during in vitro digestion and fermentation. Food Chem. 348, 129116 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129116 [Google Scholar]
J. Alyami, E. Whitehouse, G. Yakubov, S. Pritchard, C. Hoad, E. Blackshaw, K. Heissam, S. Cordon, H. Bligh, R. Spiller, I. Macdonald, G. Aithal, P. Gowland, M. Taylor, L. Marciani, Glycaemic, gastrointestinal, hormonal and appetitive responses to pearl millet or oats porridge breakfasts: a randomised, crossover trial in healthy humans. Br. J. Nutr. 122, 1142 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114519001880 [Google Scholar]
D. Paudel, B. Dhungana, M. Ca P. Krishnan, A review of health-beneficial properties of oats. Foods 10, 2591 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112591 [Google Scholar]
Y. Yu, L. Zhou, X. Li, J. Liu, H. Li, L. Gong, J. Zhang, J. Wang, B. Sun, The progress of nomenclature, structure, metabolism, and bioactivities of oat novel phytochemical: avenanthramides. J. Agric. Food Chem. 70, 2473 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c05704 [Google Scholar]
I. Kim, C. Hwang, W. Yang, C. Kim, Multiple antioxidative and bioactive molecules of oats (Avena sativa L.) in human health. Antioxidants 10, 1454 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10091454 [Google Scholar]
M. Hossain, J. Tovar, L. Cloetens, A. Nilsson, Inclusion of oat polar lipids in a solid breakfast improves glucose tolerance, triglyceridemia, and gut hormone responses postprandially. Nutrients 15, 4389 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204389 [Google Scholar]
L. He, J. Zhao, Y. Huang, Y. Li, The difference between oats and beta-glucan extract intake in the management of HbA1c, fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Food Funct. 7, 1413 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/c5fo01364j [Google Scholar]
J. Ni, Y. Wang, H. Sun, Z. Chang, R. Wang, Y. Jiang, J. Qin, M. Gao, Z. Li, Comparative study on static and dynamic digest characteristics of oat β-glucan and ß-gluco-oligosaccharides. Food Res. Int. 197, 115153 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115153 [Google Scholar]
V. Chen, A. Zurbau, A. Ahmed, T. Khan, F. Au-Yeung, L. Chiavaroli, B. Mejia, L. Leiter, D. Jenkins, C. Kendall, J. Sievenpiper, Effect of oats and oat ß-glucan on glycemic control in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ Open Diabetes Res. Care 10, e002784 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-002784 [Google Scholar]
M. Hossain, J. Tovar, L. Cloetens, M. Geraldi, C. Venuti, A. Nilsson, Oat beta-glucans consumed at breakfast improve glucose tolerance acutely and after a subsequent lunch: a randomized dose-response study. Food Funct. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo00353a [Google Scholar]
Y. Tang, S. Li, J. Yan, Y. Peng, W. Weng, X. Yao, A. Gao, J. Cheng, J. Ruan, B. Xu, Bioactive components and health functions of oat. Food Rev. Int. 39, 4545 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2022.2029477 [Google Scholar]
Y. Li, C. Qin, L. Dong, X. Zhang, Z. Wu, L. Liu, J. Yang, L. Liu, Whole grain benefit: synergistic effect of oat phenolic compounds and β-glucan on hyperlipidemia via gut microbiota in high-fat-diet mice. Food Funct. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1039/d2fo01746f [Google Scholar]
A. Kristek, M. Wiese, P. Heuer, O. Kosik, M. Schär, G. Soycan, S. Alsharif, G. Kuhnle, G. Walton, J. Spencer, Oat bran, but not its isolated bioactive β-glucans or polyphenols, have a bifidogenic effect in an in vitro fermentation model of the gut microbiota. Br. J. Nutr. 121, 549 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114518003501 [Google Scholar]
M. Hossain, J. Tovar, L. Cloetens, S. De Kam, A. Nilsson, Oat polar lipids and sunflower lecithin similarly improve cardiometabolic risk markers and appetite controlling hormone responses. Front. Nutr. 11, 1497844 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1497844 [Google Scholar]
M. Hossain, J. Tovar, L. Cloetens, M. Florido, K. Petersson, F. Prothon, A. Nilsson, Oat polar lipids improve cardiometabolic-related markers after breakfast and a subsequent standardized lunch. Nutrients 13, 988 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030988 [Google Scholar]
G. Fabiano, L. Shinn, A. Antunes, Relationship between oat consumption, gut microbiota modulation, and shortchain fatty acid synthesis: an integrative review. Nutrients 15, 3534 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15163534 [Google Scholar]
D. Xu, M. Feng, Y. Chu, S. Wang, V. Shete, K. Tuohy, F. Liu, X. Zhou, A. Kamil, D. Pan, H. Liu, X. Yang, C. Yang, B. Zhu, N. Lv, Q. Xiong, X. Wang, J. Sun, G. Sun, Y. Yang, The prebiotic effects of oats on blood lipids, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects compared with rice: a randomized, controlled trial. Front. Immunol. 12, 787797 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.787797 [Google Scholar]
M. Connolly, X. Tzounis, K. Tuohy, J. Lovegrove, Hypocholesterolemic and prebiotic effects of a wholegrain oat-based granola breakfast cereal in a cardio-metabolic "at risk" population. Front. Microbiol. 7, 1675 (2016). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01675 [Google Scholar]
M. Gotteland, A. Zazueta, J. Pino, A. Fresard, V. Sambra, J. Codoceo, M. Cires, X. López, J. Vivanco, F. Magne, Modulation of postprandial plasma concentrations of digestive hormones and gut microbiota by foods containing oat β-glucans in healthy volunteers. Foods 12, 700 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040700 [Google Scholar]
A. Shehzad, R. Rabail, S. Munir, H. Jan, D. Fernàndez-Làzaro, R. Aadil, Impact of oats on appetite hormones and body weight management: a review. Curr. Nutr. Rep. 12, 66 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-023-00454-3 [Google Scholar]
J. Alyami, N. Ladd, S. Pritchard, C. Hoad, A. Sultan, R. Spiller, P. Gowland, I. Macdonald, G. Aithal, L. Marciani, M. Taylor, Glycaemic, gastrointestinal and appetite responses to breakfast porridges from ancient cereal grains: a MRI pilot study in healthy humans. Food Res. Int. 118, 49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.11.071 [Google Scholar]
A. Amerizadeh, H. Ghaheh, G. Vaseghi, Z. Farajzadegan, S. Asgary, Effect of oat (Avena sativa L.) consumption on lipid profile with focus on triglycerides and HDL-C: an updated systematic review. Curr. Probl. Cardiol. 101153 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101153 [Google Scholar]
A. Li, J. Gao, Y. Li, S. Qi, T. Meng, S. Yu, Y. Zhang, Q. He, Efficacy of oats in dyslipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Food Funct. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1039/d3fo04394k [Google Scholar]
D. Xu, S. Wang, M. Feng, V. Shete, Y. Chu, A. Kamil, C. Yang, H. Liu, H. Xia, X. Wang, G. Sun, Y. Yang, Serum metabolomics reveals underlying mechanisms of cholesterol-lowering effects of oat consumption: a randomized controlled trial in a mildly hypercholesterolemic population. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 65, e2001059 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202001059 [Google Scholar]
A. Cicero, F. Fogacci, M. Veronesi, E. Strocchi, E. Grandi, E. Rizzoli, A. Poli, F. Marangoni, C. Borghi, A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the medium-term effects of oat fibers on human health: the BELT study. Nutrients 12, 686 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030686 [Google Scholar]
R. Mathews, Y. Chu, An encompassing review of metaanalyses and systematic reviews of the effect of oats on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular risk, diabetes risk, body weight/adiposity and gut health. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 65, 2587 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2024.2382352 [Google Scholar]
J. Carlson, J. Erickson, J. Hess, T. Gould, J. Slavin, Prebiotic dietary fiber and gut health: comparing the in vitro fermentations of beta-glucan, inulin and xylooligosaccharide. Nutrients 9, 1361 (2017). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9121361 [Google Scholar]
Y. Wang, W. Qi, X. Guo, G. Song, S. Pang, W. Fang, Z. Peng, Effects of oats, tartary buckwheat, and foxtail millet supplementation on lipid metabolism, oxido-inflammatory responses, gut microbiota, and colonic SCFA composition in high-fat diet fed rats. Nutrients 14, 2760 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132760 [Google Scholar]
W. Duan, B. Zheng, T. Li, R. Liu, Gut microbiota and metabolites mediate health benefits of oat and oat bran consumption in IBD mice. Nutrients 16, 4365 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244365 [Google Scholar]
R. Huang, J. Zhang, M. Sun, L. Xu, H. Kuang, C. Xu, L. Guo, Oat β-glucan enhances gut barrier function and maintains intestinal homeostasis in naturally aging mice. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 141129 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141129 [Google Scholar]
R. Korczak, M. Kocher, K. Swanson, Effects of oats on gastrointestinal health as assessed by in vitro, animal, and human studies. Nutr. Rev. 78, 343 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz064 [Google Scholar]
Q. Hou, Y. Li, L. Li, G. Cheng, X. Sun, S. Li, H. Tian, The metabolic effects of oats intake in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 7, 10369 (2015). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7125536 [Google Scholar]
L. Li, R. Zhang, Y. Hu, H. Deng, X. Pei, F. Liu, C. Chen, Impact of oat (Avena sativa L.) on metabolic syndrome and potential physiological mechanisms of action: a current review. J. Agric. Food Chem. 71, 12764 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02304 [Google Scholar]
J. Dong, Y. Zhu, Y. Ma, Q. Xiang, R. Shen, Y. Liu, Oat products modulate the gut microbiota and produce antiobesity effects in obese rats. J. Funct. Foods 25, 408 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2016.06.025 [Google Scholar]
M. Cortijo-Alfonso, M. Romero, A. Macià, S. Yuste, M. Moralejo, L. Rubió-Piqué, C. Pinol-Felis, Effect of barley and oat consumption on immune system, inflammation and gut microbiota: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Curr. Nutr. Rep. 13, 582 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-024-00543-x [Google Scholar]
C. Martinez-Villaluenga, E. Penas, Health benefits of oat: current evidence and molecular mechanisms. Curr. Opin. Food Sci. 14, 26 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2017.01.004 [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
S. Alzoufairi, R. Pushpass, K. Jackson, J. Lovegrove, Impact of the CYP7A1 single nucleotide polymorphism rs3808607 on postprandial lipids and gut hormones in response to functional interventions. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 81(2022). https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665122002270 [Google Scholar]
E. Valido, J. Stoyanov, A. Bertolo, A. Hertig-Godeschalk, R. Zeh, J. Flueck, B. Minder, S. Stojic, B. Metzger, W. Bussler, T. Muka, H. Kern, M. Glisic, Systematic review of the effects of oat intake on gastrointestinal health. J. Nutr. 151, 3075 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab245 [Google Scholar]

Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.

Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.

Initial download of the metrics may take a while.