How Healthy Are Your Oats?

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN · Jun 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how healthy oats really are by checking both their nutritional benefits and any possible risks from natural contaminants called mycotoxins, which can sometimes be found in grains like oats. Researchers want to understand what healthy substances from oats get absorbed into the body and how these appear in urine after eating a single serving of an oat breakfast. To do this, they will ask 16 healthy adults to eat one portion of oats and then collect their urine samples over the next 48 hours.

If you are between 18 and 65 years old, generally healthy, and have a body weight within a normal to slightly overweight range, you might be able to participate. However, people with certain health issues like digestive, liver, or kidney problems, those taking related medications, anyone allergic to oats, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those taking vitamin supplements (unless they stop two weeks before the study) cannot join. Participants will only need to eat the oat meal once and collect urine samples afterward—no blood tests or other procedures are involved. This study is currently looking for volunteers and could be a simple way to help scientists learn more about the benefits and safety of eating oats.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult males and females (aged 18 - 65 years) who are healthy with a BMI in the normal to overweight range (18.5-29.9)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Anyone who currently suffers from gastrointestinal or metabolic diseases, liver disease or kidney disease
• • Anyone who currently has an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, night eating syndrome)
• • Anyone who is taking prescribed medication related to gastrointestinal, metabolic, liver or kidney disease
• • Anyone who has taken antibiotics in the past 3 months
• • Anyone who is allergic or intolerant to oat foods
• • Anyone who is currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• • Anyone who is currently taking vitamin or mineral supplements (unless they agree to discontinue supplementation 2 weeks before the study)
• • Anyone currently participating in another research study
• • Anyone who is unable to fluently speak, read and understand English
• • Anyone who is unable to give written informed consent