Are Herbs Definitely Effective? a Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Effect of Oat Consumption on Metabolic Indices in Patients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Publisher

Summary: Does eating oats improve fatty liver markers? A clinical study found no significant changes in blood sugar, lipids or body measures, questioning assumed benefits. #FattyLiver #Nutrition

Heshmatipour H ; Varzaneh A E ; Iraj B ; Mahdavi A ; Rouhani M H
Source: Nutrire Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is characterized by excess liver fat and metabolic dysfunction, increasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease due to insulin resistance and lipid abnormalities. Oats contain beneficial components like β-glucan, avenanthramides, and peptides that lower blood glucose and cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity. Although combined oat-rich diets have shown metabolic benefits in MAFLD patients. Objective: To investigate the influence of oat consumption on triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), waist to height ratio (WHtR), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), LDL/ HDL and TG/ HDL in individuals with MAFLD. Methods: Sixty-four patients with MAFLD were randomly assigned in to the oat group (n =32), or control group (n=32) for 12 weeks. Patients in the intervention group were instructed to consume 50 gr/day oat. All outcomes were measured at the beginning and end of this study. This parallel randomized trial was registered at IRCT.ir (IRCT20130903014551N12). Results: Oat consumption did not significantly change FBS, insulin, TG, LDL, HDL, cholesterol, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, TyG, LDL/ HDL, TG/ HDL, WHtR. Conclusion: Oats consumption had no effects on anthropometric variables, blood glucose indices and serum lipid profile in patients with MAFLD. It should be declared to public that herbs are no definitely effective in all situations. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.