Recent Study Reveals Eating Oatmeal in the Short Term is Effective in Lowering High Cholesterol

Illustration of oatmeal consumption effectively lowers high cholesterol. (Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

JAKARTA - An oatmeal-based diet turns out to be able to provide a real impact on metabolic health. In the latest study, it was shown that consuming oatmeal for two days can significantly reduce bad cholesterol levels.

The results of the study were published in News Medical, based on a team from the University of Bonn published in the journal Nature Communications. The research involved participants with metabolic syndrome.

Starting from conditions characterized by obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and blood fat disorders. Metabolic syndrome is known to increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

During the study, participants followed a low-calorie diet that consisted almost entirely of oatmeal for two days. They ate about 300 grams of oatmeal per day, cooked with water, with a small addition of fruit or vegetables.

For comparison, the control group also followed a low-calorie diet, but without oatmeal. The results showed that the group on the oatmeal diet experienced a decrease in LDL cholesterol levels of about 10 percent.

The decrease is considered quite large for the size of a short-term dietary intervention. Although it cannot be equated with the effects of drugs, the results of this decrease are meaningful for health.

"This decrease cannot be compared with the effects of modern drugs, but it is still meaningful in terms of health," said junior professor at the Institute of Nutritional and Food Science, University of Bonn, Marie-Christine Simon, quoted from News Medical, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

Through the study, researchers found that the positive effects of oatmeal do not only come from its fiber content. Oatmeal consumption affects the composition of the gut microbiota.

Oatmeal increases the number of certain gut bacteria that produce phenolic compounds. One of these compounds is ferulic acid, which has previously been linked to improvements in cholesterol metabolism.

The short-term intensive positive effects of oatmeal are still detected up to six weeks after the intervention is completed. Conversely, consuming oatmeal in smaller amounts, about 80 grams per day for six weeks without calorie restriction, does not have much impact.

"This shows that consuming large amounts of oatmeal in a short time is more effective than consuming small amounts in the long term without calorie regulation," said Simon.

However, although the results are promising, the researchers emphasize that this oatmeal diet must be carried out in the context of research and supervision. This is because the two-day oatmeal diet is low in calories and is not designed as a long-term diet.

Experts suggest paying attention to the balance of nutrition and consulting with health professionals, especially for those suffering from comorbidities. Oatmeal diet can be a temporary option, but not to replace a sustainable healthy diet.