biostudies-literatureKlumpen LBundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)598https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12808737biostudies-literatureUnknown17(1)Oats have various positive effects on human health, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To identify oat-microbiome-host interactions contributing to metabolic improvements, we conducted two randomized controlled dietary interventions in parallel-design in individuals with metabolic syndrome, comparing a short-term, high-dose and a six-week, moderate oat intake with respective controls (DRKS00022169). Both oat diets lead to an increase in plasma ferulic acid (0.64 [0.26, 1.02], P = 0.002; 0.55 [0.21, 0.89], P = 0.003), while the high-dose oat-diet also increased dihydroferulic acid (1.23 [0.44, 2.01], P = 0.003). Here we show that microbial phenolic metabolites are driving factors for the cholesterol-lowering effect of oats, which might be of relevance since short-term, Nature communicationsCholesterol-lowering effects of oats induced by microbially produced phenolic metabolites in metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.PMC12808737432325352 - SFB 1454, EXC 2151-390873048432325352 - SFB 145401EA1707Wiemann VHasenauer JStoffel-Wagner BBurgdorf SSchlautmann LSeel WKlumpen LCoenen MThiele CMantri AStehle PPhilipps MWeinhold LFließwasser TYaghmour MHSimon MCfalseCholesterol-lowering effects of oats induced by microbially produced phenolic metabolites in metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.Oats have various positive effects on human health, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To identify oat-microbiome-host interactions contributing to metabolic improvements, we conducted two randomized controlled dietary interventions in parallel-design in individuals with metabolic syndrome, comparing a short-term, high-dose and a six-week, moderate oat intake with respective controls (DRKS00022169). Both oat diets lead to an increase in plasma ferulic acid (0.64 [0.26, 1.02], P = 0.002; 0.55 [0.21, 0.89], P = 0.003), while the high-dose oat-diet also increased dihydroferulic acid (1.23 [0.44, 2.01], P = 0.003). Here we show that microbial phenolic metabolites are driving factors for the cholesterol-lowering effect of oats, which might be of relevance since short-term, 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-06T15:40:28.81Z2026-06-02T03:09:17.457ZS-EPMC128087374153527110.1038/s41467-026-68303-9