A A C C   2 0 0 0   A n n u a l   M e e t i n g

Cereals (oat, rice and barley) play a significant role in reducing total plasma cholesterol (TC) in a variety of animal species and in human subjects with high TC. Long term population studies have demonstrated that for each 1% reduction in TC, there is a 2- to 4-fold decrease in atherosclerosis. Cereal fiber has been shown to be strongly associated with a reduced risk of total myocardial infarction. In human subjects with normal or slightly elevated TC, although the effect of cereal dietary fiber on plasma lipids and lipoproteins is small, these changes would have a significant potential for reducing cardiovascular risk for the whole population. Future research needs include identification of the active components and their mechanisms of action; investigating in vitro and in vivo bile acid binding properties of cereals; testing combinations of cereal fractions for possible synergistic effects on cholesterol metabolism; the development of cultivars which contain enhanced levels of the cholesterol-lowering components of these cereals; investigating the effects of antioxidant activity in these cereal fibers on ameliorating or preventing the development of atherosclerosis; and development of palatable whole grain, low-fat food products incorporating these cereal fibers to increase the availability of healthful cereal-based foods to the consumer.