Researchers from India have found that eating oats (Avena sativa) can help prevent alcohol-induced liver damage. In their study, which was published in the journal Nutrition Research, the research team looked at the protective effect of oat extract against alcohol-induced acute liver injury in a mouse model.

• Research has found an association between consumption of oats and lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders.
• However, the effect of oat extract in the prevention of acute liver injury is not fully understood.
• For their study, the research team hypothesized that oat extract would exert a protective effect against acute liver injury brought about by alcohol intake in a mouse model.
• In conducting the study, the research team pretreated mice with phenolic-enriched ethyl acetate fraction of oats at doses of 125 and 250 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) a day for 12 consecutive days.
• Then, they induced acute liver injury by administering five doses of 50 percent ethanol or 10 grams per kilogram (g/kg) body weight to mice every 12 hours.
• After that, the team measured the alcohol-induced liver injury through different parameters.
• The results showed that pretreatment with the oat extract at 250 mg/kg significantly reduced the levels of liver injury markers and significantly increased the levels of antioxidant defenses.
• In addition, it inhibited inflammatory pathways.

From these findings, the research team concludes that oats can be used as a dietary intervention to protect against alcohol-induced liver damage.

To read more studies on foods that help protect against liver damage, visit LiverDamage.news.

Journal Reference:

Mir SM, Sahu BD, Koneru M, Kuncha M, Jerald MK, Ravuri HG, Kanjilal S, Sistla R. SUPPLEMENTATION OF OAT (AVENA SATIVA L.) EXTRACT ABATES ALCOHOL-INDUCED ACUTE LIVER INJURY IN A MOUSE MODEL. Nutrition Research. June 2018; 54: 80-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.04.002