Diet high in oat β-glucan activates the gut-hypothalamic (PYY₃₋₃₆-NPY) axis and increases satiety in diet-induced obesity in mice.

This study tested the effects of (1→3),(1→4) β-D-glucan from oats, on activation of the gut-hypothalamic (PYY₃₋₃₆-NPY) axis, satiety, and weight loss in diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. DIO mice were fed standard lab chow diets or varied doses of β-glucan for 6 weeks. Energy intake, satiety, body weight changes and peptide Y-Y₃₋₃₆ (PYY₃₋₃₆) were measured together with a satiety test and measurement of neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc). The average energy intake (-13%, p<0.05) and body weight gain was lower with increasing β-glucan over 6 wk with acute suppression of energy intake over 4 h. The highest β-glucan diet significantly increased plasma PYY₃₋₃₆, with suppression of Arc NPY mRNA.