OLIGO-SACCHARIDE ENHANCED OAT-BASED DRINK FOR TREATING HYPERLIPIDAEMIA AND HYPERGLYCEMIA AND IMPROVING GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME BY TRI-ENZYME HYDROLYSIS AND MICRO-PARTICLE MILLING

摘要

The invention relates to a tri-enzyme hydrolysis method for preparing an oligo-saccharide enhanced oat-based drink product useful in lowering cholesterol, triglyceride, blood sugar and improving gastrointestinal function which comprises not only oat &bgr;-glucan and but also a higher amount of isomalto-oligosacchride. In accordance with the invention, whole grains of oats are micronized to an average particle size of 100 microns prior to enzyme treatments, and a product of creamy milk-like texture is obtained without filtration so that nutrients of the whole grains of oats are retained. This invention enhances the value of oat-based processing to yield additional health-associated content and illness (such as hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycemia) prevention efficacy that are beyond the potential of oats per se.