Phytochemical and Fiber Components in Oat Varieties in the HEALTHGRAIN Diversity Screen

The levels and compositions of a range of phytochemicals (sterols, tocols, avenanthramides, folates, phenolic acids) and dietary fiber components were determined in five oat cultivars (four husked and one naked) grown on a single site in 2005. The total levels of tocols, phenolic acids, and avenanthramides varied by over 2-fold between cultivars, but less variation occurred in total sterols and total folates. Limited variation was also observed in the dietary fiber content and composition of the four husked lines. These results indicate that it may be possible to selectively breed for lines with high contents of dietary fiber and specific groups of phytochemicals.