Effect of Oats on Lipid Profile

Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women between 20 and 50 years old * Total Cholesterol: ≥ 200 mg/dL and \< 240mg/dL * Availability and willingness to follow study protocol * Stable body weight for previous 3 months (not more than 5% weight change) Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects already on lipid lowering drugs * LDL-c \> 190 mg/dL * Total cholesterol \<200 mg/dL and \>240 mg/dL * Subjects with serum creatinine levels \> 1.3 mg/dL (female) or 1.4 mg/dL (male), nephropathy, evidence of hepatic disease or history of alcohol abuse * Baseline Triglycerides: \> 300 mg/dL * Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) as diagnosed by a physician * Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism (as per physician's discretion) * Uncontrolled hypertension (as per physician's discretion) * Acute infections or chronic debilitating diseases like tuberculosis, malignancy, HIV infection etc. Any life threatening serious disorder of the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs or other organs by history * Irritable bowel syndrome by history * Unwillingness to give written informed consent for participation in the study. * Pregnancy \& lactation (by history) * Severe end organ damage * Subjects with allergy to oats * Heavy smokers (smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day)