A CHEAP supplement made from oats could help flush deadly “forever chemicals”; from your body, US scientists have found.
These toxic substances – known as (polyfluoroalkyl substances) – are found in non-stick pans, food wrappers, plastic containers and even stain-proof carpets.
They build up in the body over time and have been linked to , , and .
But a new study by researchers at Boston University suggests a simple dietary could help reduce PFAS levels in the blood.
In the trial, 42 men were given 1g of oat beta-glucan fibre, found naturally in oats, mushrooms and seeds, before every meal for four weeks.
Another 30 took a placebo made from rice.
After a month, showed the fibre group had an 8 per cent drop in two of the most dangerous forms of PFAS: PFOA and PFOS, both linked to cancer and hormone disruption.
Scientists believe the fibre works by binding to bile in the gut, which PFAS attach to, and helping excrete it all through poo, rather than letting it seep into the bloodstream.
The study, published in Environmental Health, in March 2025, is the first real evidence that something as simple as oat fibre could help clear out chemicals once thought to stay in the body for decades.
But PFAS take years to break down, so longer studies are needed to confirm how effective fibre is in the long term.
Experts also warned not all fibre works the same – beta-glucan is the key type used in the trial.
Previous research has shown that the fibre can also support heart health by .
Like other forms of fibre it it also helps ease by keeping bowels moving and reduces the risk of bowel cancer.
More than90 per centof adults in the UK don’t eat enough fibre, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), with NHS guidelines recommending 30g of fibre a day.
Oat beta-glucan supplements are available in the UK from health shops and online, often marketed for heart health or cholesterol.
You’ll need around 3g per day to match the study dose, typically taken as 1g before each meal.
Holland and Barrett are selling a 14-day supply of Oatwell Original Oat Bran Powder with Beta-Glucan for £10.12 – which works out to 84p per dose.
