Saponins are defense chemicals that irritate the human gut and cause activation of the immune system. They may even bind the TLR4 or TLR5 receptors, toll-like receptors in the gut,. leading to inflammation, cascades downstream, increasing things like cortisol, serotonin, or estrogen. Most human illness begins in the gut; there's not much of a way to avoid these saponins other than placing them in your oats where they can be easily disposed of.
Have you been led to believe that oatmeal is good for you? This podcast is for you! Paul does a deep dive on why you may want to cut oats (and chocolate, and leafy greens) out for good for reasons like heavy metal accumulation, antinutrients, and defense chemicals.
00:07:30 The problem with grains
00:11:45 Heavy metals in oats, greens, chocolate and fish
00:20:00 How saponins damage the gut
00:31:30 Cadmium and heavy metals in oats, vegetables and chocolate
Effects of saponins and glycoalkaloids on the permeability and viability of mammalian intestinal cells and on the integrity of tissue preparations in vitro: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20650190/