BERLIN—Barley
beta-glucan reduces serum lipid levels, according to research presented in April at the First International Congress on Pre-
Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome.In the six-week study, 76 men and 79 women with hypercholesterolemia, aged25 to 73, completed a four-week lowfat diet prior to baseline. At the beginning of the trial, test subjects were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups or a control group and assayed for
blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers. During the course of the study, test groups were administered 3 g and 5 g doses of low molecular weight (LMW) or high molecular weight (HMW) barley
beta-glucan (from Cargill) twice daily, in cereal and juice.Posttreatment assessment of
blood lipids and other CVD biomarkers revealed improvements in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, markers of glycemic control(glycosylated hemoglobin, HOMA model) and a key marker of inflammation(hs-CRP).The researchers concluded both doses of LMW and HMW barley
beta-glucan improved blood lipids over a six-week treatment period.
