C. Walter Newman

Barley β‐glucan is effective as a hypocholesterolaemic ingredient in foods

Barley contains high levels of soluble dietary fibre, including mixed linked 1→3, 1→4β-D-glucans (β-glucan). An extract of β-glucan from waxy, hulless barley containing 56% total dietary fibre (TDF) was incorporated into flour tortillas, cornstarch pudding and apple granola bars to provide 2 g soluble fibre as β-glucan per serving. The foods were tested for objective functional properties. Flour tortillas with β-glucan were incorporated into rat diets and compared to diets containing an equivalent amount of cellulose, to test the fibre effect on growth and lipid metabolism parameters. Rats fed β-glucan tortillas had lower feed consumption and body weight (P 0·05). Plasma LDL-cholesterol of rats fed β-glucan was lower (P 0·05). Rats fed β-glucan tortillas had higher (P<0·05) faecal fat excretion, suggesting impairment of intestinal fat absorption. Liver composition data showed lower (P<0·05) levels of total lipid and cholesterol in β-glucan-fed rats. The results suggest that the barley β-glucan concentrate has potential as a food ingredient to provide supplemental soluble fibre which may be beneficial in reducing plasma LDL-cholesterol in humans.

COMPARATIVE CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING EFFECTS OF BARLEY β-GLUCAN AND BARLEY OIL IN GOLDEN SYRIAN HAMSTERS

The cholesterol-lowering effect of barley and more specifically the contribution of barley fiber and barley oil to cholesterol-lowering was studied in hamsters. This was achieved by comparing a semi-purified diet containing cellulose and peanut oil (control) to a whole barley diet and barley diets from which barley fiber, barley oil, or barley oil and barley fiber were removed. The barley fiber was removed enzymatically and the oil was extracted with hexane. The cholesterol-lowering effect of the barley oil was also tested by adding it in place of peanut oil to the control semi-purified diet. Plasma triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels were not influenced by dietary treatments. Total plasma cholesterol was lower (P < 0.05) in hamsters fed diets containing barley soluble dietary fiber compared to those fed barley diets with SDF removed or those fed insoluble dietary fiber. Barley oil had no statistically significant lowering effect on plasma cholesterol levels compared to those of the controls. The data presented in this study with the hamster model supports the cholesterol-lowering effect of soluble fiber previously reported in other species, but does not support all reports concerning oils and nonsaponifiable oil constituents in this respect. Copyright

Lipid levels and digesta viscosity of rats fed a high-fiber barley milling fraction

Abstract Forty adult rats were used in an experiment to evaluate the effect of feeding a high viscosity barley milling fraction on plasma and liver lipids and intestinal content viscosity. Shonkin barley was milled into 14 fractions utilizing an 8-roller dry mill. The fraction selected for this experiment was classified as break shorts containing 8.4% β-glucan. Rats were randomly allotted to diets containing 0.5% cholesterol and barley shorts at either 0% (control), 30, 60, or 90% of the diet. Experimental duration was 21 d at which time rats were sacrificed, small intestine contents removed and viscosities determined. The animals were not fasted prior to sacrifice. Response criteria measured were plasma lipids and glucose, liver lipids, wet digesta weight and viscosity of intestinal contents. Plasma lipids and glucose were not different (P > .05) for rats fed any of the diets. There were no differences in liver weights among groups. Rats fed different levels of shorts had significantly lower (P

Glycaemic responses and hypocholesterolaemic effects of high‐amylose barley diets on broiler chicks

The glucose and lipid responses of barley diets were investigated with chicks based on either flour or red dog (RD) from each of three barley cultivars, Glacier, covered high-amylose Glacier (HAG) and hull-less high-amylose Glacier (HHAG), with two maize control diets. Mean time interval blood glucose levels were higher (P < 0.05) for chicks fed uncooked barley flour or RD, compared with controls. Total and LDL plasma cholesterol were lower (P < 0.05) for chicks fed the HAG and HHAG flour and all barley RD diets. HDL cholesterol values for chicks fed Glacier and HHAG flour and HHAG RD diets were higher than controls. The LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios for chicks fed HAG and HHAG flour and all barley RD diets were lower (P < 0.05) than controls. Lower body weights were observed in all chickens fed barley diets. The results suggest that the soluble fibre, mainly β-glucan and starch structures, in barley may be responsible for the hypocholesterolaemic effect.