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Randomized controlled crossover study of the effect of a highly ß-glucan–enriched barley on cardiovascular disease risk factors in mildly hypercholesterolemic men^1,2,3

¹ From the Department of Medicine (GFK, GJSC, and SDP), the Human Nutrition & Metabolic Unit (GFK and SDP), the School of Biological Sciences (GJSC and TBM), and the Department of Statistics (BHM), University of Auckland, New Zealand; Crop & Food Research, Christchurch and Palmerston North, New Zealand (GDC and JAM); and Gracelinc Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand (GC).

Background: Soluble-fiber ß-glucan derived from oats can reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk through reductions in total and LDL cholesterol. Barley-derived ß-glucan may also improve serum cholesterol, but large quantities are required for clinical significance.

Objective: This trial investigated whether a ß-glucan–enriched form of barley can favorably modify cholesterol and other markers of CVD and diabetes risk.

Design: Eighteen mildly hyperlipidemic ( ± SD: 4.0 ± 0.6 mmol LDL cholesterol/L) men with a mean (± SD) body mass index (in kg/m²) of 27.4 ± 4.6 were randomly assigned in this single-blind, 2 x 4-wk trial to either the treatment arm [8.1–11.9 g ß-glucan/d (scaled to body weight)] or the control arm (isoenergetic dose of 6.5–9.2 g glucose/d). After a washout period of 4 wk, dietary regimens were crossed over. The trial took place in a long-stay metabolic facility, and all foods were provided (38% of energy from fat). Fasted blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 29 in both study arms. An oral-glucose-tolerance test was carried out on days 0 and 29.

Results: There was no significant change () in total ( = -0.08 mmol/L, -1.3%), LDL ( = -0.15 mmol/L, -3.8%), or HDL ( = 0 mmol/L) cholesterol or in triacylglycerol ( = 0.18 mmol/L), fasting glucose ( = -0.05 mmol/L), or postprandial glucose when analyzed between treatments (P > 0.05; ANOVA).

Conclusion: The effect of ß-glucan–enriched barley on lipid profile was highly variable between subjects, and there was no evidence of a clinically significant improvement in CVD risk across this group of mildly hyperlipidemic men.

Key Words: Serum cholesterol • soluble dietary fiber • ß-glucan • barley • randomized controlled trial • hyperlipidemic men

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				K. M Behall, D. J Scholfield, and J. Hallfrisch Diets containing barley significantly reduce lipids in mildly hypercholesterolemic men and women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2004; 80(5): 1185 - 1193. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]