Effects of Barley Consumption on CVD Risk Factors

Abstract

Lipaemic activity of soluble fibre derived from barley was evaluated in 2 human diet studies. Subjects in study 1 were men (n = 18, average age 45.6 yr) with moderately elevated cholesterol levels, while subjects in study 2 were mildly hypercholesterolaemic (7 men (43 ± 5 yr), 9 pre-menopausal women (47 ± 4 yr) and 9 post-menopausal women (50 ± 3 yr)). After a 2 wk adaptation period, wholegrain cereal products enriched with barley-derived soluble fibre at 0, 3 or 6 g/2800 kcal/day were introduced into the diet in a Latin-square design for 5 wk. Fasting serum lipids profiles were determined weekly. Compared with pre-study concn., total serum cholesterol concn. was 14, 17 and 20% lower in men in study 1 on the low, medium and high soluble fibre diets; corresponding decreases for subjects in study 2 were 4, 9 and 10%. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased in a similar manner, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concn. were decreased in study 1 but not in study 2. Triacylglycerols concn. were not altered by consumption of the experimental diet. Results are discussed in relation to results from other studies on lipaemic activity of soluble fibre (barley β-glucans and other sources). It is concluded that consumption of wholegrain foods containing barley β-glucans improves several cardiovascular disease risk factors.