Modified, extracted barley beta glucan(BBG) effectively lowers LDL‐Cholesterol despite low viscosity

Abstract

Many studies have shown that foods rich in viscous fibers can lower LDL‐ C. This study compared the effect on blood lipids of a food and beverage fortified with unmodified BBG (HMW), average molecular weight of 1000 kDa, to the effect of the same food and beverage fortified with modified BBG (LMW), average molecular weight 50–400 kDa in persons with moderate dyslipidemia. Subjects(N=155) with LDL‐C levels between 130 and 190 mg/dl after a 4 week run in period on a “heart‐healthy” diet were randomized to 5 parallel treatment arms (5g/d HMW, 5g/d LMW, 3g/d HMW, 3g/d LMW or control). Over the six week treatment period subjects consumed one serving per day of a fortified cereal and one serving per day of a fortified beverage or control. Results: change from baseline in LDL‐C (5g HMW = − 22.5 mg/dl (−14.6%); 5g LMW = − 20.3mg/dl (−13.1%); 3g HMW = −14mg/dl (−9%); 3g LMW = − 13.4mg/dl (−9%). There was good compliance with all treatments with all subject groups consuming 94+% of servings and there were no drop outs or significant differences in side effects reported except for increased intestinal gas in the 5g HMW compared to control.