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,
aged 25 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.



For more information visit: http://www.theoptimumdiabetics.com