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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #141302
Title: BARLEY CONSUMPTION LOWERS CHOLESTEROL IN MEN AND OVERWEIGHT WOMEN.

Author
item Behall, Kay
item Hallfrisch, Judith
item Scholfield, Daniel

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2003
Publication Date: 4/1/2003
Citation: Behall, K.M., Hallfrisch, J.G., Scholfield, D.J. 2003. Barley consumption lowers cholesterol in men and overweight women. Meeting Abstract. FASEB

Interpretive Summary: None

Technical Abstract: Heart disease continues to be the number one cause of death in the United States despite numerous plans to reduce its prevalence. Increasing soluble fiber from oats or psyllium has been reported to be effective in lowering cholesterol. Barley contains as much soluble fiber as oats, but it is not consumed frequently by Americans. Nine non-diabetic, normotensive overweight post menopausal women, 9 pre-menopausal women, and 7 moderately hypercholesterolemic men (31-64 yr) consumed controlled step one diets for 17 weeks. The study was approved by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Institutional Review Board and conformed to regulations governing human research supported by the U.S. Government. After a 2 week adaptation period, whole grain foods containing 0, 3, or 6 g soluble fiber/day from barley were included in the step one menus. Subjects consumed these diets for 5 weeks each in a Latin square design. Plasma lipid fractions were measured by NMR at the end of each period. Plasma total and LDL-cholesterol declined significantly (about 10%) in men and postmenopausal women at the end of 5 weeks after 3 or 6 g of soluble fiber from barley, while declines in pre-menopausal women were more modest (4-5%). HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerides did not decline significantly. These results indicate that barley may be an effective addition to a healthy diet to lower total and LDL-cholesterol without lowering HDL-cholesterol. This research was supported by intramural Agricultural Research Service funds.