"Daily consumption of 3g barley beta-glucans can lower both total
and LDL-cholesterol by between 5% and 9%. This may not seem like
much, but it can translate into a 10% to 27% reduction in our risk of
coronary heart disease."
"The UK has one of the highest average cholesterol
levels in the world, making it a serious health threat - especially for
women [1]. For every 1% increase in serum cholesterol level, there is
a 2% - 3% increase in risk of cardiovascular disease [2]. Dietary fibre
helps to reduce that risk by interfering with the absorption of cholesterol
from the gut. Importantly, it doesn’t just reduce absorption of
the pre-formed cholesterol present in the food we eat; it also reduces
the re-absorption of cholesterol made in our liver, which is squirted
into the bowel along with bile fluid. This can make a huge difference
to our overall cholesterol balance. The form of soluble fibre found in
the cell wall of barley grains (barley beta-glucans) is particularly effective.
As well as reducing absorption of cholesterol, it is processed in the
large intestines to form substances (short chain fatty-acids) that have
a direct effect on the liver to reduce the amount of cholesterol we make
[3]. Daily consumption of 3g barley beta-glucans can lower both total
and LDL-cholesterol by between 5% and 9% [4,5]. This may not seem like
much, but it can translate into a 10% to 27% reduction in our risk of
coronary heart disease."
- [1] Keil U Coronary artery disease: the role of lipids,
hypertension and smoking. Basic Res Cardiol 2000;95 Suppl
- [2] http://www.heartstats.org/datapage.asp?id=1009
1:152-8
- [3] Rondanelli M et al (2009). The biological activity
of beta-glucans 100(3):237-45
- [4] Keenan JM et al (2007). The effects of contrentrated
barley beta-glucan on blood lipids in a population of hypercholesterolaemic
men and women. Br J Nutr 97(6):1162-8
- [5] Ames NP, Rhymer CR (2008). Issues surrounding health
claims for barley. 138(6):1237S-43S