Good news about barley products?
On December 23, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
announced that whole grain barley and barley-containing products are
allowed to claim that they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
(CHD). Consequently, consumers can expect to see whole barley and dry
milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour, meal, and barley meal
bearing the health benefit claim. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the
cause of almost 500,000 deaths annually. Risk factors for coronary heart
disease (CHD) include high total cholesterol levels and high levels of low
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Scientific evidence shows that
adding barley to one's diet can provide health benefits of serum
cholesterol lowering. [1] FDA suggested an example of the health claim:
"Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of food], as part of a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A
serving of [name of food] supplies [X] grams of the soluble fiber
necessary per day to have this effect."
Do you notice that FDA emphaizes the amount of soluble fibers per
serving in the health benefit claim?
What are the health benefits of barley?
The health benefits of barley are related to its cholesterol-lowering
effect. There are two explanations for its cholesterol-lowering activities:
EXPLANATIONS FOR BARLEY'S CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING
ACTIVITIES
(1) Increased fecal cholesterol excretion
Lupton JR and co-workers from Texas A&M University found that barley
bran flour increased the daily fecal weight significantly by 48.6 g. They
also found that barley bran flour decreased gastrointestinal transit time
by 8.02 hours from baseline [2] These two observations suggest that
the food "travels" faster than usual in the gut in the presence of barley,
this fast transist does not allow sufficient time for cholesterol absorption.
Thus, if this explanation is true, the cholesterol excretion should
increase. Two years later, Lia A et al, University of Goteborg, Sweden,
proved that barley increased cholesterol excretion in ileostomy subjects
[3]
On the other hand, barley may increase the intestinal fluid viscosity. The
increased viscosity slows down the diffusion process decreases
cholesterol absorption but increases cholesterol excretion. Wang L et al,
Montana State University showed that barley beta-glucans altered
intestinal viscosity in chicks and this altered viscosity was related to
plasma cholesterol concentration. [4]
However, some scientists just simply explained that the
cholesterol-lowering effect of barley was related to increased fecal
cholesterol excretion or the high soluble fiber content [5-6]
(2) Lipid Metabolism Regulation
As early as 1980, Qureshi AA et al reported that the cholesterol-lowering
activities of barley were related to a decreased HMG-CoA reductase and
increased acetyl-CoA carboxylase activities from their experimental study
using chicks. [7] In 1982, the same group reported that high-protein
barley flour produced significant reductions in hepatic HMG-CoA
reductase, plasma cholesterol and induction in several lipogenic
enzymes in birds. They suggested that their high-protein barley flour
contained an inhibitor(s) of cholesterol biosynthesis and a growth
factor(s). [8] While, Burger WC et al, reported that barley kernel
constituents decreased hepatic beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl CoA
(HMG-CoA) reductase, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (7 alpha-hyd) but
increased fatty acid synthetase (FAS) in their studies using chickens. [9]
In 1986, Qureshi AA et al reported that they purified the non-polar
fraction of high protein barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) using HPLC to yield
10 major components. They found that components I and II were potent
inhibitors of cholesterogenesis in vivo and in vitro. They used mass
spectrometry to identify that component 1 was d-alpha-tocotrienol. The
molecule differs from tocopherols (vitamin E) only in three double bonds
in the isoprenoid chain which appear to be essential for the inhibition of
cholesterogenesis. [10]
Wang L et al, Montana State University, extracted barley oil with hexane
from the grain of a high oil waxy hull-less barley. They found that barley
oil had an effect in suppression of Total plasma cholesterol concentration
and Plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol in chicks compared to
margarine. Barley oil suppressed low density lipoprotein cholesterol but
not high density lipoprotein cholesterol in chicks compared to corn oil.
They considered the greater weight gain of the chicks fed barley oil as
these chicks had normally functioning digestion and absorption. They
found alpha-Tocotrienol and gamma-tocotrienol content of the barley oil
were 24 and 17 times greater, respectively, than those observed in the
corn oil and none in the margarine (same fraction). Finally, they
considered that alpha-tocotrienol and polyunsaturated fatty acids are
hypocholesterolemic components in barley oil. [11]
Finally, Yang JL et al, Changwon University, Korea, found that barley
beta-glucan lowers serum cholesterol based on the up-regulation of
cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity and mRNA abundance in
cholesterol-fed rats. [12]
CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS
The health benefits of barley have been shown in many studies and
some key studies are summarized as follows:
Early Studies (1990-2000)
In 1990, Zhang JX at al, University of Umea, Sweden, reported that
brewer's spent grain (a concentrated barley fibre source from the
by-product of brewing) lowered the cholesterol and bile concentration
and decreased ileal and jejunal epithelium height in hamsters. [13]
One year later, McIntosh GH et al, CSIRO, South Australia reported that
consumption of barley relative to wheat foods was associated with a
significant fall in both plasma total cholesterol and in
low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol whereas triglyceride and glucose
concentrations did not change significantly from their clinical study (n=21
mildly hypercholesterolemic men aged 30-59). [14]
Lupton JR et al, Texas A&M University, reported the cholesterol-lowering
effect of barley bran flour and oil on 79 men and women with
hypercholesterolemia [15]
Ikegami S et al, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Japan, fed 20
men with boiled barley-rice (50/50 w/w) for four weeks and they found a
significant fall in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, phospholipids
and LDL and VLDL-lipoproteins. [16]
Studies after 2000
Scientists from Taiwan and scientists from Department of Agriculture
confirmed Barley's cholesterol-lowering effect.
Yu YM et al, China Medical College, Taiwan, reported inhibition of
hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis by barley leaf essence with a decrease in
plasma lipids and an increase in anti-oxidative abilities from the study
using rabbits. [17]. Two years later, this group reported that this extract
could reduce total and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels based on their
clinical study of 40 hyperlipidemic smokers and/or non-smokers. And,
barley leaf extract had a stronger anti-oxidative effect on the prevention
of LDL oxidation than adlay. [17]
Behall KM et al, US Department of Agriculture, reported that the diet
contained 3 or 6 g beta-glucan/d from barley lowered total cholesterol
significantly compared to diet contained no beta-glucan from their
five-week clinical study using 18 female and 7 male subjects. [18] Again,
in the same year, this group reported that barley lowered total
cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly from their clinical study
(n=18 moderately hypercholesterolemic men (28-62 y)) [19]
In 2003 and 2004, Li J, et al, Medical University of Yamanashi, Tamaho,
Japan and Wilson TA et al, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, reported
the beneficial effects of intake of barley on lipid metabolism and/or
glucose tolerance from the animal studies using rats and hamsters. [20]
Importance of the soluble fibers in the
cholesterol-lowering activities (ie the benefits)
In 1993, Japanese researchers, Oda T, Aoe S, Sanada H and Ayano Y at
Technical Research Institute, Saitama found that none of the insoluble
fiber preparations (from barley) had any significant effect on liver
and plasma cholesterol concentrations. But, all of the soluble fiber
preparations suppressed liver cholesterol accumulation, but they did not
suppress the elevation of plasma cholesterol concentrations. [21]. In
1994, the same group reported that barley gum which had no significant
effect on liver cholesterol; it suppressed only the elevated serum and
liver triglyceride concentration in hypertriglyceridemic rats. [22]
There are always different results...
Finally, Keogh GF et al, University of Auckland, New Zealand found no
significant change in total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol or in triacylglycerol,
fasting glucose, or postprandial glucose from their single-blind study
(n=18; hyperlipidinc men, dose= 8.1-11.9 g beta-glucan/d (scaled to
body weight)). [22]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. PUBLISHER DOES NOT
GUARANTEE ITS ACCURACY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU SHOULD
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED @ 2006
zhion inc. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER THIS ARTICLE TO OTHER WEBSITES OR
OTHER TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS.
REFERENCE [1] FDA Allows Barley Products to Claim Reduction in Risk of Coronary
Heart Disease, FDA News, December 23, 2005. [2] J Am Diet Assoc. 1993 Aug; 93
(8): 881-5].[3] Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Dec;62(6):1245-51. [4] J Nutr. 1992
Nov;122(11):2292-7][5-6] Zhang JX et al, University of Umea, Sweden; J Nutr.
1991 Jun;121(6):778-84; Martinez VM et al, Montana State University, J Nutr.
1992 May;122(5):1070-6.[7] J Nutr. 1980 Mar;110(3):388-93.][8] Lipids. 1982
Dec;17(12):956-63][9] Atherosclerosis. 1984 Apr;51(1):75-87][10] J Biol Chem.
1986 Aug 15;261(23):10544-50][11] Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1993
Jan;43(1):9-17] [12] J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2003 Dec;49(6):381-7].[13]
APMIS. 1990 Jun;98 (6):568-74].[14] Am J Clin Nutr. 1991
May;53(5):1205-9][15] J Am Diet Assoc. 1994 Jan;94(1):65-70][16] [16] Plant
Foods Hum Nutr. 1996 Jun;49(4):317-28].[17] Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002
Jun;89(2):142-8] [17] Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Jun;27(6):802-5][18] Am J Clin
Nutr. 2004 Nov;80(5):1185-93][19] J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Feb;23(1):55-62].[20]
Metabolism. 2003 Sep;52(9):1206-10; J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10):2617-22] [21] J
Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1993 Feb; 39 (1):73-9][22] J Nutr Sci Vitaminol
(Tokyo). 1994 Apr;40(2):213-7] [22] Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Oct;78(4):711-8]
On December 23, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
announced that whole grain barley and barley-containing products are
allowed to claim that they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
(CHD). Consequently, consumers can expect to see whole barley and dry
milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour, meal, and barley meal
bearing the health benefit claim. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the
cause of almost 500,000 deaths annually. Risk factors for coronary heart
disease (CHD) include high total cholesterol levels and high levels of low
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Scientific evidence shows that
adding barley to one's diet can provide health benefits of serum
cholesterol lowering. [1] FDA suggested an example of the health claim:
"Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of food], as part of a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A
serving of [name of food] supplies [X] grams of the soluble fiber
necessary per day to have this effect."
Do you notice that FDA emphaizes the amount of soluble fibers per
serving in the health benefit claim?
What are the health benefits of barley?
The health benefits of barley are related to its cholesterol-lowering
effect. There are two explanations for its cholesterol-lowering activities:
EXPLANATIONS FOR BARLEY'S CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING
ACTIVITIES
(1) Increased fecal cholesterol excretion
Lupton JR and co-workers from Texas A&M University found that barley
bran flour increased the daily fecal weight significantly by 48.6 g. They
also found that barley bran flour decreased gastrointestinal transit time
by 8.02 hours from baseline [2] These two observations suggest that
the food "travels" faster than usual in the gut in the presence of barley,
this fast transist does not allow sufficient time for cholesterol absorption.
Thus, if this explanation is true, the cholesterol excretion should
increase. Two years later, Lia A et al, University of Goteborg, Sweden,
proved that barley increased cholesterol excretion in ileostomy subjects
[3]
On the other hand, barley may increase the intestinal fluid viscosity. The
increased viscosity slows down the diffusion process decreases
cholesterol absorption but increases cholesterol excretion. Wang L et al,
Montana State University showed that barley beta-glucans altered
intestinal viscosity in chicks and this altered viscosity was related to
plasma cholesterol concentration. [4]
However, some scientists just simply explained that the
cholesterol-lowering effect of barley was related to increased fecal
cholesterol excretion or the high soluble fiber content [5-6]
(2) Lipid Metabolism Regulation
As early as 1980, Qureshi AA et al reported that the cholesterol-lowering
activities of barley were related to a decreased HMG-CoA reductase and
increased acetyl-CoA carboxylase activities from their experimental study
using chicks. [7] In 1982, the same group reported that high-protein
barley flour produced significant reductions in hepatic HMG-CoA
reductase, plasma cholesterol and induction in several lipogenic
enzymes in birds. They suggested that their high-protein barley flour
contained an inhibitor(s) of cholesterol biosynthesis and a growth
factor(s). [8] While, Burger WC et al, reported that barley kernel
constituents decreased hepatic beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl CoA
(HMG-CoA) reductase, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (7 alpha-hyd) but
increased fatty acid synthetase (FAS) in their studies using chickens. [9]
In 1986, Qureshi AA et al reported that they purified the non-polar
fraction of high protein barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) using HPLC to yield
10 major components. They found that components I and II were potent
inhibitors of cholesterogenesis in vivo and in vitro. They used mass
spectrometry to identify that component 1 was d-alpha-tocotrienol. The
molecule differs from tocopherols (vitamin E) only in three double bonds
in the isoprenoid chain which appear to be essential for the inhibition of
cholesterogenesis. [10]
Wang L et al, Montana State University, extracted barley oil with hexane
from the grain of a high oil waxy hull-less barley. They found that barley
oil had an effect in suppression of Total plasma cholesterol concentration
and Plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol in chicks compared to
margarine. Barley oil suppressed low density lipoprotein cholesterol but
not high density lipoprotein cholesterol in chicks compared to corn oil.
They considered the greater weight gain of the chicks fed barley oil as
these chicks had normally functioning digestion and absorption. They
found alpha-Tocotrienol and gamma-tocotrienol content of the barley oil
were 24 and 17 times greater, respectively, than those observed in the
corn oil and none in the margarine (same fraction). Finally, they
considered that alpha-tocotrienol and polyunsaturated fatty acids are
hypocholesterolemic components in barley oil. [11]
Finally, Yang JL et al, Changwon University, Korea, found that barley
beta-glucan lowers serum cholesterol based on the up-regulation of
cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity and mRNA abundance in
cholesterol-fed rats. [12]
CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS
The health benefits of barley have been shown in many studies and
some key studies are summarized as follows:
Early Studies (1990-2000)
In 1990, Zhang JX at al, University of Umea, Sweden, reported that
brewer's spent grain (a concentrated barley fibre source from the
by-product of brewing) lowered the cholesterol and bile concentration
and decreased ileal and jejunal epithelium height in hamsters. [13]
One year later, McIntosh GH et al, CSIRO, South Australia reported that
consumption of barley relative to wheat foods was associated with a
significant fall in both plasma total cholesterol and in
low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol whereas triglyceride and glucose
concentrations did not change significantly from their clinical study (n=21
mildly hypercholesterolemic men aged 30-59). [14]
Lupton JR et al, Texas A&M University, reported the cholesterol-lowering
effect of barley bran flour and oil on 79 men and women with
hypercholesterolemia [15]
Ikegami S et al, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Japan, fed 20
men with boiled barley-rice (50/50 w/w) for four weeks and they found a
significant fall in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, phospholipids
and LDL and VLDL-lipoproteins. [16]
Studies after 2000
Scientists from Taiwan and scientists from Department of Agriculture
confirmed Barley's cholesterol-lowering effect.
Yu YM et al, China Medical College, Taiwan, reported inhibition of
hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis by barley leaf essence with a decrease in
plasma lipids and an increase in anti-oxidative abilities from the study
using rabbits. [17]. Two years later, this group reported that this extract
could reduce total and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels based on their
clinical study of 40 hyperlipidemic smokers and/or non-smokers. And,
barley leaf extract had a stronger anti-oxidative effect on the prevention
of LDL oxidation than adlay. [17]
Behall KM et al, US Department of Agriculture, reported that the diet
contained 3 or 6 g beta-glucan/d from barley lowered total cholesterol
significantly compared to diet contained no beta-glucan from their
five-week clinical study using 18 female and 7 male subjects. [18] Again,
in the same year, this group reported that barley lowered total
cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly from their clinical study
(n=18 moderately hypercholesterolemic men (28-62 y)) [19]
In 2003 and 2004, Li J, et al, Medical University of Yamanashi, Tamaho,
Japan and Wilson TA et al, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, reported
the beneficial effects of intake of barley on lipid metabolism and/or
glucose tolerance from the animal studies using rats and hamsters. [20]
Importance of the soluble fibers in the
cholesterol-lowering activities (ie the benefits)
In 1993, Japanese researchers, Oda T, Aoe S, Sanada H and Ayano Y at
Technical Research Institute, Saitama found that none of the insoluble
fiber preparations (from barley) had any significant effect on liver
and plasma cholesterol concentrations. But, all of the soluble fiber
preparations suppressed liver cholesterol accumulation, but they did not
suppress the elevation of plasma cholesterol concentrations. [21]. In
1994, the same group reported that barley gum which had no significant
effect on liver cholesterol; it suppressed only the elevated serum and
liver triglyceride concentration in hypertriglyceridemic rats. [22]
There are always different results...
Finally, Keogh GF et al, University of Auckland, New Zealand found no
significant change in total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol or in triacylglycerol,
fasting glucose, or postprandial glucose from their single-blind study
(n=18; hyperlipidinc men, dose= 8.1-11.9 g beta-glucan/d (scaled to
body weight)). [22]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. PUBLISHER DOES NOT
GUARANTEE ITS ACCURACY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU SHOULD
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED @ 2006
zhion inc. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER THIS ARTICLE TO OTHER WEBSITES OR
OTHER TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS.
REFERENCE [1] FDA Allows Barley Products to Claim Reduction in Risk of Coronary
Heart Disease, FDA News, December 23, 2005. [2] J Am Diet Assoc. 1993 Aug; 93
(8): 881-5].[3] Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Dec;62(6):1245-51. [4] J Nutr. 1992
Nov;122(11):2292-7][5-6] Zhang JX et al, University of Umea, Sweden; J Nutr.
1991 Jun;121(6):778-84; Martinez VM et al, Montana State University, J Nutr.
1992 May;122(5):1070-6.[7] J Nutr. 1980 Mar;110(3):388-93.][8] Lipids. 1982
Dec;17(12):956-63][9] Atherosclerosis. 1984 Apr;51(1):75-87][10] J Biol Chem.
1986 Aug 15;261(23):10544-50][11] Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1993
Jan;43(1):9-17] [12] J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2003 Dec;49(6):381-7].[13]
APMIS. 1990 Jun;98 (6):568-74].[14] Am J Clin Nutr. 1991
May;53(5):1205-9][15] J Am Diet Assoc. 1994 Jan;94(1):65-70][16] [16] Plant
Foods Hum Nutr. 1996 Jun;49(4):317-28].[17] Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002
Jun;89(2):142-8] [17] Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Jun;27(6):802-5][18] Am J Clin
Nutr. 2004 Nov;80(5):1185-93][19] J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Feb;23(1):55-62].[20]
Metabolism. 2003 Sep;52(9):1206-10; J Nutr. 2004 Oct;134(10):2617-22] [21] J
Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1993 Feb; 39 (1):73-9][22] J Nutr Sci Vitaminol
(Tokyo). 1994 Apr;40(2):213-7] [22] Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Oct;78(4):711-8]
| Barley Benefits and Side Effects; RESEARCH FINDS Zhion@Zhion.com May 12, 2006 |
