Barlív Benefits Metabolic Syndrome

MINNEAPOLISBarlív, a barley beta-glucan extract from Cargill Health & Food Technologies, improves metabolic control and blood lipid profile in patients with the metabolic syndrome, according to a clinical trial presented at the 2005 annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association (AHA).
In a double blind, parallel group format, researchers administered low molecular weight and high molecular weight barley beta-glucan (as ready-to-eat cereal bars and juice formulated with Barlív), twice daily to 155 "generally healthy" adults (76 men and 79 women) with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol between 130 and 190 mg/dL. Fasting and postprandial blood samples were collected at baseline and after the test period to test for cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers. According to the results, barley beta-glucan significantly improved multiple CVD risk markers in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
"We believe this new ingredient has unique taste and textural properties that will enable great-tasting food and beverage products," said Bill Rock, product manager for Cargill Health & Food Technologies.