Barley β-glucan is effective as a hypocholesterolaemic ingredient in foods

Barley contains high levels of soluble dietary fibre, including mixed linked 1→3, 1→4β‐D‐glucans (β‐glucan). An extract of β‐glucan from waxy, hulless barley containing 56% total dietary fibre (TDF) was incorporated into flour tortillas, cornstarch pudding and apple granola bars to provide 2 g soluble fibre as β‐glucan per serving. The foods were tested for objective functional properties. Flour tortillas with β‐glucan were incorporated into rat diets and compared to diets containing an equivalent amount of cellulose, to test the fibre effect on growth and lipid metabolism parameters. Rats fed β‐glucan tortillas had lower feed consumption and body weight (P0·05). Plasma LDL‐cholesterol of rats fed β‐glucan was lower (P0·05). Rats fed β‐glucan tortillas had higher (P