Modulating Influence of Barley on the Altered Metabolism of Glucose and of Basement Membranes in the Diabetic Rat

A study was conducted to explore the effects of different sources of dietary carbohydrate on the altered metabolism of basement membrane proteins (type IV collagen and laminin) that occurs in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. The substitution of barley for sucrose reduced the elevated plasma concentration of 7-S collagen and of laminin P2, peptide fragments that retain antigenicity of the parent proteins. Similar effects were noted in the liver and kidney content of these peptides. It is suggested that the beneficial property of barley is due to its high content of chromium, as has been demonstrated in the study of glucose metabolism.