There is growing interest for the use of barley in human nutrition, due to its high content of soluble fiber and associated positive health effects, such as reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.
The total dietary fiber content of dehulled barley ranges from 10 to 28% on dry matter basis.
Barley is one of the excellent sources of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber and other bioactive compounds. Barley is very high in dietary fiber, particularly the soluble fiber portion. The soluble portion contains β-glucan, the same compound found in oats that has been shown to lower serum cholesterol.
Arabinoxylan or pentosans are also found in barley and constitute about one-half of the soluble fiber.
Soluble dietary fiber is located in the endosperm cell walls, while the (predominantly) insoluble dietary fiber fraction (cellulose, AX and lignin) is mainly found in the cereal bran. β-glucan and AX are typically present as 70 to 20% of the total dietary fiber content in barley.
Cereal β-glucan is composed of cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl units linked through β -1-2 linkages.
Barley grain also an excellent source of other bioactive constituents, such as vitamin E (including toco-tri-enols), B-complex vitamins, minerals and phenolic compounds.
Fiber in barley
