KSR: Barley beta-glucan is well known for its role in supporting heart health. Can you explain the mechanisms behind these cardiovascular benefits and how they relate to its properties as a soluble dietary fibre?
ST: Barley beta-glucans are well recognised for their beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, particularly because of their ability to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated reductions in both LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and total cholesterol following barley beta-glucan consumption.
A dose-dependent relationship has also been observed, indicating that higher intakes may lead to greater cholesterol-lowering effects.
These benefits are closely linked to the unique physicochemical properties of beta-glucans as soluble dietary fibres.
Beta-glucans consist of long chains of glucose molecules connected by a characteristic mix of β(1,3) and β(1,4) linkages.
After consumption, barley beta-glucans form a viscous gel-like network in the gastrointestinal tract.
This increased viscosity plays a key role in their mechanism of action. In the small intestine, the gel formed by beta-glucans binds bile acids and promotes their excretion via the faeces.
As bile acids are normally reabsorbed and recycled, their increased excretion means the body must synthesise new bile acids in the liver.
Cholesterol serves as a precursor for bile acid production, which increases the use of circulating cholesterol (particularly LDL cholesterol), ultimately lowering its concentration in the bloodstream.
Through this mechanism, barley beta-glucans help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and support overall cardiovascular health.
The health effects of cereal beta-glucans have been demonstrated in more than 130 scientific studies and are recognised by official bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada and other national authorities.
As a result, the beneficial effect of beta-glucans can be claimed on-pack with a daily intake of 3 g of barley beta-glucans, depending on regional regulatory requirements and conditions of use.
BENEO’s Orafti β-fit ingredient is a wholegrain barley flour, which is naturally rich in beta-glucans and can be labelled as barley flour, thereby supporting more consumer-friendly labelling.
This is particularly important given that cardiovascular disease is the leading non-communicable disease (NCD) globally.
As a result, cardiac function is moving centre stage for consumers, with 61% reporting an interest in heart wellness products … even when not experiencing specific health problems.
This growing consumer awareness underscores the relevance of and the opportunity for fibre-based solutions that support cardiovascular health.
KSR: Beyond cholesterol reduction, dietary fibre is increasingly recognised for its role in overall metabolic health. How can fibre enrichment using barley beta-glucan contribute to improved blood glucose management, particularly in people with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes risk?
ST: As a soluble dietary fibre, barley beta-glucans can support blood glucose management. Their high viscosity is a key factor when it comes to reducing the postprandial blood glucose response (the rise in blood glucose levels after a meal).
This helps to avoid the sharp blood sugar peaks typically associated with rapidly digestible carbohydrates.
For people with impaired glucose tolerance or an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, this slower and more moderate post-meal glucose response may be particularly relevant; frequent high glucose peaks can contribute to metabolic stress.
Fibre enrichment with barley beta-glucans can therefore be a useful dietary strategy to support better glycaemic control as part of a balanced diet.
KSR: Postprandial blood glucose control is a key factor in long-term cardiometabolic health. What evidence exists to show that barley beta-glucan can help to moderate post-meal glucose and insulin responses, and why is this important for cardiovascular risk reduction?
ST: The ability of barley beta-glucans to reduce postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses is well supported by intervention trials.
These studies have shown that when barley beta-glucans are consumed with carbohydrate-containing foods, such as breakfast cereals, bread or pasta, they can help to lower the rise in blood glucose after the meal.
The benefits of barley beta-glucans may also be complemented by other ingredients that support healthy glycaemic responses.
For example, a study by Prof. Dr Christiani Jeyakumar Henry demonstrated that combining beta-glucans with BENEO’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) in a low-glycaemic-index food further improved post-meal blood glucose responses, with beneficial effects extending beyond the initial meal.
This illustrates how combining ingredients with complementary physiological properties may support broader cardiometabolic health goals.
The ability of barley beta-glucans to reduce postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses is not only relevant for blood sugar management but also for long-term cardiometabolic health.
Diets that repeatedly lead to high post-meal blood glucose peaks may contribute to insulin resistance, oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation. These processes can negatively affect vascular function and may contribute to arterial stiffness.
Arterial stiffness is recognised as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, reducing excessive postprandial glucose and insulin responses can be an important dietary strategy to support vascular health and lower cardiometabolic risk.
In this context, fibre enrichment with barley beta-glucans offers a practical way to improve the glycaemic profile of carbohydrate-rich foods and support cardiovascular health as part of a balanced diet.
KSR: Many consumers still struggle to meet recommended daily fibre intakes. How can fibre enrichment with ingredients such as barley beta-glucan help to bridge this gap and what are the potential health benefits beyond heart health, including glycaemic control and satiety?
ST: Despite growing awareness of the importance of dietary fibre, intake across Europe remains well below recommended levels in many population groups.
Average fibre consumption typically ranges from 15–18 g per day compared with the recommended 25 g daily target.
Fibre enrichment with ingredients such as barley beta-glucan can therefore play an important role by helping consumers to increase their daily fibre intake without requiring major dietary changes.
For example, BENEO’s Orafti β-fit has a total fibre content of 40%, including 20% beta-glucans, enabling the development of fibre-enriched products that support both nutritional quality and consumer health needs.
As a soluble dietary fibre, it can be incorporated into a wide range of food applications, including baked goods (such as cakes, muffins, bread and biscuits), pasta, cereals and meal replacements.
The functional viscosity properties can also deliver technical benefits, such as improved texture in applications including dairy alternatives.
Beyond its well-established benefits for heart health and blood sugar management, barley beta-glucan has also been shown to support increased feelings of fullness and satiety after a meal.
Through their impact on satiety, barley beta-glucans may also support body weight management and reductions in visceral fat. However, although evidence for improved appetite sensations is relatively consistent, effects on body weight and body composition are less consistent and have mainly been observed in some longer-term studies.
KSR: Looking at the broader picture of cardiometabolic health, how does barley beta-glucan fit into dietary strategies that address multiple risk factors at once — such as cholesterol levels, blood glucose management and body weight regulation?
ST: Cardiometabolic health is increasingly being viewed through a holistic lens as many risk factors — including elevated cholesterol levels, impaired glucose metabolism and excess body weight — are closely interconnected.
Dietary strategies that can positively influence several of these parameters simultaneously are therefore gaining attention from both health professionals and consumers.
In this context, barley beta-glucan represents a particularly relevant nutritional solution as it can support cholesterol management, moderate postprandial glycaemic responses and promote satiety.
Through these multiple mechanisms, beta-glucan-containing foods can contribute to overall cardiometabolic health … and can also be combined with other ingredients such as BENEO’s smart carbohydrate Palatinose.
Interest in fibre-rich nutrition and weight management continues to grow globally, with fibre increasingly being recognised by consumers as a key nutrient for satiety and weight management.
Emerging trends such as “fibremaxxing” and the growing awareness of fibre diversity are further boosting demand for fibre-enriched products, especially those that combine scientifically supported health benefits with natural and recognisable ingredients such as wholegrains.
In this regard, ingredients such as barley beta-glucans offer manufacturers the opportunity to combine the nutritional and consumer appeal of wholegrain barley flour with the well‑established benefits of cereal beta‑glucans.
As weight management, cardiovascular health and blood sugar management remain top consumer concerns worldwide, fibre enrichment solutions based on barley beta‑glucan are well positioned to support the development of foods and drinks that target multiple aspects of cardiometabolic health with a single-product solution.
