title: Consumption of a high β-glucan barley flour improves glucose control and fatty liver and increases muscle acylcarnitines in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The soluble fiber β-glucan, a natural component of barley, has been shown to lower the postprandial glucose response and is thought to improve insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the effect of chronic consumption of the high β-glucan barley flour on glucose control, liver lipids and markers of muscle fatty acid oxidation in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. Two groups of ZDF rats were fed diets containing either 6% β-glucan in the form of barley flour or cellulose as a control for 6 weeks. A group of Zucker lean rats served as a negative control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The barley flour group had an increased small intestinal contents viscosity compared to the obese control group. After 6 weeks, the barley flour group had reduced glycated hemoglobin, lower relative kidney weights and a reduced area under the curve during a glucose tolerance test, indicating improved glucose control. Fasting plasma adiponectin levels increased in the barley flour group and were not different than the lean control group. ZDF rats on the barley flour diet had lower relative epididymal fat pad weights than the obese control and a greater food efficiency ratio. The barley flour group also had reduced liver weights and a decreased concentration of liver lipids. The barley flour group had significantly higher concentrations of muscle acylcarnitines, a metabolite generated during fatty acid oxidation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that chronic consumption of β-glucans can improve glucose control and decrease fatty liver in a model of diabetes with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1334 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108-1038, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gallaher
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D001467:Hordeum / Q000737:chemistry*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007659:Ketones / Q000652:urine; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D007659:Ketones; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014280:Triglycerides; C116917:acylcarnitine; D047071:beta-Glucans; D002784:Cholesterol; D002331:Carnitine