Insoluble Fiber in Young Barley Leaf Suppresses the Increment of Postprandial Blood Glucose Level by Increasing the Digesta Viscosity

• Main Authors: Akira Takano, Tomoyasu Kamiya, Hiroshi Tomozawa, Shiori Ueno, Masahito Tsubata, Motoya Ikeguchi, Kinya Takagaki, Ayaka Okushima, Yu Miyata, Shizuka Tamaru, Kazunari Tanaka, Toru Takahashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
• Series: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/137871
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a well-known cereal plant. Young barley leaf is consumed as a popular green-colored drink, which is named “Aojiru” in Japan. We examined the effects of barley leaf powder (BLP) and insoluble fibers derived from BLP on postprandial blood glucose in rats and healthy Japanese volunteers. BLP and insoluble fibers derived from BLP suppressed the increment of postprandial blood glucose levels in rats (), and increased the viscosity of their digesta. The insoluble fibers present in BLP might play a role in controlling blood glucose level by increasing digesta viscosity. In human, BLP suppressed the increment of postprandial blood glucose level only in those which exhibited higher blood glucose levels after meals (). BLP might suppress the increment of postprandial blood glucose level by increasing digesta viscosity in both of rats and humans who require blood glucose monitoring.