BARLEY BRAN FLOUR ACCELERATES GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT-TIME

The effect of barley bran flour on colon physiology was studied in 44 volunteers. Twenty-two subjects followed the National Cholesterol Educ ation Program (NCEP) step 1 diet supplemented with 20 g cellulose and the other 22 followed the NCEP diet supplemented with 30 g barley bran flour To measure gastrointestinal transit time, subjects ingested 20 polyethylene pellets impregnated with barium sulfate in two gelatin ca psules, Subjects collected fecal samples for 5 days during the baselin e period and again during the period of fiber supplementation. Each st ool sample was radiographed, and the number of recovered markers was u sed to calculate mean transit time. Daily fecal weights were recorded and dry weights were determined. The group that consumed barley bran f lour significantly decreased transit time by 8.02 hours from baseline, whereas the group that consumed cellulose increased transit time by 2 .95 hours from baseline. Similarly, cellulose supplementation did not result in increased fecal weight, whereas daily fecal weight increased significantly by 48.6 g with supplementation with barley bran flour. This study shows that barley bran flour accelerates gastrointestinal t ransit and increases fecal weight.