Postprandial lipid, glucose, insulin, and cholecystokinin responses in menfed barley pasta enriched with beta-glucan

Background: Fiber regulates the rate and site of lipid and carbohydrate dig estion and absorption and thus can modify the alimentary responses to a mea l. When fiber sources containing viscous polysaccharides are included in a meal, a slower rate of carbohydrate and lipid absorption will modify the al imentary hormone and lipid responses. Objective: We investigated in 11 healthy men the response of insulin. gluco se, cholecystokinin, and lipid to 2 test meals containing beta-glucan. Design: One of the meals was high in fiber (15.7 g) and the other meal was low in fiber (5.0 g). The low-fiber meal contained pasta made with wheat fl our. The high-fiber meals contained pasta prepared by replacing 40% of the wheat with 2 types of barley flour: barley naturally high in beta-glucan an d the other a flour enriched in beta-glucan during processing. Results: Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations increased significantly after all meals but the insulin response was more blunted after the barley- containing meals. The test meals were low in fat (25% of energy) but elicit ed an increase in plasma triacylglycerol and cholecystokinin. Cholecystokin in remained elevated for a longer time after the barley-containing meals. A fter the low-fiber meal, plasma cholesterol concentrations did not change s ignificantly; however, 4 h after the barley-containing meals, the cholester ol concentration dropped below the fasting concentration and was significan tly lower than that after the low-fiber meal. Conclusions: Carbohydrate was more slowly absorbed from the 2 high-fiber me als. Consumption of the barley-containing meals appeared to stimulate rever se cholesterol transport, which may contribute to the cholesterol-lowering ability of barley.