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Benefits of Cargill's Barley ß -Glucan Discussed
at First International Congress on Pre-Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in Berlin
MINNEAPOLIS
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April 21, 2005 -
The first double-blind study confirming the exciting heart-healthy benefits of Cargill’s barley β -glucan was presented during the First International Congress on Pre-Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, April 13-16, in Berlin.
Cargill’s barley β-glucan is a concentrated soluble fiber derived from barley and has been the subject of several studies. Food products containing barley β -glucan have cholesterol-lowering properties similar to oats.
Entitled Concentrated Barley β-Glucan Improves Metabolic Control and Blood Lipids in Metabolic Syndrome Population, the six-week study was conducted at the University of Minnesota by Joseph M. Keenan MD and Joel J. Pins at The University of Minnesota Medical School. One hundred and fifty-five generally healthy hypercholesterolemic (high cholesterol) adults consumed barley β -glucan in three doses daily, in ready-to-eat cereal and juice. Results indicate that barley β -glucan, when consumed as part of a heart-healthy diet, significantly improved multiple risk factors for heart disease in individuals with the metabolic syndrome.
According to lead researcher Joel Pins, director of the Hypertension and Cholesterol Research Clinic at the University of Minnesota Medical School, improvements were seen in LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, markers of glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin, HOMA model) and a key marker of inflammation (hs-CRP).
Cargill is accelerating its development of new health-promoting ingredients and ingredient systems to help food and beverage manufacturers introduce consumer products that meet the dietary and nutritional recommendations included in the U.S. government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. The Guidelines also provide specific advice to help consumers manage weight, reduce cholesterol and increase fiber intake.
Cargill Health & Food Technologies (H&FT), based in Minneapolis, is a leading developer, processor and marketer of science-based, healthy ingredients for food and dietary supplements worldwide. Cargill H&FT is part of Cargill’s Food System Design initiative in which Cargill businesses work with customers to produce ingredient solutions for affordable, nutritious, convenient and appetizing consumer products. Cargill H&FT is a business unit of Cargill, an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 105,000 employees in 59 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit http://www.cargillhft.com or http://www.cargill.com.
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