Cereal β-glucan Fibre Drink as a Part of Nutritionally Balanced Diet Alters Lipid Profile: An Intervention Study

Cereals, like oat and barley are a natural source of β-glucans with very important physiological properties. Cereal β-glucans, as a part of natural fibre, are capable of lowering the blood glucose and the total cholesterol level, may enhance the immunity and help to reduce the body weight and the total body fat amount. The aim of this study was to assess a cholesterol lowering potential of an 8-week long consumption of a cereal β-glucan fibre drink (Actiglucane) in a group of the 25 young (19-34 years), healthy, non-smoking women with an elevated body fat percentage (>29%). Actiglucane was implemented into nutritionally balanced diet and was consumed in a mid-morning and an afternoon snack time (2x45 g of drink concentrate diluted in 250 mL of water, what includes 3 g of β-glucan day-1). Compared to the control group, the significant decrease in LDL cholesterol (Δ = 0.55±0.08 mmol L-1; p<0.02) and the atherogenic index (Δ = 0.62±0.10; p<0.004) was found at the end of the intervention. Owing to these beneficial properties, the β-glucan fibre drink may be used in cardiovascular and obesity disease prevention programs at a large population scale.