Fibre and barley study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of a fibre- and barley-rich diet on blood cholesterol and gut microbiota composition and activity in borderline/non treated hypercholesteraemic people
IRAS ID
253222
Contact name
Frank Thies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Northeast tyne and wear south, 19/NE/0053
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, days
Research summary
Eating 100g of cereals rich in a type of fibre called beta-glucan such as barley can reduce blood cholesterol. However, such a high amount is not easily achievable on a daily basis. Consuming a lower amount of barley containing higher amount of this specific fibre could overcome this barrier to consumption while still providing health benefits. The aim of this project is to investigate the potential of eating 65g/day high beta-glucan barley to lower blood cholesterol concentrations and other risk markers for heart disease in people with high blood cholesterol levels. We will ainvestigate whether consuming high beta-glucan barley can modulate the gut microbiota activity. 74 men and women with elevated blood cholesterol will be recruited. After 2 weeks on a wholegrain-free diet, half of the participants will eat 75g of barley daily for 6 weeks while the other half will eat 65g wholewheat-based diet. All will then eat a wholegrain-free diet for two weeks. Then they will all switch the other arm of the intervention (barley or whaet-dased diet depending on which they started with). Volunteers will be asked to provide optional stool samples several times during the study to assess changes in gut microbiota composition.
The subjects will be followed up for a further 4 weeks after the end of intervention to see if any changes are maintained or removed when beta-glucan rich barley is withdrawn from the diet. Urine and blood collection, blood pressure and blood vessel hardening measurements will be performed several times during the study.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
19/NS/0029
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion