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Barley

Barley as a functional food: beta-glucan, a 5-week trial on bile acids and cholesterol, the FDA claim for oats or barley, and what is not shown.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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Overview

Barley is a cereal grain high in beta-glucan, the same soluble fiber studied in oats. Pearl barley and hulled (whole-grain) barley are different products, and barley contains gluten.

What the research shows

  • In a 5-week controlled trial, 3 g of high-molecular-weight barley beta-glucan reduced total cholesterol (P = 0.029) and increased bile acid synthesis; cholesterol absorption and synthesis did not change significantly. The authors suggest the effect works by increasing bile acid synthesis. [1]
  • The FDA health claim covers soluble fiber from whole oats or barley, with 3 g or more per day of beta-glucan soluble fiber named in the regulation. [2]
  • A small study of cooked white rice with high-beta-glucan barley looked at appetite and energy intake in healthy Japanese adults. [3] We read only the abstract and make no claim about weight loss.

Not shown: we did not find a barley-specific meta-analysis on LDL cholesterol that we could read. Proper evidence is smaller than for oats. See Oats vs barley.

Safety and individual considerations

  • Barley contains gluten: not suitable for celiac disease.
  • Fiber can cause gas when you increase it quickly; ask a clinician if you have bowel disease.

Related

Oats · Fiber and beta-glucan

Frequently asked questions

Is barley as good as oats for cholesterol?

The FDA claim covers both. The evidence base we found is smaller for barley. [2]

References

  1. Wang Y et al. Barley β-glucan reduces blood cholesterol levels via interrupting bile acid metabolism. Br J Nutr 2017. PMID 29115200.
  2. U.S. Government. 21 CFR 101.81: Health claims: soluble fiber from certain foods and risk of coronary heart disease. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, read 2026-10-22.
  3. Aoe S et al. Effect of cooked white rice with high β-glucan barley on appetite and energy intake in healthy Japanese subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2014. PMID 25139426.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.