ABSTRACT
Objective: Diet-inducedhyperlipidemia and obesity are the major risk factors for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders (CVD). The objective of the present study is to furnish scientific proof for the lipid-lowering effect of β-glucan, a lead compound present in barley with a defined mechanism of action. Methods: Obesity was induced in male albino Wistar rats by feeding ahigh-fat diet (HFD) for 14 w and were randomly divided into four groups of equal number (n=6). Group 1 and 2 served as control fed with normal diet (5% fat). Group 3 and 4 were fed HFD (23%fat) for 14 w. In addition, group 2 and 4 rats were administered orally with 200 mg/kg body weight of barley β glucan (BRBG) from the third week. After 14 w, the rats were sacrificed, and serum/plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and adiponectin were determined. Results: Biochemical changes were observed in weight gain, body mass index (BMI),adiposity index (ADI), total fat pad mass (TFP), blood lipids, LDL, lipid peroxides (LPO) and antioxidant enzyme activity of HFD fed rats when compared with BRBG co-administered rats. In addition, serum adiponectin levels and 3-hydroxy-3methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme Areductase(HMG CoA reductase)activity were elevated in rats administered BRBG along with HFD. Histological examination in HFD induced rats revealed a profound change in cell size with increased hypertrophy in visceral adipose tissue. Conclusions: The results indicate that barley consumption could reverse most of these biochemical and histological changes in HFD fed rats owing to its hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect.