Originally published October 19 2005
Polycell releases new low-glycemic index product
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
U.S.-based Polycell has released its new product, barley beta-glucans, on the market this month, and this new ingredient promises to challenge oats and fibers in the UK and across the world.
Two new products developed by US-based Polycell have been launched on the global market this month, and marketer DKSH has already persuaded a UK customer to use the barley beta-glucans instead of its current oat ingredient in a new cereal bar.
Swedish firm Nutritech is also looking for health food customers as it launches its Aktiv barley powder, an ingredient with only 5 per cent beta-glucans but shown in a new trial to lower LDL cholesterol among people with mildly raised cholesterol.
Barley beta-glucans have the same molecular structure as oat beta-glucans and are around the same price.
But Peter Schkoda, business development and sales manager at DKSH, says there are some advantages.
"Barley beta-glucans have a lower fat content because the fat is located in a different place to the beta-glucans.
DKSH has submitted a dossier of evidence to the US Food and Drug Administration in support of a health claim similar to the one currently available for oats, namely that the soluble fibre source can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Nutritech has started a trial on the impact of Aktiv on blood sugar levels.
To date, the evidence on glycaemic response to barley has been mixed, with some trials showing oat fibre to have a significantly lower glycaemic index.
However Nutritech director Ruzdi Ekenheim says "there is ongoing research in this area".
If new research backs the low-GI of these ingredients, there is potential for use in cereal applications where barley is a natural fit.
"Many bakery products don't have such a healthy recipe.
If you could change the formulation to include barley beta-glucans, you may even be able to alter the metabolism of other sugars," he suggested.
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