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Title: BREATH HYDROGEN AND METHANE EXPIRATION AFTER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF BARLEY BETA-GLUCAN

Author
item BEHALL, KAY
item SCHOLFIELD, DANIEL
item HALLFRISCH, JUDITH - USDA/ARS RETIRED

Submitted to: American College of Nutrition Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2005
Publication Date: 10/6/2006
Citation: Behall, K.M., Scholfield, D.J., Hallfrisch, J.G. 2006. Breath hydrogen and methane expiration after different levels of barley beta-glucan. American College of Nutrition Annual Meeting. 25:459.

Interpretive Summary: n/a

Technical Abstract: Consumption of foods containing oat soluble fiber has been reported to lower postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels while increasing colonic gas expiration. Ten control and 10 overweight men (average BMI 24 vs 29, 25-56 y) were fed a controlled diet for 2 d before each treatment. On day three, fasting subjects consumed 75 g of available carbohydrate as glucose or as muffins containing 0.1, 2.4 or 4.8 g beta-glucan per meal. An identical lunch was consumed 4 h after the morning meal. Breath samples were collected before and periodically for 14 h after the meal. Breath methane expiration did not vary among treatments, times or weight groups. Breath hydrogen expiration differed significantly among treatments (P < 0.0001), treatments groups (P < 0.017) and times (P < 0.0001) and treatments times (P < 0.001). Expiration was lowest after the glucose treatment and highest after the muffins containing the highest level of beta-glucan. Average hydrogen expiration was elevated from 5 to 14 h after the morning meals. Elevated hydrogen expiration indicates that a higher amount of colonic bacterial digestion occurred after the high beta-glucan treatment which potentially increased short chain fatty acids, especially butyrate. This increased production of short chain fatty acids inhibits cholesterol synthesis which lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.