Abstract
[Aims and Methods] The health benefit of barley intake on metabolic syndrome is not well established. There are few evidences that focused on a variety of barley species. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different barley species on the glucose tolerance in diet-induced obesity mice. Mice were fed a high-fat diet containing Kirarimochi (Mochi species (glutinous) ;KM), Fiber Snow or Sky Golden (Uruchi species (non-glutinous) ;FS and SG, respectively) for 12 weeks. [Results] In the final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, significant differences were not observed among the groups. There were no significant differences in intraperitoneal, epididymal, and mesenteric fat weights. Cecum weight in the KM-fed mice was significantly higher than in the control group. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed that the glucose tolerance was improved by the KM diet compared to the control group. Fasting blood glucose concentrations in the FS group were significantly lower than that in the control group. In serum triglyceride, glucose, and free fatty acid concentrations, significant differences were not observed among the groups. In contrast, total cholesterol concentrations in the FS group were significantly higher than that in the control group. In serum insulin and leptin concentrations, there were no significant differences among the groups. [Conclusion] These results suggested that the both of Mochi and Uruchi barley species improve the glucose tolerance in diet-induced obesity mice.
