2006 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? This research is conducted under ARS National Program 107, Human Nutrition and addresses the following components of the current Action Plan NP: Component 5 - "Health Promoting Properties of Plant and Animal Foods", Component 6 - "Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationship between Diet, Genetics, and Lifestyle", and Component 7 - "Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations" Heart disease has been noted as the leading cause of death and diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S. Research conducted under this project focuses on the effects of consuming diets rich in soluble fiber on risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease and on the effect of the soluble fiber on appetite and hunger. It is hypothesized that there will be a reduction in glucose, insulin and other hormonal responses after consuming soluble fibers, such as beta-glucan, in adults with high risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, i.e., those adults who have the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Further this project tests the effect of foods high in soluble fiber, including barley, on satiety and the regulation of energy intake and maintenance of body weight. It has been previously established that consumption of soluble fiber improves risk factors for obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus; however, most research on soluble fiber has focused on oats. Although barley is an excellent soluble fiber source, it has not been systematically investigated for health benefits and is less frequently consumed than oats by Americans. The research examines the potential of beneficially changing risk factors through dietary changes in the type and amount of dietary fiber. This work is relevant to health care providers, nutritionists, and health policy makers and will impact the general population of the U.S. and specifically those individuals at risk for insulin resistance and diabetes. 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) FY 2005 Objective 1a. Acute tolerance study of barley extract. Milestone. 6) Data analysis and evaluation. Milestone. 7) Manuscript preparation. Objective 1b. Effect of barley on risk factors. Milestone. 3) Subject recruitment and screening. Milestone. 4) Data collection. Milestone. 5) Sample analysis. Objective 2. Chronic barley consumption. Milestone. 1) Human study proposal preparation. Milestone. 2) Institutional Review Board approval for the human study. FY 2006 Objective 1b. Effect of barley on risk factors. Milestone. 6) Data analysis and evaluation. Milestone. 7) Manuscript preparation. Objective 2. Chronic barley consumption. Milestone. 3) Subject recruitment and screening. Milestone. 4) Data collection. Milestone. 5) Sample analysis. Milestone. 6) Data analysis and evaluation. Objective 3a. Chronic barley consumption with weight loss. Milestone. 1) Human study proposal preparation. Milestone. 2) Institutional Review Board approval for the human study. Milestone. 3) Begin subject recruitment and screening. FY 2007 Objective 2. Chronic barley consumption. Milestone. 7) Manuscript preparation. Objective 3a. Chronic barley consumption with weight loss. Milestone. 3) Complete subject recruitment and screening. Milestone. 4) Data collection. Milestone. 5) Sample analysis. Milestone. 6) Begin data analysis and evaluation. Objective 3b. Weight maintenance and fiber intake. Milestone. 1) Human study proposal preparation. Milestone. 2) Institutional Review Board approval for the human study. Milestone. 3) Subject recruitment and screening. Milestone. 4) Begin data collection. FY 2008 Objective 3a. Chronic barley consumption with weight loss. Milestone. 6) Complete data analysis and evaluation. Milestone. 7) Manuscript preparation. Milestone. 4) Complete data collection. Milestone. 5) Sample analysis. Milestone. 6) Data analysis and evaluation. FY 2009 Objective 3b. Weight maintenance and fiber intake. Milestone. 7) Manuscript preparation. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Component 6 - "Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationship between Diet, Genetics, and Lifestyle;" and Component 7 - "Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations." Effect of Beta-Glucan on Satiety and Glucose Strategies are needed to regulate food intake in people who are overweight or obese and regulation of satiety with soluble fiber has been proposed as one strategy to reduce weight gain. In an effort to study the effectiveness of consuming a breakfast meal high in beta-glucan, a soluble fiber found in barley, on glucose and appetite regulation, four breakfast cereal meals [glucose, wheat (0 g of beta-glucan), wheat-barley mixture (1 g of beta-glucan), and barley (2 g of beta-glucan)] were served to overweight men and women. In women, peak glucose responses were significantly reduced after consumption of the meal with 2 g of beta-glucan as compared with 0 g or 1 g of beta-glucan. Self-described ratings for hunger in women were significantly reduced at 15 and 30 min after consumption of 1 g and 2 g of beta-glucan, as compared with 0 g of beta-glucan. In men, the acute effects of beta-glucan on glucose and ratings of hunger were non-significant. These data indicate that consuming 1-2 g of beta-glucan in a breakfast cereal meal produces an acute reduction of the glycemic response and hunger ratings in overweight women. However, in overweight men greater amounts of beta-glucan per meal may be required to achieve substantial reduction in blood glucose and increased satiety. Long term feeding trials are necessary to demonstrate a prolonged effectiveness of soluble fiber in controlling appetite and regulating body weight. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. Component 5 - "Health Promoting Properties of Plant and Animal Foods;" Component 6 - "Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationship between Diet, Genetics, and Lifestyle;" Component 7 - "Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations." Dose Response of Glucose, Insulin, and Satiety Hormones to Beta-Glucan A study was conducted further investigating the role of beta-glucan in regulating appetite in overweight women with insulin resistance and characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. Sample analysis is in progress, however preliminary results indicate that beta-glucan may have a role in improving insulin sensitivity in obese women with the metabolic syndrome. 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None. 4d.Progress report. Component 5 - "Health Promoting Properties of Plant and Animal Foods;" Component 6 - "Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationship between Diet, Genetics, and Lifestyle"; and Component 7 - "Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations." FDA Health Claim for Barley Research results from this project were used to support the December 2005, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) interim ruling on a health claim for barley food products. The petition was made by the National Barley Foods Council and requested permission to allow labels on barley food products to state a health claim that the consumption of these foods can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease when part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The claim indicates that to qualify for the health claim a food made from barley must contain at least 0.75 grams of the soluble fiber beta-glucan per serving. This would be equivalent to the amount found in a bowl of hot barley cereal or 1/2 cup of cooked pearled barley. Changing Priorities for Research Since FDA has issued the Barley Health Claim, the priorities of this project have shifted away from the reduction in cardiovascular risk and towards the investigation of the effects of eating soluble fiber on risk factors for obesity, diabetes and appetite control. The research outlined in Objective 2 is no longer the highest priority given the increased incidence of insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes in the American population. Therefore, in place of the proposed long-term controlled feeding study, received Institutional Review Board approval and completed subject recruitment and data collection for an acute study in overweight women with the metabolic syndrome to answer questions raised by the acute study completed in FY 2005. Research effort was equivalent to that needed to complete Milestones 1, 2, 3, and 4 for Objective 3a. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. Component 5 - "Health Promoting Properties of Plant and Animal Foods;" Component 6 - "Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationship between Diet, Genetics, and Lifestyle"; Component 7 - "Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations." Work published in 2005 was used as evidence in the successful petition that led in December 2005 to the approval by FDA of a Health Claim for Barley. Therefore labels on barley food products can now state that the consumption of these foods can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease when part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The overall focus of this project is on the health effects of soluble fibers on risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity-related diseases. Specific measurements of glucose, insulin, and satiety responses to a meal or a diet high in fiber are made to quantify these effects. The first completed study extended earlier work in the laboratory on resistant starch and soluble fiber. This study demonstrated that both short-term consumption of resistant starch and beta-glucan reduce the glycemic and insulin response. These results also suggest that barley beta-glucan consumption may improve insulin sensitivity to a greater extent than resistant starch. However, foods enriched with both resistant starch and beta-glucan had the greatest effect on glycemic response. It is expected that diets rich in whole grains containing soluble fiber and resistant starch will improve the glycemic and insulin response to food intake. Long-term benefits of this type of dietary intake could affect treatment for type 2 diabetics, and may reduce the risk factors for obesity-related insulin resistance. For the first time it was demonstrated that the experience of hunger can be lowered in overweight women after consuming breakfasts containing 1-2 g of beta-glucan from barley. This effect was not found in men, who may have to consume greater amounts of barley beta-glucan for the same effect. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Attended scientific meetings and made presentations on barley and soluble fiber research at the following meetings: United States and Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UNJR), American Chemical Society, WorldNutra International Conference, North American Association for the Study of Obesity 2005 Meeting, Idaho Dietetic Association 2006 Annual Meeting, and American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting. Conducted a stakeholders meeting between ARS scientists from Beltsville and the Eastern Region and representatives from the following: the food industry, growers, producers, and processors. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Presentation on barley and soluble fiber sources were given to the World Nutra International Conference, American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting, American Chemical Society Annual Meeting, North American Association for the Study of Obesity 2005 Annual Meeting, Idaho Dietetic Association 2006 Annual Meeting, UJNR conference in Sizuoka Japan, and International Association of Cereal Chemists' Meeting in Vienna, Austria. Information on barley research was given to Crop and Food Research, New Zealand; DOC News - the Magazine Group; Cerealia R&D AB, Sweden; Whole Control LLC, SCS Net, UK; British Science and Technology Institute, and several freelance writers. Information on the health effects of high amylose starch was requested by Science News. Review Publications Behall, K.M., Scholfield, D.J. 2005. Food amylose content on postprandial glucose and insulin responses. American Association of Cereal Chemists. 82:654-659. Hallfrisch, J.G., Behall, K.M. 2005. Health effects of barley consumption. Cereal Foods World. 50:274-275. Kim, H., Behall, K.M., Conway, J.M. 2005. Consumption of whole grains containing beta-glucan altered short-term satiety and glycemic response in overweight women. Cereal Foods World. 50:276-277. Kim, H., Behall, K.M., Vinyard, B.T., Conway, J.M. 2006. Short-term satiety and glycemic response after consumption of whole grains varying in the amount of b-glucan. Cereal Foods World. 51:29-33. Behall, K.M., Hallfrisch, J.G. 2006. Effects of barley consumption in CVD risk factors. Cereal Foods World 51:12-15. Behall, K.M., Scholfield, D.J., Hallfrisch, J.G., Liljeberg-Elmstahl, H. 2006. Consumption of both starch and b-glucan improves postprandial plasma glucose and insulin. Diabetes Care. 29:976-981. Behall, K.M., Scholfield, D.J., Hallfrisch, J. 2005. Response of plasma glucose and insulin after lunch following a tolerance containing different levels of b-glucan. Meeting Abstract. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 24:432. Behall, K.M., Hallfrisch, J. 2005. Oats as a functional food for health. Meeting Abstract. Published: Proceedings of the American Association of Cereal Chemists International 2005 Annual Meeting. Available at http://www.aaccnet.org/meetings/pastmeetings.asp. Kim, H., Behall, K.M., Conway, J.M. 2005. Short-term satiety and glycemic response after consumption of whole grains varying in the amount of beta-glucan in overweight adults. North American Association for the Study of Obesity 2005 Annual Meeting. Obesity Research. 2005; 13:A219.