CLINICAL RESEARCH ON BARLEY GRASS SUPPLEMENTS - CHOLESTEROL

[Guest guest]

Clinical Research Shows Barley Grass Supplements Can Boost Cardiovascular Health

OXNARD, Calif., May 14 -- People who regularly consume

powdered organic barley grass juice supplements could be providing a boost to

their cardiovascular system, according to research recently published in the

peer-reviewed scientific journal, Diabetes and Metabolism (2002, Vol. 28, 107-

114).

Ya-Mei Yu and Chingmin E. Tsai from Fu Jen University in Taipei, together

with fellow Taiwanese researchers from China Medical College in Taichung,

found in a clinical study that supplementation with barley grass reduced the

levels of cholesterol and oxygen free radicals in the blood of type 2

diabetics.

In the study, 36 randomly selected type 2 diabetics were randomly assigned

to receive daily supplements of barley grass, a combination of vitamin C and E

or a combination of barley grass and vitamins C and E for four weeks. Past

research has indicated that antioxidants vitamin C and E taken together can

significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found that supplementation with barley grass reduced the

levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and oxygen free radicals, in

addition to protecting LDL-vitamin E content and inhibiting LDL oxidation.

The authors noted that barley grass "acts as a free radical scavenger."

Particularly noteworthy are the data showing barley grass, taken with vitamins

C and E, more effectively prevents the level of free radicals than either

barley grass or the vitamins taken alone. They concluded that supplementation

with barley grass "in combination with antioxidative vitamins can reduce some

major risk factors of atherosclerosis. This may protect type 2 diabetic

patients from vascular diseases."

The results of ongoing clinical studies appear to support and extend the

findings that barley grass supplementation may lower blood levels of

cholesterol and free radicals.

"For individuals concerned about their cardiovascular health, this study

indicates that they would be well advised to focus on a diet with lots of

green foods, particularly organic barley grass," said Dr. M. Gold,

Ph.D., L.Ac., Professor at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

YH Products Co. of Oxnard, Calif. provided the barley grass supplements

for this study. YH Products Co. manufactures Green Magma (distributed by Green

Foods Corporation) and Barleygreen (distributed by YH-International). Both

products are made with powdered organic barley grass juice, containing

vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, proteins, active enzymes and

chlorophyll.