Blood lipids in smokers/non-smokers lowered with barley grass

Effect of young barley leaf extract and adlay on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic smokers

Yu, YM., Chang, WC., Liu, CS., Tsai, CM.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Jun;27(6):802-5.

Background:

Cigarette smokers are at a higher risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and heart attacks partly because cigarette smoking induces high levels of oxidants, higher blood lipids (fats) and a body-wide inflammatory response.  Barley leaves and adlay, a grain closely related to oats, have been shown to have antioxidant activity and to be effective in decreasing blood cholesterol and other fats (lipids) that are believed to put a person at risk for atherosclerosis, heart attacks or both.

Clinical Study: 40 individuals with high levels of blood lipids were studied.  Half of these people were smokers and half were not. These 40 individuals were randomly assigned to take either 60 g/d adlay or 15 g/d Barley Leaf. After 4 weeks, blood samples were collected and tested for lipids.

Conclusions: In both groups and in either smokers or non-smokers the barley leaf and adlay were both effective in decreasing the levels of blood lipids.  The barley leaf and adlay both functioned as antioxidants but the effect was more protective in smokers than in non-smokers.