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Beta-glucans are healthy fibers that humans cannot digest, but that can be digested by some species of our gut bacteria. Scientists found that Beta-glucan-enriched pasta encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut. The study has been published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
The research team observed that people fed with Beta-glucan-enriched pasta for two months showed increased populations of beneficial bacteria in their intestinal tract and also reduced the LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body.
Co-author Maria De Angelis said, "We hypothesized that by feeding study subjects Beta-glucan-enriched pasta, they could modify the species composition of the gut bacteria, possibly leading to improved human health." The Beta-glucan-enriched pasta was made from a mixture of 75% durum wheat flour and 25% whole grain barley flour. The daily dose of pasta, 100 grams, contained about 3 grams of barley Beta-glucans, the recommended daily dose in the US and in Europe.
De Angelis said, "These results highlight the influence of fibers and of the Mediterranean diet on gut microbiota, and indirectly on human health."
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