FDA OKs Heart Health Claim for Barley

May 19, 2006 -- The FDA has finalized a rule that allows foods containing whole-grain barley to claim that they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Specifically, whole barley and dry-milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour, and barley meal, which provide at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving, may bear the following claim:

“Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of food], as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of food] supplies [x] grams of the soluble fiber necessary to have this effect.”

The barley claim isn’t totally new. The FDA began allowing the barley claim in December 2005 under an interim final rule, while at the same time accepting public comments on the rule for 75 days.

During that time, no comments were received that warranted changes to the interim final rule.

Why Barley?

Coronary heart disease claims nearly half a million lives a year, according to the FDA.

High total cholesterol levels and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are known to increase one’s risk for heart disease, so people are encouraged to keep those levels “as low as possible,” states an FDA news release.

Scientific evidence indicates that including barley in a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering LDL and total cholesterol levels.

“FDA is pursuing new initiatives to help consumers improve the choices they have for healthy and nutritious diets,” says FDA Deputy Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, in an FDA news release.

“We firmly believe that one of the best ways to encourage healthier eating habits is to help consumers get truthful, up-to-date, science-based information about food products so that they can make choices that are based on a better understanding of the health consequences of their diets,” Gottlieb says.

Cholesterol Levels

Do you know your cholesterol levels? If not, a blood test can check your total cholesterol levels. To learn your LDL cholesterol level, you’ll need to fast overnight before the blood test.

Your doctor may also check levels of other blood fats called triglycerides.

Here’s a quick look at what the results mean:

• Total cholesterol below 200 is considered "desirable."
• HDL levels should be ABOVE 40. The American College of Cardiology recommends that women have an HDL level above 45.
• LDL "bad" cholesterol should ideally be below 100 but less than 130 is still considered desirable for most people. However, if you have other risk factors for heart disease, meaning that you have diabetes, high blood pressure, are a man, or already have heart disease, then your LDL should be below 100.
• Your triglyceride level after fasting should be below 150.

Optimum cholesterol levels are different for everyone, depending on how many risk factors they have for heart disease (like smoking, diabetes, obesity, and diet high in fat).