American and Austrian scientists have discovered a substance that could help control blood sugar, promote weight loss, and reduce fat effectively from two common starch sources.
A research team from the University of Arizona (UA – USA) and the University of Vienna (Austria) tested various types of dietary fibers and identified a compound that can help improve your physique and blood sugar levels: Beta-glucan, found in two familiar starch sources: oats and barley.
Oats and barley are rich in beta-glucan, which aids in effective weight loss – (Illustration AI: ANH THƯ).
In experiments on mice fed a high-fat diet for 18 weeks, various forms of dietary fibers were examined, including beta-glucan, wheat dextrin, pectin, resistant starch, and cellulose.
The results indicated that all of them provided health benefits, including significant positive changes in the gut microbiota.
However, only beta-glucan demonstrated an effective role in supporting weight loss, with noticeable effects observed before the 10-week mark.
It also reduced body fat in the experimental mice and helped maintain balanced blood sugar levels.
Further analysis revealed that beta-glucan increased the number of Ileibacterium bacteria, which are present in the intestines of both mice and humans, as well as other animals. Other studies have linked this bacterium to weight loss.
Additionally, butyrate levels—a metabolite produced when bacteria break down fiber—also increased in the intestines of the experimental mice.
Butyrate promotes the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a natural protein that synthetic weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic, mimic to stimulate insulin release.
“Part of the benefit of consuming fiber in the diet is through the release of GLP-1 and other gut peptides that help regulate appetite and body weight,” explained biomedical scientist Frank Duca from UA, a co-author of the study.
Researchers will need to conduct clinical trials (on humans) to evaluate this finding more specifically and clearly.
Nevertheless, several previous observational studies have linked starchy food groups like barley and oats to weight loss.
Therefore, if you are struggling to cut back on starches to lose weight, changing the type of starch you consume could be a safe and effective suggestion.
