Barley

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Weight and blood sugar²

  In overweight adults, eating barley cereal daily led to lower body weight and better blood sugar than corn cereal.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Allergy risk in cereals³

  Scientists do not yet know whether barley starch could trigger reactions in people allergic to cereals.

• Concern

  Gluten in gluten-free beer⁴

  Barley beers labelled gluten-free may still contain gluten pieces that could affect people with coeliac disease.

• Concern

  Gluten reaction in celiac disease⁵

  Barley hordeins are gluten proteins that trigger reactions in people with celiac disease, so scientists are breeding barley with less hordein.

• Open question

  Antioxidants in bread⁶

  Pita made with whole grain or pearled barley flour had more antioxidants than standard pita, and most also had more vitamin E.

• Open question

  Folate in food⁷

  Barley flour made into pasta and biscuits had more folate than regular shop versions.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.