Abstract
The effects of young barley leaf powder(YBLP) on fecal wet weight, defecation frequency, fecal characteristics and fecal microflora were studied in 8 healthy women(26.4 ± 11.6 years old). The subjects were divided at random into 2 groups for a cross-over design test. After one week of pre-test period, the group- I was given a test diet and the group- II was given a placebo diet for one week. After the following one week of the wash out period, the group- I was given the placebo diet and the group- II was given the test diet for one week. The test were carried out at two trials. YBLP contents of the test diets for two trials were 6.0 g(total dietary fiber 2.2 g) and 10.0 g(total dietary fiber 3.6 g). The results showed that the fecal wet weight tended to increase with YBLP 6.0 g and significantly increased with YBLP 100g. The ratio of Lecithinase(+)Cl ostridium or Lecithinase(-)Clostridium in fecal were reduced with YBLP 6.0 g(The fecal microflora was investigated in only YBLP 6.0 g). In these studies, we examined a correlation of fecal wet weight and fecal estimated weight. In result, these wo factors significantly possessed mutual relations (p<0.0001). The consumption of YBLP showed any serious symptoms during two trials. These results suggest that YBLP makes high effect on the fecal bulk is high safety food material.