Dietary fiber profile of barley flour as affected by extrusion cooking

Barley grains, Phoenix and CDC-Candle, were extruded in a twin-screw extruder at 90−140 °C and 20–50% moisture level. Effects of extrusion conditions on total (TDF), soluble (SDF), and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) were determined. The content of SDF and TDF increased upon extrusion cooking of both types of barley flours. The changes in IDF content were found to be variety-dependent. Only a minor decrease in IDF content of CDC-Candle barley was found, but an increase in IDF content of Phoenix was observed at all extrusion temperatures. The increase in SDF, in both barleys, could be due to the transformation of some IDF into SDF during extrusion and the formation of additional SDF by transglycosidation. The increase in IDF in Phoenix flour could be due to the formation of retrograded amylose [resistant starch (RS3)] during extrusion cooking and subsequent cooling.