The last decade is characterized by a significant increase in the number of patients with metabolic syndrome, which is a global public health problem and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular and non-communicable diseases. MS is characterized by an increase in the mass of visceral fat, a decrease in the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, and hyperinsulinemia, causing the development of a combined pathology of internal diseases (multimorbidity), disorders of carbohydrate, lipid, purine metabolism, and arterial hypertension.
The prevalence of MS reaches 24% in women and 23% in men. According to different studies, in some populations the prevalence of MS is 20-40%, and among obese patients - 49%; among persons with impaired glucose tolerance, the prevalence of MS is 50%, and in diabetes mellitus - 80%.
Although there is no international agreement on the definition and classification of fiber, there is established evidence for the role of dietary fiber in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Beta-glucan (β-glucan) is a soluble fiber readily available from oat and barley grains that is of interest due to its multiple functional and bioactive properties. Its beneficial role in the treatment of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity is constantly documented. The ability of β-glucans to ferment and their ability to form highly viscous solutions in the human intestine may form the basis of their health benefits. hence, β-glucan is widely considered as a food ingredient with the dual purpose of increasing the fiber content of foods and improving their health benefits. β-glucans in the prevention and treatment of the characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, their main mechanisms of action and their potential applications in foods
