The largest part of barley production (up to 70%) is being used as animal feed, about 21% is intended for malting, brewing, and distilling industries, leaving less than 6% of the production for human consumption.
Barley has an attractive nutrient make-up which makes it an excellent food for health-conscious people.
Barley grain is rich in mineral nutrients, but their bioavailability to humans depends on antinutrients that restrain bioavailability and promoters that promote bioavailability. Antinutrients, as essential part of grain, like phytate, phenolics, etc., limit the absorption of mineral elements
Among cereals, barley grain is the main source of P, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu and Zn, as well as of Si, which showed the positive effect on bones. All these minerals have high nutritional importance and their deficiencies can lead to certain health disorders in humans.
Grain mineral composition influences both nutritional quality and seed vigor. During seed development on the parent plant, nutrient concentration in seed is dependent on soil type, nutrient availability, crop species, weather condition, growing season as well as cultivar.
Barley grain: Rich with essential minerals
