Effects of Barley Green on Visceral Fat Area in the Human Body and Investigation Into the Associated Mechanism of Intestinal Microbiota

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in visceral fat area and associated indicators in individuals with high body fat percentage under the intervention of barley green, elucidate the clinical efficacy of barley green on human visceral fat, and preliminarily explore the mechanism by which barley green influences human visceral fat through gut microbiota analysis. Participants with high body fat percentage were recruited from the Clinical Nutrition Department of Peking University People's Hospital and randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received a regimen combining barley green supplementation with a calorie-restricted balanced diet plan, while the control group followed only the calorie-restricted balanced diet plan. General clinical data were collected, nutritional assessments were conducted, and dynamic analyses of body composition and metabolism were performed. Venous blood samples were obtained for the measurement of metabolic and inflammation-related indices as well as gut microbiota characterization. By observing and comparing differences in visceral fat area and related parameters, as well as gut microbiota profiles between the two groups, this study provides a scientific foundation for the clinical application of barley green in medical nutrition interventions targeting populations with high body fat percentage.