Last verified: 43 days ago
Barley Grass
Also known as: Hordeum vulgare, green barley, barley leaf, hulless barley grass, young barley
Evidence under review. — Not yet rated
Young barley plant marketed as a superfood. Animal studies suggest some metabolic benefits, but human evidence is lacking.
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What it does
Barley grass is the young green shoot of the barley plant, harvested before the grain forms. It contains dietary fiber and polysaccharides that, in animal studies, have shown potential to reduce...
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Evidence quality
Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.
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Clinical dose
No established dose from provided studies
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Found in
Beyond Collagen Powder Sachets, Amazing Grass Super Greens The Original, Sunfood Organic Green Blend and 8 more
What the Science Says
Barley grass is the young green shoot of the barley plant, harvested before the grain forms. It contains dietary fiber and polysaccharides that, in animal studies, have shown potential to reduce weight gain, lower blood lipids, and improve insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet models. Lab studies have also explored anti-cancer properties of its polysaccharides in cell cultures. However, no robust human clinical trials from the provided research confirm these effects translate to people.
What It Doesn't Do
Not proven to detox your body — that's marketing language with no clinical backing. No human evidence it burns fat or reverses obesity. The single case report involving barley grass for hyperthyroidism involved multiple other treatments simultaneously, so no conclusions can be drawn. Anti-cancer claims are based on test-tube studies only — not human trials. Don't expect it to replace a balanced diet.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Barley grass is the young green shoot of the barley plant, harvested before the grain forms. It contains dietary fiber and polysaccharides that, in animal studies, have shown potential to reduce weight gain, lower blood lipids, and improve insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet models. Lab studies have also explored anti-cancer properties of its polysaccharides in cell cultures. However, no robust human clinical trials from the provided research confirm these effects translate to people.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: No established dose from provided studies
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown — no human pharmacokinetic or absorption data in the provided studies. Animal studies used extracted polysaccharides, not whole grass powder, so bioavailability of commercial products is unclear.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Nearly all positive findings come from animal or cell studies — human clinical evidence is essentially absent from the provided research
- Over 1,000 supplement products on the market despite very limited clinical trial data supporting human health benefits
- The one human case report involved multiple simultaneous interventions, making it impossible to attribute any benefit to barley grass specifically
- Several papers in the provided dataset are about barley grass as livestock feed or as an agricultural weed — not human nutrition
- Polysaccharide extracts used in studies are not the same as whole dried barley grass powder sold in supplements — results may not translate
Products Containing Barley Grass
See how Barley Grass is used in these analyzed products:
Beyond Collagen Powder Sachets
Supplement
Amazing Grass Super Greens The Original
Supplement
Sunfood Organic Green Blend
Supplement
Live it Up Super Greens
Supplement
Bloom Nutrition Greens & Superfoods
Supplement
HealthForce SuperFoods Vitamineral Green
Supplement
Lemme Greens Gummies
Supplement
Peak Performance Organic Greens Superfood Powder
Supplement
Smartvita Men's Total Synergy Multivitamins
Supplement
Smartvita Women's Total Synergy Multivitamins
Supplement
Sunfood Supergreens & Protein
Supplement
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-09