A New Functional Wheat Flour Flatbread (Bazlama) Enriched with High-β-Glucan Hull-Less Barley Flour

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Cereal Science

Background:

• The Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) is recognized for its health benefits but is influenced by modern dietary patterns.
• Developing novel foods with enhanced nutritional profiles is crucial to meet the needs of individuals adhering to the Med-Diet.
• Functional flat bread (bazlama) enriched with high-β-glucan barley flour can offer improved health properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-β-glucan flat bread (bazlama) with a reduced glycemic index (GI) using hull-less barley flour.
• To evaluate the nutritional and technological properties of barley-enriched bazlama compared to traditional wheat bazlama.
• To determine optimal barley flour supplementation levels for health claim eligibility.

Main Methods:

• Bread wheat flour (cv. Tosunbey) was blended with high-β-glucan hull-less barley flour (cv. Chifaa) at varying percentages (15%, 30%, 45%, 60%).
• Nutritional composition (minerals, β-glucan), technological properties (texture, color), glycemic index (GI), phenolics, and antioxidant capacity were analyzed.
• Barley-enriched bazlama properties were compared against a control (100% wheat flour) bazlama.

Main Results:

• Barley-enriched bazlama exhibited increased yellowness, higher mineral content (Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Zn), and increased phenolics and antioxidant capacity.
• Supplementation with 45% and 60% barley flour provided ≥3g of β-glucan, meeting criteria for health claims.
• Glycemic index (GI) was significantly reduced from high (79.20-88.60%) in wheat bazlama to medium (64.73-68.65%) in 45-60% barley-enriched samples.

Conclusions:

• Hull-less barley flour (cv. Chifaa) can be effectively incorporated at higher levels (45-60%) into bazlama production.
• This functional bazlama demonstrates improved nutritional value, including higher β-glucan and mineral content, and a lower GI.
• The developed barley-enriched bazlama is a promising functional food for supporting Mediterranean diet adherence and promoting health.