Effect of wholegrain emmer wheat on serum folate and homocysteine - a pilot human intervention study

Other conference contribution, 2015

Introduction: Ancient wheat varieties have been suggested to be more nutritious due to a generally higher content of vitamins and minerals. Emmer heat has been reported to have a high content of folate, which has been linked to reduced homocysteine (Hcy), a risk marker of cardiovascular disease.  However, evidence for any beneficial effect of ancient wheat varieties on human health compared to common wheat is lacking.
Objectives: To compare the effects of consumption of emmer wholegrain wheat (EWW) and common wholegrain wheat (CWW) on markers of cardiovascular disease.
Method / Design: In a crossover dietary intervention study, 11 participants (6 women and 5 men) were randomized to the order of consuming EWW or CWW flakes and kernels for 3 weeks while refraining from other wholegrain foods. Fasting blood samples were drawn and anthropometry was assessed before and after each dietary intervention period.
Results: Total serum folate concentrations decreased with CWW (-2.12±2.03 nmol/L) vs. a small increase in the EWW period (0.67±1.27 nmol/L), but there was no significant difference between the groups (p=0.17). Similarly, Hcy changes did not differ significantly between groups (-0.21±0.51 and -1.50±1.48 μmol/L in CWW and EWW, respectively; p>0.5). Despite the lack of effects, there was an inverse association between changes in total serum folate and Hcy during the emmer period (Spearman’s ρ =-0.69; p=0.02). No difference in the effect of either diet was observed plasma glucose and insulin, blood lipids or blood pressure.
Conclusions: Although no differences in total serum folate or plasma Hcy between EWW and CWW periods was seen, we found an inverse association between these two parameters. This was the first study to investigate potential health benefits of emmer consumption, and appeared to be underpowered to find significant differences. Further investigations in larger studies of longer duration are warranted.