Cardiovascular benefits from ancient grain bread consumption: findings from a double-blinded randomized crossover intervention trial

Abstract

Ancient grain varieties have been shown to have some beneficial effects on health. Forty-five clinically healthy subjects were included in a randomized, double-blinded crossover trial aimed at evaluating the effect of a replacement diet with bread derived from ancient grain varieties versus modern grain variety on cardiovascular risk profile. After 8 weeks of intervention, consumption of bread obtained by the ancient varieties showed a significant amelioration of various cardiovascular parameters. Indeed, the ancient varieties were shown to result in a significant reduction of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and blood glucose, whereas no significant differences during the phase with the modern variety were reported. Moreover, a significant increase in circulating endothelial progenitor cells were reported after the consumption of products made from the ancient “Verna” variety. The present results suggest that a dietary consumption of bread obtained from ancient grain varieties was effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords:

• Gran
• ancient variety
• cardiovascular disease
• food

Acknowledgements

The Authors would like to thank UNICOOP Firenze srl and their workers for having participated in the intervention study, and NewCoPan Spa for the bread production.

Disclosure statement

The Authors declare that they have no competing interests.