Ancient wheat and health: a legend or the reality? A review on KAMUT khorasan wheat

Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2017 May;68(3):278-286. doi: 10.1080/09637486.2016.1247434. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

Abstract

After WWII, the industrialized agriculture selected modern varieties of Triticum turgidum spp. durum and spp. aestivum (durum wheat and common wheat) based on higher yields and technological characteristics. Nowadays, the use of whole ancient grains and pseudo cereals is considered nutritionally important. How ancient grains have positive effects is not entirely known, the fragmentation of the scientific knowledge being also related to the fact that ancient grains are not a homogeneous category. The KAMUT® trademark indicates a specific and ancient variety of grain (Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum, commonly khorasan wheat), and guarantees certain attributes making studies sufficiently comparable. In this work, studies on KAMUT® khorasan wheat have been systematically reviewed, evidencing different aspects supporting its benefits. Although it is not possible to establish whether all ancient grains share these positive characteristics, in total or in part, this review provides further evidences supporting the consumption of ancient grains.

Keywords: KAMUT® khorasan wheat; ancient grains; ancient wheat; whole grains.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Celiac Disease / diet therapy
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Edible Grain / chemistry*
  • Food Handling
  • Glutens / analysis
  • Humans
  • Nutritive Value*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Triticum / chemistry*
  • Triticum / classification
  • Wheat Hypersensitivity / diet therapy

Substances

  • Glutens