Cardiovascular benefits from ancient grain bread consumption: findings from a double-blinded randomized crossover intervention trial.
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.
a Unit of Atherothrombotic Diseases , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
Alice
A
Sereni
a Unit of Atherothrombotic Diseases , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
Francesca
F
Cesari
a Unit of Atherothrombotic Diseases , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
Anna Maria
AM
Gori
a Unit of Atherothrombotic Diseases , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
Niccolò
N
Maggini
a Unit of Atherothrombotic Diseases , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
Rossella
R
Marcucci
b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|d Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation Florence , Florence , Italy.
Alessandro
A
Casini
b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.|c Unit of Clinical Nutrition , Careggi University Hospital , Florence , Italy.|d Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation Florence , Florence , Italy.
Francesco
F
Sofi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001939:Bread; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D055951:Functional Food; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D000067348:Whole Grains; D000078329:Workforce
D015415:Biomarkers
Gran; ancient variety; cardiovascular disease; food