Kamut: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications

Updated on

Kamut, also known as Khorasan wheat, is an ancient grain, an ancestor of modern wheat, originating from Mesopotamia, a region in the Middle East stretching from Egypt to the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates. This cereal was virtually forgotten by agriculture until Bob Quinn, an organic farmer and scientific researcher, took an interest in it and discovered its exceptional nutritional value in 1980. Kamut is richer than wheat and contains, in particular, more protein. Kamut is a good source of fiber, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B1, and vitamin B3. It is also rich in many minerals such as selenium, copper, manganese, and molybdenum.a0 Due to its nutritional qualities and digestibility, Kamut is particularly suited for athletes and active people. Although Kamut's gluten is different from that found in modern wheat, it is still present, and the grains are therefore not suitable for people with celiac disease. The aerial parts can also be used. They contain significant amounts of chlorophyll. Plants rich in chlorophyll (like Alfalfa, and young wheat shoots) tend to neutralize toxins, heavy metals, and other carcinogenic substances in the body and help to eliminate them.

Other name(s) 

Khorasan wheat

Scientific name(s)

Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum

Family or group: 

Plants

Active ingredients:

Selenium

Manganese

Chlorophyll


Indications

Rating methodology

EFSA approval.

Several clinical trials (> 2) randomized controlled with double blind, including a significant number of patients (>100) with consistently positive outcomes for the indication.
Several clinical trials (> 2) randomized controlled with double blind, and including a significant number of patients (>100) with positive outcomes for the indication.
One or more randomized studies or multiple cohorts or epidemiological studies with positive outcomes for the indication.
Clinical studies exist but are uncontrolled, with conclusions that may be positive or contradictory.
Lack of clinical studies to date that can demonstrate the indication.


Cardiovascular diseases
✪✪✪✪✪

In a study involving 22 healthy volunteers with cardiovascular risk factors, consuming KAMUT-based products led to a significant reduction in blood cholesterol levels (-4.0%), LDL cholesterol, and a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα, -34.6%), interleukin 6 (IL6, -23.6%), interleukin 12 (IL12, -28.1%) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, -10.5%), whereas no changes were observed in the same patients after consuming control products made from modern wheat. In another small, crossover, double-blind, randomized study aimed at testing if an alternative diet based on organic Kamut products could offer additional benefits to patients suffering from acute coronary syndromes in secondary prevention, compared to a similar diet using modern wheat control products. The results show that the Kamut-based diet is effective in significantly reducing cholesterol levels, LDL-C, blood glucose, insulin, ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and oxidative damage by monocytes and lymphocytes, and TNF-alpha, and in increasing magnesium levels in patients with acute coronary syndromes, compared to the control diet.

Posologie

posologieOral route: young shoots, grain, aerial parts

duration8 - weeks

formulationpowder, seeds, juice


Irritable bowel syndrome
✪✪✪✪✪

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of consuming Kamut-based products in individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the patients reported an improvement in IBS symptoms, such as a decrease in the intensity and frequency of abdominal pain, bloating, and less fatigue. The inflammatory profile was also improved with a reduction in cytokines, while no significant difference was observed after the consumption of modern wheat products.a0

Posologie

posologieOral route: young shoots, grain, aerial parts

formulationpowder, seeds, juice


Type 2 diabetes
✪✪✪✪

A randomized double-blind crossover trial aimed at testing whether an alternative diet with Kamut products or control wheat products could provide additive benefits to patients with type 2 diabetes. A reduction in total cholesterol (-3.7%) and LDL cholesterol (-3.4%), insulin (-16.3%), and glucose (-9.1%) was reported, along with a significant reduction in circulating levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species), vascular endothelial growth factor, and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1Ra), compared to the baseline. No significant difference from the baseline was noted after the modern wheat intervention phase. Additionally, a Kamut-based diet resulted in a significant decrease in vascular complication risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes, such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, inflammation-indicating cytokines, and a significant increase in antioxidant effects.

Posologie

posologieOral route: young shoots, grain, aerial parts

formulationpowder, seeds, juice


Hepatic Steatosis
✪✪✪✪

A study was conducted involving the consumption of Kamut-based products and modern wheat products in patients suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of fat in the liver of people who do not consume excessive alcohol. Consumption of Kamut produced a significant improvement in several key blood markers, such as total cholesterol and liver function enzymes. In addition, a significant improvement in inflammation markers in the blood was observed in NAFLD patients who consumed Kamut-based products.

Posologie

posologieOral administration: young shoots, seeds, aerial parts

formulationpowder, seeds, juice


Aging Well
✪✪✪✪

Several studies show the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of a Kamut-based diet on subjects with cardiovascular risks. A single-blind randomized crossover trial with 20 young male athletes showed that the consumption of Kamut-based products was associated with a significant reduction in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), involved in several diseases characterized by the infiltration of monocytes and other immune cells, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thrombosis... Consumption of the Kamut-based diet also resulted in a significant improvement in self-assessed health status. No statistically significant difference in sports performance parameters was observed between the two diets. Thus, Kamut helps combat inflammation, granting it anti-aging properties.

Posologie

posologieOral administration: young shoots, seeds, aerial parts

formulationpowder, seeds, juice


Properties


Anti-inflammatory

full-leaffull-leafempty-leafempty-leaf

Some studies demonstrate that consuming Kamut can significantly reduce metabolic risk factors such as total cholesterol and LDL, as well as blood sugar levels. Furthermore, an improvement in redox state, measured by a reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl levels, has been noted. Levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and vascular endothelial growth factor, have also been significantly reduced, highlighting the potential anti-inflammatory properties of Kamut. Kamut could offer benefits by reducing cardiovascular risk markers and improving the inflammatory profile.

Usages associés

Irritable bowel syndrome, Healthy aging, Cardiovascular diseases

Hypoglycemic

full-leafempty-leafempty-leafempty-leaf

Studies on ancient KAMUT® khorasan wheat have revealed significant antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties. Participants following a KAMUT® product-based diet showed a notable reduction in fat mass and insulin levels, as well as an increase in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) levels, an essential omega-3 fatty acid. These results suggest that consuming KAMUT® could be beneficial in preventing type 2 diabetes and in reducing associated risk factors, thanks to its effects on glucose metabolism and its antioxidant properties.

Usages associés

Type 2 diabetes

Antioxidant

full-leafempty-leafempty-leafempty-leaf

A study showed that Kamut bread offers better protection against oxidative stress compared to modern durum wheat bread. This protection is attributed to both enzymatic activities and non-enzymatic antioxidants present in the liver. Kamut demonstrated superior ability to positively modulate oxidative stress markers. Sourdough fermentation of Kamut bread also showed an increase in easily extractable phenolic compounds, which might contribute to the protective effect. These results suggest that incorporating Kamut bread in the diet could offer superior antioxidant benefits, relevant for the prevention of stress-related diseases. Additionally, extracts from young shoots might also have antioxidant activity due to their chlorophyll content.

Usages associés

Healthy aging


Safety dosage

Adult: 3 g - 100 g

No standardized dosages; refer to manufacturer's instructions.