Innovating Ancient Grains: A Tuscan Research Project Explores New Opportunities for Gluten-Free Nutrition
Dietary variety is a key concern for people with gluten sensitivity, because eliminating gluten has so far meant relying mainly on rice and corn, with few alternatives tested to expand the menu. In Italy, gluten-sensitive individuals are six times more numerous than celiacs, numbering at least 3 million. For these people, pseudocereals represent a valuable nutritional alternative. By “ancient grains” and “pseudocereals,” we mean varieties preserved from the past, authentic and original — such as buckwheat, quinoa, and amaranth — which are naturally gluten-free, have a low glycemic index, and are rich in minerals and proteins.
The Tuscan company Probios, which has been producing and marketing organic foods since 1978, is well aware of this need and has invested in scientifically testing the benefits of certain foods.
In recent years, Probios has carried out three research projects in collaboration with the University of Florence.
The Buckwheat Study
The first project, titled “Effects of Buckwheat on Subjects with Gluten Sensitivity and Irritable Bowel Syndrome,” began in January 2015 and concluded in December of the same year. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, led by Alessandro Casini, professor of Applied Dietetic Sciences, and with the support of the Fondazione per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione.
Twenty participants took part in the study. Probios provided them with a diet based entirely on buckwheat — the only cereal they could consume during the trial — in the form of pasta, breadsticks, biscuits, and flakes.
The research involved both quantitative and qualitative data collection, monitoring gastrointestinal symptoms, systemic symptoms, biochemical parameters, and conducting interviews to assess the impact on quality of life following a buckwheat-based diet. The results, presented last December at the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU), showed positive effects: participants experienced reductions in headaches, muscle fatigue, and concentration problems, while biochemical and inflammatory markers also improved.
This is a valuable outcome for people with dietary restrictions, who are often limited to a narrow diet based mainly on corn and rice, both high-glycemic foods.
Upcoming Projects
Two additional projects are planned. The first, starting in June 2016, will investigate cereals and pseudocereals such as quinoa, millet, and amaranth for celiac patients, again coordinated by the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine. The second project explores the potential cultivation of amaranth and quinoa in Italy, conducted in collaboration with the School of Agriculture at the University of Florence.
Is Europe Thinking Organic?
The European Commission established the Bioeconomy Observatory a few years ago to evaluate the progress and impact of bioeconomy development within the EU and to monitor research and innovation in this sector. Its goal is to promote an economy based on the intelligent use of renewable biological resources from land and sea, and on the production of sustainable foods.
In February 2016, the Observatory organized a meeting with leading European organic companies to identify sector needs and implement development strategies. The Italian representative was Probios.
Lorenzo Tonini, Head of R&D at Probios, who recently returned from the European Commission, reports that Europe’s attention to companies working in sustainability has increased. New Horizon 2020 funding calls will soon be launched, with €4.7 billion allocated to the challenge “Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, Marine and Maritime Research, and the Bioeconomy.” It is an opportunity to stay informed and ready to implement innovative BIO ideas and solutions!
Contacts for Project Information
- Probiosios.it
- Fondazione per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence
