Kamut Limits Oxidation, Stress

BIG SANDY, Mont.—Ancient whole khorasan wheat grain provides a good source of antioxidants, promotes a lower oxidative status and improves response to stress, according to a new study from University of Bologna, Italy. According to their report, published in the Frontiers of Bioscience journal (2011 Jan 1;16:1609-18), researchers compared modern whole grain durum wheat bread to two versions of Kamut brand khorasan wheat bread (one from sourdough process and one from baker’s yeast process) on oxidative status in rats. After seven weeks of eating one of the three types of bread studied, rats were divided into two groups, with one group receiving a doxorubicin injection to induce oxidative stress. Both durum and khorasan proved good sources of antioxidants and were linked to lower oxidative status, however rats eating Kamut breads, especially the sourdough version, responded better to stress than did the durum-fed rats.