Amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat grain products: role in human nutrition and maintenance of the intestinal microbiome

Abstract

Pseudocereals such as amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat have been used as food since ancient times and in recent years there has been an increasing focus on their ability to have positive health effects. Moreover, some of the functional effects of pseudocereals could be mediated by effects on the gut microbiota. The review aims to assess the features of the chemical composition of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat grain that determine their potential for maintaining the optimal composition of the intestinal microbiota, as well as to analyze the results of published studies evaluating the effects of pseudocereals on the intestinal microbiota. Material and methods. Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, RSCI databases, and food composition databases were used for collection and analysis of scientific information. Results. The research presents an overview of the chemical composition of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat grain regarding their influence on the intestinal microbiota. Compared to traditional cereals, the grain of these pseudocereals has high content of soluble dietary fiber, which could have a prebiotic effect in the gut stimulating the growth of protective microbiota populations and increasing production of short-chain fatty acids (SСFA), which play a crucial role in maintaining gut homeostasis and health in general. Amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat grain, as well as some grain fractions such as proteins and polysaccharides, may have positive effects on the gut microbiota, and the biologically active substances metabolized by them have a positive effect on the body's metabolism. The results of in vitro (by cultivation using model media) and in vivo experiments indicate that the introduction of various grain fractions of pseudocereals into the diet contributes to an increase in the content of SCFA, in alpha microbiota diversity indices, and also prevents the development of dysbiotic disorders caused by a high-fat diet. Conclusion. Pseudocereals' grain is promising raw material for the development of products that can have a positive effect on the intestinal microbiota.