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Quinoa, thanks to its physiologically active ingredients, appears to help improve the composition and activity of the intestinal flora, leading, among other things, to an increase in healthy probiotic bacteria and a decrease in pathogenic bacteria, and has a beneficial effect on various diseases.
A new study involving experts from Jilin Engineering Normal University in China examined the effects of quinoa on intestinal flora and the underlying mechanisms. The results are published in the English-language scientific journal “Frontiers in Nutrition”.
What makes quinoa so healthy?
Quinoa is a plant native mainly to the Andean regions of South America whose edible seeds are rich in healthy saponins, polyphenolic compounds, polysaccharides, bioactive peptides and fiber.
For example, the saponins in quinoa can be hydrolyzed by the intestinal flora, producing sapogenin. This has been proven to have a positive effect on the amount of probiotic bacteria, explains the team.
The problem, however, is that these saponins have toxic side effects on the kidneys in high doses. They can also negatively influence the bacterial metabolism of vitamin B6 and tryptophan as well as the ammonia cycle of the intestinal flora.
It has also been found that saponins from different types of quinoa have different effects on the intestinal flora, the experts add.
Quercetin reduces pathogenic bacteria
In animal studies, quercetin from quinoa also increased the number of probiotic bacteria (e.g. Bifidobacterium and Firmicutes) and at the same time reduced the number of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine, the researchers report.
Quercetin also has a hypoglycemic effect (lowers blood sugar levels), with this effect being mediated via the glucose and fat metabolism of the intestinal flora, according to the experts.
Advantages of polysaccharides
The polysaccharides contained in quinoa, on the other hand, according to the team, play an active role in improving hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet, promoting the activity of probiotic strains, changing pH and producing short-chain fatty acids (so-called SCFA). .
Quinoa-Proteine
Proteins in quinoa can be used as a source of bioactive peptide precursors and alleviate the symptoms of colon cancer in mice and increase the production of short-chain fatty acids in intestinal tissue, the experts report.
Additionally, these proteins help stimulate microbial α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase and α-galactosidase in the intestine and help lower pH in the gut, the team adds.
According to the researchers, together the bioactive ingredients of quinoa can promote the growth of probiotic bacteria, inhibit pathogens, lower the pH value in the intestine and increase the production of short-chain fatty acids.
Beneficial for various diseases
With regard to the treatment of diseases, quinoa has already been found to have a positive effect on obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, liver cancer and diabetes due to its effect on the intestinal flora, explains the team.
In general, the ingredients of the different types of quinoa seem to have slightly different effects, which, according to the researchers, could be due to the different growing conditions of these varieties.
Overall, quinoa can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, regulate various enzymes in the intestinal flora and thus create an environment that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria, which can have a positive effect on certain diseases, the experts add.
The team is confident that further research into quinoa will help identify its medical benefits while finding effective approaches to positively influence the intestinal flora. (as)