Wholemeal flour

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Iron absorption from food²

  In women, swapping some tef for whole wheat flour in injera helped the body take in more iron.

• Open question

  Brain health and memory³

  People with dementia reported eating less wholemeal flour than those with healthy memory, but this does not prove cause.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after eating⁴

  In healthy people, atta mix roti raised blood sugar less than whole wheat flour roti.

• Benefit

  Iron levels in children⁵

  In children, eating wholemeal flour with added NaFeEDTA raised iron stores and cut iron shortage.

• Benefit

  Folate levels in people⁶

  Adding folic acid to wholemeal flour raised folate intake and lowered the number of wholemeal eaters not getting enough.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Antioxidants the body absorbs¹⁰

  Cooking wholemeal flour pasta releases more polyphenols, but in lab studies only a small share is absorbed.

• Benefit

  Colon cancer cell growth¹¹

  In lab studies, wholemeal flour extracts slowed colon cancer cell growth, but it is unclear if this happens in people.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Bread quality and nutrition⁸

  Sourdough fermentation may reduce things that block nutrients in wholemeal flour products.

• Concern

  Toxin buildup in body⁹

  More mould toxins were found in whole wheat flour than refined flour, and the mix may add up in the body.

How it’s made and used

• Whole grains and health⁷

  Wholemeal flour is promoted for health benefits, but some people eat less of it than white bread.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.