Wholemeal flour

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Iron absorption from food³

  In women, adding whole wheat flour to tef injera helped the body take in more iron.

• Open question

  Brain health and dementia⁴

  People with dementia reported eating less wholemeal flour than healthy people, but this does not prove wholemeal flour prevents dementia.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after eating⁵

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

• Benefit

  Iron levels in children⁶

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

• Open question

  Blood sugar after meals⁷

  In people, wholemeal bread raised blood sugar less than plain glucose, and finer grinding made no difference.

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.

• Benefit

  Folate intake in Canadians¹²

  Adding folic acid to wholemeal flour may help wholemeal eaters get enough folate, but not the wider population.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Bread quality and nutrition⁸

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

Found in some samples or products

These come from where it was grown, how it was processed or cooked, or what it was made into. They are not about the ingredient itself, so the signal does not count them.

• 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 health²

  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 one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. 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.