Quinoa bread and heart risk markers in overweight men
What it found
In 30 overweight men, eating quinoa bread daily for 4 weeks did not change most heart risk markers compared with refined wheat bread.
Blood sugar after a meal was slightly lower with the quinoa bread.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood fats
After 4 weeks, LDL cholesterol fell by 5.7% from the start in the quinoa group, but it also fell in the wheat group, so there was no difference between the two breads. Other blood fats and cholesterol measures did not differ between the breads.
Blood sugar after meals
After a test breakfast, the blood sugar response over 4 hours was 5.6% lower after the quinoa bread than after the wheat bread. Blood sugar readings at 105, 120 and 135 minutes were also lower with quinoa.
Continuous glucose monitoring
Over the last 4 days of each 4-week period, the total blood sugar response was lower with quinoa bread than with wheat bread. It also tended to be lower than in the first 4 days after stopping quinoa.
Weight and blood pressure
Body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and blood pressure did not change during either bread period.
Inflammation and liver markers
Markers of inflammation and liver enzymes did not change with either bread.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides rose by 14.3% from the start after 4 weeks of quinoa bread, but there was no difference between the two breads.
What the authors conclude
“Overall the results suggest some potential benefit of consuming quinoa on glucose response but this requires further investigation, possibly with larger doses of quinoa.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that eating 20 g of quinoa a day in bread does not affect markers of heart disease risk, but may improve blood sugar responses.
- They say the possible benefit for blood sugar needs more research, perhaps with larger amounts of quinoa.
- They note that the reasons why quinoa might have this effect are still unknown.
How it was done
Diets rich in whole grains have been linked to lower heart disease risk, but quinoa has been little studied in people. The authors wanted to see whether daily quinoa affects heart risk markers.
Thirty-seven healthy overweight men aged 36 to 70 were assigned to eat one quinoa bread roll (20 g quinoa flour) or a refined wheat roll daily for 4 weeks, then switched to the other bread after a 4-week break. Thirty men completed the study.
What it can’t tell you
- The study lasted only 4 weeks, so it cannot show what would happen over a longer time.
- The men were healthy and overweight, so the results may not apply to other groups, such as women or people with diabetes.
- The two breads did not have exactly the same amount of carbohydrate, which may have affected the blood sugar results.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Newcastle University, UK
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Consumption on Markers of CVD Risk
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Li L, Lietz G, Bal W, Watson A, Morfey B, Seal C (2018). Effects of Quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Consumption on Markers of CVD Risk. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu10060777Free full textPubMed 29914146DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error