Khorasan wheat, gut bacteria and fibromyalgia symptoms in 20 people
What it found
Replacing regular wheat with Khorasan wheat changed some gut bacteria and was linked to less pain and better sleep in people with fibromyalgia.
This was measured in a small trial of 20 patients.
What they found
Studies in people
Gut bacteria changes
When looking at just the first diet period, Khorasan wheat raised levels of two groups of gut bacteria called Actinobacteria and candidatus Saccharibacteria. It also lowered a family of bacteria called Enterococcaceae during the second period.
Butyric acid levels
In the first diet period, Khorasan wheat led to a borderline rise in butyric acid in stool samples. Butyric acid is a substance made by gut bacteria that may help lower inflammation.
Fibromyalgia symptoms improved
Scores for overall symptom severity, sleep quality and daily impact improved only after the Khorasan wheat diet. Both diets helped symptoms somewhat, but the improvements were statistically clear only with Khorasan wheat.
Bacteria linked to symptoms
After eating Khorasan wheat, rises in Actinobacteria matched better scores for tiredness and sleep. Drops in Enterococcaceae matched lower pain scores.
Control wheat effects
The modern control wheat raised one inflammation marker in the second diet period. It also increased a type of gut bacteria called Turicibacter across the whole study.
What the authors conclude
- They say a diet based on ancient Khorasan wheat leads to helpful changes in gut bacteria that match improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms.
- They suggest this kind of wheat could be a useful way to help manage fibromyalgia without medication.
- They call for larger studies where people eat Khorasan wheat products over a longer time.
How it was done
People with fibromyalgia often have widespread pain, tiredness and stomach problems. The authors wanted to see if eating ancient Khorasan wheat could change their gut bacteria and ease these symptoms.
Twenty adults with fibromyalgia ate products made from either Khorasan wheat or a modern control wheat for 8 weeks. After an 8 week break they switched to the other wheat for another 8 weeks. Researchers checked stool samples and symptom questionnaires before and after each period.
What it can’t tell you
- Only 20 people took part, so the results might not apply to everyone with fibromyalgia.
- Because participants were not watched during the 8 week break between diets, earlier changes might have carried over into the second period.
- This trial only looked at people who already had fibromyalgia, so it cannot show what Khorasan wheat does in people without this condition.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no competing interests for this article.
- Authors work at
- University of Florence, Italy; Piero Palagi Hospital, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Effect of ancient Khorasan wheat on gut microbiota, inflammation, and short-chain fatty acid production in patients with fibromyalgia
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Baldi S, Pagliai G, Dinu M, et al (2022). Effect of ancient Khorasan wheat on gut microbiota, inflammation, and short-chain fatty acid production in patients with fibromyalgia. World journal of gastroenterology. doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i18.1965Free full textPubMed 35664958DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error