Teff seed, blood markers and body measurements in overweight adults
What it found
In 28 overweight or obese women, a teff seed diet for 3 months lowered fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, LDL and HDL, and raised total protein more than a Mediterranean diet.
Body measurements changed about the same in both groups.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood sugar
Fasting blood sugar fell significantly in the teff group. It did not change significantly in the Mediterranean diet group. In the teff group, blood sugar fell further as carbohydrate intake went up.
Cholesterol levels
Total cholesterol, LDL and HDL all fell significantly in the teff group. Only cholesterol fell significantly in the Mediterranean diet group.
Total protein
The rise in total protein was significantly greater in the teff group than in the Mediterranean diet group.
Body measurements
There was no significant difference between the two groups in body measurements at the end of the study. Body mass index fell significantly in both groups, which the authors link to the limited calories.
Iron and B12
In the teff group, iron levels fell and transferrin rose, but these changes were not significant. More fat intake went with higher iron and lower vitamin B12. More energy intake in both groups went with lower vitamin B12.
Diet and body links
In the teff group, more energy and more fat intake went with a larger upper arm circumference, and more fat went with a larger waist. In the Mediterranean diet group, more fiber went with lower HDL cholesterol, and more protein went with higher total and LDL cholesterol.
What the authors conclude
“It has been found that the teff seed has no predominance over anthropometric measurements, as compared to the Mediterranean diet, and that it is more effective in improving hematological findings related to obesity.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that teff seed has no advantage over the Mediterranean diet for body measurements.
- They say teff was more effective at improving blood findings related to obesity.
- They call for larger studies that also look at physical activity and different types of teff seed.
How it was done
The low rates of celiac disease, anemia, osteoporosis and obesity in Ethiopia have made scientists interested in teff. The authors wanted to see whether eating teff regularly affects blood markers and body measurements in overweight and obese people, and how it compares with the Mediterranean diet.
They followed 28 women aged 18 to 55 with a body mass index of 25 to 34.9 for 3 months. Fourteen ate a diet containing 20 g of brown teff seed a day and 14 ate a Mediterranean diet, with both groups given similar calories. Blood tests and body measurements were taken at the start and end.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study of 28 women, so the results may not apply to men or to larger groups.
- The study did not ask about physical activity, which can affect cholesterol levels.
- Only brown teff was tested, so the findings may not apply to white or red teff.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Istanbul Medipol University, Turkey; Istanbul Kent University, Turkey
The paper
- Title
- The Effect of Teff Seed on Hematological Findings and Anthropometric Measurements
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Demir EG, Tarakçı NG, Samancı RA, et al (2022). The Effect of Teff Seed on Hematological Findings and Anthropometric Measurements. Ethiopian journal of health sciences. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v32i3.21Free full textPubMed 35813674DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error