Consuming Teff Grain Boosts Stomach Microbiome Health

Consumption of teff grain can boost the composition, function of stomach microbiome, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Nutrients.

Seeds of a teff plant, which look similar to wheat, are tiny in stature, but they are packed with nutrition.

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‘Teff grain significantly helps the stomach microbiome and enhances iron and zinc's nutritional value.’

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Relatively new to the United States, teff has long been a superfood in East African, specifically Ethiopia, as a staple food crop high in fiber.

Cornell University food researchers, led by Elad Tako, associate professor of food science, now prove this grain significantly helps the stomach and enhances iron and zinc's nutritional value.

Teff was examined in Cornell food science labs to understand how its seed extracts would influence the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and other living organisms' systems by utilizing a unique in vivo approach.

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"The grain teff is greatly valuable," stated the study author. "For the first time, we can link teff seed consumption with positive effects on the intestinal microbiome composition and function, potentially demonstrating why the prevalence of dietary iron and zinc deficiencies in Ethiopia, although still significant, is lower in comparison to other nearby African nations."

Tako and his research group conducted experiments while developing and using fertile eggs from the standard domesticated chicken (Gallus gallus).

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In the study, the teff seed fiber extract was introduced into the fertile Gallus gallus eggs' amniotic fluid, which consists mainly of short peptides and water, on day 17 of embryonic development. The embryo then uses the amniotic fluid and the combined nutritional solution by day 19 of embryonic incubation.

"By using this unique in vivo model and study approach, we are able to test how teff grain extract or solution affects the gastrointestinal tract, but also other systems or other tissues," Tako stated. "We can confirm positive impacts on the intestinal microbiome and duodenal (small intestine) functionality and tissue morphology."

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Source-Medindia