Rutin-Rich Tartary Buckwheat Benefits Body Composition and Antioxidant Capacity

by | Jun 19, 2019 | 2016, Antioxidants, Weight Control, Whole Grains

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Rutin-rich Tartary buckwheat, ‘Manten-Kirari’, significantly decreased body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index and oxidative stress markers in the seventy-three participating subjects compared to the control group.

Rutin, a plant pigment found in fruits and vegetables, is associated with a host of powerful health benefits, including antioxidant 1 anti-inflammatory, 2, and anti-diabetic effects 3. A 2006 animal study found that oral administration of rutin can significantly reduce plasma levels of lipids in diabetic rats 4, and in humans, the flavonoid shows cardioprotective effects associated with improved platelet functionality 5. In addition to being a functional food abundant in amino acids 6, Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) is a nutrient-dense pseudo-cereal crop that contains one of the highest amounts of rutin in its seeds 7. A recent clinical trial reported that dietary intake of rutin-rich Tartary buckwheat can effectively decrease total cholesterol and markers of oxidative stress 8. A newly developed variety of Tartary buckwheat, Manten-Kirari, shows particular promise due to its high hydrophilic antioxidant capacity and less bitter taste (Ishiguro 2016). In 2016, researchers in Japan carried out a trial 9 to investigate the antioxidant effects of rutin-rich Tartary buckwheat (Manten-Kirari), as well as its potential impact on atherosclerosis and body composition.

A total of 144 subjects (aged 30 to 69 years) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which they were randomly allocated to consume 500 mg of rutin from Manten-Kirari Tartary buckwheat in the form of noodles and cookies or an identical placebo food daily for 12 weeks. At baseline, Week 4, Week, 8, Week 12, and 3 weeks post-treatment, body composition measures were taken (body weight, BW; body mass index, BMI; body fat percentage, BFP) and fasting blood samples were collected in order to determine antioxidant markers (oxidized low-density lipoprotein, ox-LDL; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), lipid profile, biomarkers of liver function, and biomarkers of kidney function. Atherosclerosis Index (AI) was also calculated.

Analyses indicated that the Tartary buckwheat group had significantly greater decreases, relative to placebo, in BW (mean change = -0.35 +/- 0.82 kg vs. 0.02 +/- 1.8 kg, p = 0.030) and BMI (mean change = -0.14 +/- 0.32 kg/ m2   vs. 0.02 +/- 0.44 kg/m2 , p = 0.016) at the end of Week 8. The buckwheat group also exhibited significantly greater reduction in BFP (mean change = -0.30 +/- 2.39% vs. 0.36 +/- 1.07%, p = 0.038), compared to placebo, at the end of Week 4. Although no significant differences in ox-LDL and AI were evident between the two groups, TBARS was found to be more significantly diminished in the active test food group vs. placebo at Week 8 (mean change = -0.56 +/- 3.62 µm vs. 0.86 +/- 3.95 µm, p = 0.027).

Results of the study highlight the clinical value of rutin-rich Tartary buckwheat as a functional food with benefits for body composition, namely BW, BMI, and BFP, and antioxidant capacity, consistent with previous evidence for rutin’s free radical scavenging activity (1). Although Tartary buckwheat did not appear to exert any significant influence on lipid metabolism, liver and kidney function, or AI, its improvement of body composition was evident as early as four weeks post-treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms associated with Tartary buckwheat’s action, and it would be beneficial to compare the antioxidant effects of the Manten-Kirari variety of buckwheat with those of purified rutin, as a control. Clinical trials using Tartary buckwheat as part of a dietary intervention with obese individuals would also be helpful.

Source: Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Sato Y, et al. Effectiveness of rutin-rich Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) ‘Manten-Kirari’ in body weight reduction related to its antioxidant properties: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Functional Foods. 2016; 26: 460-469. DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.08.004.

© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted June 19, 2019.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
 

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