| K-State, Wichita State collaborative research | | | | cells or stopped their growth; the medium and low |
| studies wheat bran from different wheat | | | | antioxidant varieties had less of or no effect -- |
| varieties, effect on suppressing colon cancer | | | | the cancer cells kept growing like normal. |
| MANHATTAN -- We've heard the conflicting | | | | Further testing has shown that wheat high in |
| information: Wheat bran can reduce the risk of | | | | antioxidants demonstrated a significant |
| colon cancer in humans; wheat bran does not | | | | suppression in both size and number of tumors, |
| reduce the risk in humans. | | | | while intermediate levels of wheat antioxidants |
| But which one is true? | | | | experienced an intermediate level of cancer |
| Both, sort of. | | | | activity. |
| In the mid-1990s, grain science nutritionists at | | | | "Since then, we have been trying to move this |
| Kansas State University discovered that bran | | | | research to the next stage, understanding which |
| from one variety of wheat actually suppressed | | | | particular compounds are responsible for this |
| cancer in laboratory tests, while bran from | | | | benefit," Madl said. "Antioxidant activity is |
| another wheat variety did not. | | | | expressed by a lot of chemical compounds, but |
| According to Ronald Madl, director of | | | | that doesn't mean that all antioxidants express |
| bioprocessing and industrial value added programs | | | | that same beneficial, biological effect. Now, we're |
| with K- State's department of grain science and | | | | trying to determine which antioxidants are actually |
| industry, the confusion set in because the resulting | | | | responsible for cancer suppression." |
| medical literature really did not appreciate the | | | | Madl said K-State wheat breeders would like to |
| genetic diversity in wheat -- that not all wheat | | | | enhance the levels of antioxidants in wheat. |
| bran is the same. | | | | "The long-term opportunity is that we could |
| "As a consequence, medical literature that | | | | produce new wheat varieties with higher levels of |
| followed the initial work sometimes said that | | | | antioxidants, and then carry out research to show |
| wheat bran did suppress cancer," Madl said. "Other | | | | that these varieties can reduce cancer risk," he |
| medical literature said it did not suppress cancer." | | | | said. |
| In a cooperative effort that picked up where that | | | | Madl said that once researchers have determined |
| previous research left off, Madl and other | | | | the wheat bran varieties with enhanced levels of |
| researchers from K-State -- including Carol | | | | antioxidants, clinical studies could be considered for |
| Klopfenstein, professor emeritus of grain science | | | | humans to demonstrate if wheat bran could |
| and industry, Delores Takemoto, professor of | | | | reduce the risk of colon cancer. |
| biochemistry, and Weiqun Wang, assistant | | | | Madl said K-State research is currently focused on |
| professor of human nutrition -- joined with John | | | | testing methodology. Development of more rapid |
| Carter, associate professor of physical therapy at | | | | screening methods for antioxidants in wheat could |
| Wichita State, and discovered the diversity of | | | | make the screening process for wheat breeders, |
| phytochemicals in wheat bran. They tested about | | | | as well as making the wheat selection process for |
| 120 varieties, all with different levels of | | | | food processors, quicker and more feasible. |
| antioxidants, from very high to very low. Further | | | | Source: Ronald Madl. News release prepared by: |
| studies showed wheat bran with a higher | | | | Keener A. Tippin II, 785-532-6415 |
| antioxidant content demonstrated a potential to | | | | Reproduced with permission. |
| suppress cancer cells. | | | | If this article is reproduced please ensure the link |
| Madl said in subsequent testing on human cancer | | | | to my website is kept live. If you can't see the |
| cells, the bran from high antioxidant wheat | | | | links hover your mouse over the words in the bio |
| varieties either actually killed some of the cancer | | | | box. |