Wheatgrass
OTHER NAME(S): Agropyre, Blé en Herbe, Bread Wheat, Brote del Trigo, Common Wheat, Grano, Herbe de Blé, Wheat, Wheat Grass, Triticum aestivum, Triticum sativum, Frumentum triticum E.H.L. Krause, Couch Grass, Doggrass, Dog-grass, Quackgrass, Wheat Grass Juice, Pasto de Trigo, Herbe de blé
Overview
Wheatgrass is the freshly sprouted shoot of the wheat plant (Triticum aestivum). It's native to Asia and the Mediterranean, but it's grown worldwide.
Wheatgrass contains large amounts of chlorophyll. High-chlorophyll diets are sometimes promoted to treat certain diseases, such as cancer. Wheatgrass also contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, calcium, magnesium, and amino acids.
People use wheatgrass for a blood disorder that reduces levels of protein in the blood called hemoglobin (beta-thalassemia), cancer, high cholesterol, inflammatory bowel disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Wheat is considered a major food allergen in the US. Wheat contents, including wheatgrass, must be labeled on packaged foods and supplement products. Don't confuse wheatgrass with similarly named wheat bran or couch grass. These are not the same.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- A blood disorder that reduces levels of protein in the blood called hemoglobin (beta-thalassemia). Some early research suggests that drinking 100 mL of wheatgrass juice daily for 18 months or taking tablets containing 1-4 grams of wheatgrass daily for 12 months can reduce the need for blood transfusions in children with beta-thalassemia. But other early research suggests that taking tablets containing 100-200 mg/kg of wheatgrass daily for 12 months does not reduce the need for blood transfusions in children and adults with beta-thalassemia.
- Heel pain. Early research suggests that applying a wheatgrass cream to the bottom of the feet twice daily for 6 weeks does not reduce heel pain.
- High cholesterol. Early research suggests that taking wheatgrass powder in a capsule daily for 10 weeks reduces total cholesterol and triglyceridecholesterol levels by a small amount in females with elevated cholesterol levels.
- A type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis). Early research suggests that freshly extracted wheatgrass juice might reduce overall disease activity and the severity of rectal bleeding in people with this condition.
- Anemia.
- Cancer.
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Preventing infections.
- Preventing tooth decay.
- Removing drugs, metals, toxins, and cancer-causing substances from the body.
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wheatgrass for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Wheatgrass is commonly consumed in foods. Wheatgrass juice is possibly safe when consumed as medicine in amounts of 60-100 mL daily for up to 18 months. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use longer-term as medicine. It's generally well-tolerated. Side effects might include allergic reactions, anorexia, constipation and nausea.
When applied to the skin: Wheatgrass is possibly safe when used for up to 6 weeks.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Wheatgrass is commonly consumed in foods. Wheatgrass juice is possibly safe when consumed as medicine in amounts of 60-100 mL daily for up to 18 months. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use longer-term as medicine. It's generally well-tolerated. Side effects might include allergic reactions, anorexia, constipation and nausea.
When applied to the skin: Wheatgrass is possibly safe when used for up to 6 weeks.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if wheatgrass is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Surgery: Wheatgrass might lower blood sugar. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking wheatgrass as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with WheatgrassWheatgrass might lower blood sugar levels. Taking wheatgrass along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Minor Interaction
Be watchful with this combination
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with WheatgrassSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Wheatgrass might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of wheatgrass might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
References
- Rauma AL, Nenonen M, Helve T, et al. Effect of a strict vegan diet on energy and nutrient intakes by Finnish rheumatoid patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 1993;47:747-9.
- Nenonen MT, Helve TA, Rauma AL, Hanninen OO. Uncooked, lactobacilli-rich, vegan food and rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1998;37:274-81.
- Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: https://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.
- Ben-Arye E, Golden E, Wengrower D, et al. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol 2002;4:444-9..
- Marawaha, R. K., Bansal, D., Kaur, S., and Trehan, A. Wheat grass juice reduces transfusion requirement in patients with thalassemia major: a pilot study. Indian Pediatr. 2004;41(7):716-720.
- Young, M. A., Cook, J. L., and Webster, K. E. The effect of topical wheatgrass cream on chronic plantar fasciitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 2006;14(1):3-9.
- Chauhan M. A pilot study on wheat grass juice for its phytochemical, nutritional and therapeutic potential on chronic diseases. IJCS. 2014;2(4):27-34.
- Bar-Sela G, Cohen M, Ben-Arye E, Epelbaum R. The medical use of wheatgrass: review of the gap between basic and clinical applications. Mini Rev Med Chem 2015;15(12):1002-10.
- Mohan Y, Jesuthankaraj GN1, Ramasamy Thangavelu N. Antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of Triticum aestivum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Adv Pharmacol Sci 2013;2013:716073.
- Shakya G, Randhi PK, Pajaniradje S, Mohankumar K, Rajagopalan R. Hypoglycaemic role of wheatgrass and its effect on carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in type II diabetic rats. Toxicol Ind Health 2016;32(6):1026-32.
- Choudhary DR, Naithani R, Panigrahi I, et al. Effect of wheat grass therapy on transfusion requirement in beta-thalassemia major. Indian J Pediatr 2009;76(4):375-6.
- Singh K, Pannu MS, Singh P, Singh J. Effect of wheat grass tablets on the frequency of blood transfusions in Thalassemia Major. Indian J Pediatr 2010;77(1):90-1.
- Mukhopadhyay S, Basak J, Kar M, Mandal S, Mukhopadhyay A. The role of iron chelation activity of wheat grass juice in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. J Clin Oncol 2009;7012. [Abstract 10046, 2009 ASCO Annual meeting]
- Kumar N, Iyer U. Impact of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) supplementation on atherogenic lipoproteins and menopausal symptoms in hyperlipidemic south asian women - a randomized controlled study. J Diet Suppl. 2017;14(5):503-513. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1267063.
- Avisar A, Cohen M, Brenner B, Bronshtein T, Machluf M, Bar-Sela G, Aharon A. Extracellular Vesicles Reflect the Efficacy of Wheatgrass Juice Supplement in Colon Cancer Patients During Adjuvant Chemotherapy. Front Oncol. 2020 Aug 26;10:1659.
- Avisar A, Cohen M, Katz R, Shentzer Kutiel T, Aharon A, Bar-Sela G. Wheatgrass Juice Administration and Immune Measures during Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer Patients: Preliminary Results. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020 Jun 23;13(6):129. doi: 10.3390/ph13060129.
- Food and Drug Administration. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA); Public Law 108-282, Title II. Accessed on May 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa.
- Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022.