The Effects of Quinoa and Buckwheat on Weight Management and Gut Microbiome

March 30, 2026 updated by: ZEHRA BUYUKTUNCER, Hacettepe University

The Effects of Dietary Quinoa and Buckwheat Consumption on Weight Management and Gut Microbiome

This study aims to compare the effects of quinoa, buckwheat, rice, and bulgur consumption on dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, glycemic response, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, blood pressure, and intestinal microbiome in people with overweight and obesity. The primary hypotheses of the studies were given as follows:

Hypothesis 1:

H1: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet provides weight loss.

H0: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet does not provide body weight loss.

Hypothesis 2:

H2: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet affects glycemic response.

H0: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet does not affect glycemic response.

Hypothesis 3:

H3: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet affects the blood lipid profile.

H0: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet does not affect the blood lipid profile.

Hypothesis 4:

H4: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet changes the composition of the gut microbiome.

H0: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet does not change the composition of the gut microbiome.

Hypothesis 5:

H5: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet increases alpha diversity in the intestinal microbiome.

HO: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet does not increase alpha diversity in the intestinal microbiome.

Hypothesis 6:

H6: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet increases beta diversity in the intestinal microbiome.

HO: In people with overweight and obesity, the addition of quinoa and buckwheat to the diet does not increase beta diversity in the intestinal microbiome.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The study is designed as a randomized, controlled clinical trial in which participants will be allocated into four groups (quinoa, buckwheat, bulgur, and rice groups), each consisting of 31 or 32 pre-obese/obese adults. During the 28-day intervention period, participants' diets were supplemented with 40 g/day of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), bulgur wheat (Triticum durum), or rice (Oryza sativa).

Weekly face-to-face visits were conducted throughout the intervention to collect anthropometric measurements and dietary intake records and to assess intervention compliance and physical activity level.

At baseline and at the end of the intervention, physical examinations were performed, blood and fecal samples were collected, blood pressure was measured, and anthropometric measurements and dietary intake records were evaluated. Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin, fructosamine, adiponectin, C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde, uric acid, lipopolysaccharide, TNF-alpha, IL-6, zonulin, and lipopolysaccharides will be analyzed. Additionally, fecal samples will be analyzed to reveal any possible changes in gut microbiome. Given the scarcity of clinical studies in this field, this study is expected to contribute to addressing the lack of high-level clinical evidence in the literature.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
148

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Sıhhiye
      • Ankara, Sıhhiye, Turkey (Türkiye), 06100
        • Hacettepe University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged between 25 and 45
  • Healthy People
  • Having a body mass index between 25 and 35 kg/m²

Exclusion Criteria:

  • To have a diagnosis of chronic and/or psychiatric illness
  • To have diagnosis of celiac disease
  • To be using antibiotics
  • To be using medication and/or nutritional supplements that can affect body weight
  • To be using medication and/or nutritional supplements that can affect glycemic response
  • To be using medication and/or nutritional supplements that can affect lipid profile
  • To use medication and/or nutritional supplements that can affect intestinal microbiota composition (such as antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics) in the last three months
  • To have food allergies and/or food intolerances
  • To be a professional athlete
  • To be pregnant or breastfeeding
  • To be in postmenopausal period
  • To have followed a specific diet aimed at reducing body weight in the last 6 months
  • To regularly consume quinoa or buckwheat in the diet
  • To be unable to continue with weekly interviews
  • To show less than 80% compliance with the diet
  • To not give consent for the research

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Quinoa Group
Participants' diets were supplemented with 40 g of red quinoa per day for 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to boil red quinoa without adding any other ingredients.
Dietary supplement: quinoa
Participants consumed 40 g/d red quinoa during 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to consume red quinoa by boiling it without any other ingredients.
Experimental: buckwheat group
Participants' diets were supplemented with 40 g of buckwheat per day for 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to boil buckwheat without adding any other ingredients.
Dietary supplement: Buckwheat
Participants consumed 40 g/d of buckwheat during 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to consume buckwheat by boiling it without any other ingredients.
Active Comparator: Rice group
Participants' diets were supplemented with 40 g of rice per day for 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to boil rice without adding any other ingredients.
Dietary supplement: Rice
Participants consumed 40 g/d rice during 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to consume rice by boiling it without any other ingredients.
Active Comparator: Bulgur Wheat Group
Participants' diets were supplemented with 40 g of bulgur wheat per day for 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to boil bulgur wheat without adding any other ingredients.
Dietary supplement: Bulgur wheat
Participants consumed 40 g/d of bulgur wheat during 4 weeks. Participants were instructed to consume bulgur wheat by boiling it without any other ingredients.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight loss
Time Frame: From the beginning of the study to the end of the 4-week intervention period (up to 4 weeks), with measurements taken once a week.
Body weight and body composition will be measured with a bioelectrical impedance analysis-based body analyzer.
From the beginning of the study to the end of the 4-week intervention period (up to 4 weeks), with measurements taken once a week.
Blood lipid levels (mg/dL)
Time Frame: At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-weeks intervention period
Total cholesterol (mg/dL), LDL cholesterol (mg/dL), HDL cholesterol (mg/dL), and triglyceride levels (mg/dL) will be analyzed in blood serum.
At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-weeks intervention period
Blood glucose levels (mg/dL) during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) procedure
Time Frame: At the beginning of the study and at the end of the 4-week intervention period, during each assessment, blood samples will be collected at 0. Minutes (fasting) and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the 75 g oral glucose load.
Fasting glucose levels (0.minutes, before the 75 g oral glucose load) and postprandial glucose levels (30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the 75 g oral glucose load) will be assessed in blood serum during the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test procedure.
At the beginning of the study and at the end of the 4-week intervention period, during each assessment, blood samples will be collected at 0. Minutes (fasting) and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the 75 g oral glucose load.
Blood insulin levels (µIU/mL) during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) procedure
Time Frame: At the beginning of the study and at the end of the 4-week intervention period, during each assessment, blood samples will be collected at 0. Minutes (fasting) and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the 75 g oral glucose load.
Fasting insulin levels (0.minutes, before the 75 g oral glucose load) and postprandial insulin levels (30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the 75 g oral glucose load) will be assessed in blood serum during the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test procedure.
At the beginning of the study and at the end of the 4-week intervention period, during each assessment, blood samples will be collected at 0. Minutes (fasting) and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the 75 g oral glucose load.
Changes in gut microbiome composition
Time Frame: At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-week intervention period
Changes in gut microbiome composition will be assessed in fecal samples
At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-week intervention period
Changes in Alpha Diversity
Time Frame: At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-week intervention period
Changes in alpha diversity in intestinal microbiota will be evaluated.
At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-week intervention period
Changes in Beta Diversity
Time Frame: At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-week intervention period
Changes in Beta Diversity in intestinal microbiota will be evaluated
At the beginning of the study and at the end of 4-week intervention period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Hacettepe University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Zehra Buyuktuncer, Prof. Dr., Hacettepe University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 24, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 17, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 8, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 30, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KA-19102
  • 20780 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Hacettepe University Scientific Research Committee Unit)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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