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Breath Hydrogen and Methane Responses of Men and Women to Breads Made with White Flour or Whole Wheat Flours of Different Particle Sizes

Diet and Human Performance Lab, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland

Address reprint requests to: Judith Hallfrisch, Ph.D., Building 308, Room 126, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, BARC-East, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705

Objective: While it is well known that consumption of whole grain foods results in beneficial health effects, the great majority of Americans prefer bread made with white flour. Consumption of whole grain foods in high fiber menus may cause undesirable intestinal responses. The purpose of this study was to determine whether consumption of bread made with ultra fine ground whole wheat flour retained beneficial effects while reducing undesirable effects.

Methods: Twenty-six men and women (31 to 55 years of age) consumed glucose solutions or bread made with white, whole wheat or fine ground whole wheat flour (1 g carbohydrate/kg body weight) in a Latin square design after two days of controlled diet. Breath methane and hydrogen were determined over the 24 hours after consumption of test foods.

Results: Hydrogen and methane responses of men and women were similar. There were no significant differences in methane responses to the different treatments, but hydrogen response was increased by all breads (p<0.0001). Although the overall mean response values were similar for all three breads, the patterns of hydrogen response differed (treatment^*time, p<0.003). Gastrointestinal symptoms were not associated with fiber content or particle size of bread; however, subjects reporting symptoms tended to have higher methane responses (0.05<p<0.10).

Conclusion: Neither fiber content of bread nor particle size of whole wheat flour substantially affected breath hydrogen or methane responses or gastrointestinal symptoms. Fine ground whole wheat breads may provide a more acceptable food choice than standard whole wheat bread without sacrificing the beneficial health effects of higher fiber.

Key words: whole grains, fiber, wheat, methane, hydrogen, fermentation, particle size

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