Health Care Professional Information
Scientific Name
Triticum aestivum
Common Name
Agropyron, Couchgrass
Clinical Summary
Wheat grass is prepared by sprouting wheat seeds in water for 7-10 days before harvesting the leaves. Because the leaves are fibrous and difficult to digest, the juice from the leaves is extracted and consumed raw. Proponents of wheat grass believe that eating raw foods is more beneficial than eating cooked foods as the enzymes responsible for detoxifying the body are thought to be deactivated by cooking foods. Wheat grass juice is claimed to have several benefits, including neutralizing toxins and carcinogens in the body, preventing tooth decay, reducing high blood pressure, and aiding in the treatment and prevention of cancer and AIDS. It is also used to improve digestion, prevent hair from graying, for common colds, cough, rheumatic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, ulcers, and skin conditions. However, none of these claims is supported by clinical studies.
Proponents of wheat grass equate chlorophyll to hemoglobin and believe that consumption of wheat grass can increase oxygenation in the body. This concept is not supported by current scientific understanding and there are no data from clinical trials to substantiate any of these claims.
Small studies of wheat grass juice indicate it may help reduce symptoms of distal ulcerative colitis (1), reduce the need for transfusions in patients with thalassemia major (6), and may decrease myelotoxicity in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (7). Larger studies are needed to evaluate these findings.
Nausea has been reported following consumption of wheat grass juice.
Because wheat grass juice is consumed raw, microbial contamination is also a concern.
Purported Uses
- Cancer treatment
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Immunostimulation
- Ulcerative colitis
Constituents
- Chlorophyll
- Vitamins A, C, E, K and B-complex
- Iron
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Selenium
- Amino acids
Mechanism of Action
The mechanism of action is unknown. Wheat grass is a natural source of vitamins and minerals. Some components may have antioxidant effects (1). The claims that raw wheat grass can “detoxify” the body and that chlorophyll can augment hemoglobin production are not supported by scientific evidence.
Adverse Reactions
- Nausea has been reported following consumption of wheat grass juice (7).
- Because wheat grass is grown for a period of 7-10 days before harvesting the leaves, contamination by microbials is possible. This may cause harmful effects upon ingestion.
Literature Summary and Critique
Bar-Sela G, Tsalic M, Fried G, Goldberg H. Wheat grass juice may improve hematological toxicity related to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a pilot study. Nutr Cancer. 2007;58(1):43-8.
Sixty patients with breast carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy were assigned to receive 60 cc of wheat grass juice orally daily during the first three cycles of chemotherapy, while those in the control group received only regular supportive therapy. Response rate to chemotherapy was calculated in patients with evaluable disease. Researchers report a reduction in myelotoxicity, dose reduction and need for granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSF) support in the treatment group. The efficacy of chemotherapy remained unaffected.
However, patients assigned to the treatment group were older and had poor hematological profiles compared to those in the control group. Further, 20% of patients (6 out of 30 in the treatment group) did not complete the study due to worsening nausea.
Larger, well designed studies are needed to evaluate these results.
Ben-Arye E, et al. Wheat Grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2002;37(4):444-449.
In this study, 21 patients with active distal ulcerative colitis were randomized to receive either 100 cc of wheat grass juice, or placebo daily for one month. Rectal bleeding, number of bowel movements, a sigmoidoscopic evaluation, and physician evaluation were assessed to determine the efficacy of treatment. Researchers found that patients who received wheat grass juice had significantly lowered overall disease activity index and rectal bleeding compared to those on placebo. They concluded that wheat grass juice may be an effective treatment for distal ulcerative colitis. However, due to the small sample size of the study, the results may not be generalized. Future studies involving more patients are needed.
References
- Ben-Arye E, et al. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2002;37(4):444-49.
- Jarvis WT. Wheat grass therapy. Available at http://www.ncahf.org/articles/s-z/wheat grass.html. Accessed March 21, 2011.
- Information on Wheat grass. Available at http://www.living-foods.com/articles/wheatgrassinfo.html. Accessed March 21, 2011.
- MICROMEDEX(R) Healthcare Series. 120. 2004. Thomson MICROMEDEX.
- Duke, JA. The Green Pharmacy. New York (NY):ST. Martin's Press; 1997.
- Marawaha RK, Bansal D, Kaur S, Trehan A. Wheat grass juice reduces transfusion requirement in patients with thalassemia major: a pilot study. Indian Pediatr. 2004 Jul;41(7):716-20.
- Bar-Sela G, Tsalic M, Fried G, Goldberg H. Wheat grass juice may improve hematological toxicity related to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a pilot study. Nutr Cancer. 2007;58(1):43-8.
Consumer Information
How It Works
Bottom Line: Wheat grass juice has not been shown effective in treating cancer or AIDS.
The juice extracted from the leaves of wheat grass is believed to treat common colds, prevent bad breath, reduce high blood pressure, arthritis pain, and to treat chronic fatigue syndrome. It is also being promoted as a cure for cancer and AIDS. Proponents of wheat grass believe that the chlorophyll present in the leaves increases the hemoglobin content in the blood because both the molecules are similar in structure. It is also thought that the enzymes present in wheat grass help in ridding the body of toxins and carcinogens. However, none of these claims is backed by scientific studies.
Wheat grass is not known to cause any serious side effects. However, the juice can be contaminated with mold or bacteria as the leaves are grown for 7-10 days before the juice is extracted.
Purported Uses
- Tooth decay
There are no studies to back this claim. - Chronic fatigue syndrome
No scientific evidence supports this use. - Strengthen immune system
There are no data to validate this claim. - Cancer treatment
A small study showed that wheat grass juice may reduce the toxicity due to chemotherapy. More research is needed. - Ulcerative colitis
One small study has shown that wheat grass can relieve symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis.
Research Evidence
Distal Ulcerative Colitis:
Twenty-one patients with distal ulcerative colitis were given 100ml of wheat grass juice or placebo daily for one month. Researchers looked at rectal bleeding, number of bowel movements, sigmoidoscopic examination, and a physician evaluation to determine the effectiveness of wheat grass. They found that patients who took wheat grass had reduced symptoms compared to those on placebo.
Chemotherapy-induced hematological toxicity:
Sixty patients with breast carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy were assigned to receive 60 cc of wheat grass juice orally daily during the first three cycles of chemotherapy, while those in the control group received only regular supportive therapy. Researchers reported a reduction in myelotoxicity, dose reduction and need for granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSF) support in the treatment group. The efficacy of chemotherapy remained unaffected.
However, patients assigned to the treatment group were older and had poor hematological profiles compared to those in the control group. Further, 20% of patients (6 out of 30 in the treatment group) did not complete the study due to worsening nausea. Larger, well designed studies are needed to evaluate these results.
Side Effects
- Nausea has been reported following consumption of wheat grass juice.
- Contamination by microbials is possible as wheat grass sprouts are grown for 7-10 days before the leaves are harvested.
Last updated: March 22, 2011
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