Bioactive Peptides from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as Modulators of the Gut Microbiome: A Scoping Review of Preclinical Evidence
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 10/14/2025
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Summary
This review examines how quinoa and its protein-derived peptides can improve gut health by changing the balance of bacteria in the digestive system. Research shows that quinoa helps boost beneficial bacteria, increases diversity of microbial communities, and promotes production of butyrate, a beneficial compound that supports intestinal health. Different disease conditions show specific improvements, such as reduced harmful bacteria in colitis and better metabolic balance in obesity, suggesting quinoa could be tailored for personalized health interventions.
Background
The gut microbiome is essential for human health, and dysbiosis is linked to numerous chronic diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Quinoa possesses a rich nutritional profile with prebiotic potential, but the specific capacity of its bioactive peptides to modulate gut microbial communities remains unclear.
Objective
To systematically map preclinical evidence on the gut microbiome modulatory effects of quinoa-derived bioactive peptides, identify mechanisms, characterize therapeutic potential, and guide future clinical translation.
Results
Quinoa interventions demonstrated consistent effects, with 83% of studies reporting enhancement of beneficial genera and 67% showing increased alpha diversity. Disease-specific microbial signatures were observed: obesity models showed reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, while colitis models exhibited decreased Proteobacteria. Butyrate production was consistently enhanced across studies.
Conclusion
Preclinical evidence strongly suggests quinoa-derived bioactive peptides act as robust, context-dependent modulators of the gut microbiome. Quinoa represents a promising functional ingredient for precision gut health interventions, though clinical translation requires standardized preparations and validation in human trials.
- Published in:Nutrients,
- Study Type:Scoping Review,
- Source: 41156468