Modest improvement in CVD risk markers in older adults following quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) consumption: a randomized-controlled crossover study with a novel food product

Purpose: To investigate the effect of consuming quinoa biscuits on markers of CVD risk over 4 weeks in free-living older adults. Methods: A randomized-controlled, double-blind crossover trial was conducted in which consenting healthy adults aged 50–75 years (n = 40) consumed 15 g quinoa biscuits (60 g quinoa flour/100 g) or control iso–energetic biscuits (made using wheat flour) daily for 28 consecutive days (4 weeks), in addition to their normal diet. Following a 6-week washout, participants consumed the alternate biscuit for a final 4 weeks. Anthropometry and fasted blood samples were obtained before and after each intervention period. Results: At the beginning of the trial, mean ± SD total cholesterol concentrations were 6.02 ± 1.22 mmol/L (3.7–9.2 mmol/L); 33 participants (82.5%) had high cholesterol (> 5 mmol/L). No participants were lost to follow-up and there were no changes in habitual dietary intakes or levels of physical activity between each 4-week intervention period. Significantly greater decreases in total and LDL cholesterol concentrations (− 0.30 ± 0.58 and − 0.25 ± 0.38 mmol/L, respectively), TC: HDL ratio (− 0.11 ± 0.30), weight (− 0.61 ± 0.89 kg) and BMI (− 0.22 ± 0.34 kg/m ²) were apparent following consumption of the quinoa versus control biscuits (all P < 0.05). Changes in triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, or PUFA or CRP concentrations were not significant between treatment groups. Conclusion: Consumption of novel quinoa biscuits produced small, but favorable changes in body weight, BMI, and circulating cholesterol concentrations, all of which may contribute to lowered CVD risk in older adults.