Volume : 3, Issue : 2, February - 2014

Alterations in Biochemical and Hematopoiesis Markers in Healthy Human Adults Supplemented with Fresh Wheatgrass Juice

Pragnesh Banker, Dr. Rakesh Rawal

Abstract :

Management of anemia due to chronic disease including cancer is of primary importance for improving the quality of life of cancer patients. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) e.g. erythropoietin are the only options available for patients with cancer-related anemia when nutrition deficiencies are not identified. Supplementation of wheat grass juice (WGJ) has become a routine practice for overall health benefit and rectification of anemia without medical supervision. Therefore, a careful scientific evaluation of wheatgrass juice supplementation in the rectification of anemia was done in the present study. The circulating levels of various interleukins (1, 3 & 6), TNF-α, GMCSF & EPO were estimated before and after 14 days of supplementation in 30 healthy volunteers. The study revealed variations in serum level of IL 1(↓), 3(↓), 6(↑), TNF-α(↓), EPO(↓) and GM-CSF(↑) due to WGJ supplementation. Comparable level of serological, hematological and biochemical parameter is suggestive of its nontoxic nature at the same time it indicates marginal improvement in liver and renal function in healthy condition which favors its overall health benefits. However, a further confirmation study is required to investigate the role of WGJ supplementation in inducing erythroid progenitors in-vitro using hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) model before establishing its role as anemia rectifier.