A Narrative Review on Pseudocereals and Cardiometabolic Health: Biological Mechanisms and Evidence from Human Studies.

Background/

Objectives

Demand for functional foods is growing due to the desire to prevent cardiometabolic disorders. Pseudocereals, particularly quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth, stand out for their functional properties related to cardiometabolic health. The dietary fiber, plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in pseudocereals primarily help to regulate glycemic response and lipid profile, as well as blood pressure. The aim of this review is to briefly explain the role of pseudocereals in biological mechanisms underlying cardiometabolic effects and evaluate the findings of human studies.

Methods

The biological mechanisms that emphasize potential cardiometabolic effects of pseudocereals were summarized based on preclinical studies. Human studies were searched on Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect between June and December 2025. Findings of human studies on potential cardiometabolic health benefits of pseudocereals, including their anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertensive effects, are discussed.

Results

The revealed mechanisms in preclinical studies and current outcomes of thirty-three human studies included in this review indicated that pseudocereals, especially quinoa and buckwheat, might be a part of healthy nutrition to assist the prevention and management of cardiometabolic disorders. In human studies, the most notable improvements were reported in plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. Nevertheless, the number of human studies is limited, and existing studies have methodological variations to state cumulative and evidence-based consumption recommendations.

Conclusions

Despite the potential protective effects of pseudocereals on cardiometabolic health, well-designed, controlled human studies are needed to elucidate the outcomes and provide clear evidence of the role of pseudocereals in relation to cardiometabolic effects.