Sorghum Checkoff Announces First-Ever Human Clinical Trial on Whole Grain Sorghum’s Health Benefits
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) recently announced the launch of the first human clinical trial to evaluate whole grain sorghum’s health benefits. Conducted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and co-funded by USCP in partnership with USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Commodity Board program, this landmark study will investigate how daily consumption of two whole-grain sorghum varieties — a traditional white sorghum and a phenolic-rich “sumac” sorghum — influences key health markers such as insulin resistance, inflammation and gut microbiome composition.
The trial is designed as a randomized crossover study in adults with obesity. Throughout the study, researchers will measure changes in insulin resistance, as well as secondary outcomes like body weight and composition, blood pressure, blood lipids, antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers, and gut microbiota profiles.
“This first-of-its-kind human study is a direct result of sorghum producers’ commitment to scientific research,” said Lanier Dabruzzi, MS, RD, LD, Director of Nutrition & Food Innovation of the Sorghum Checkoff. “For years, we’ve seen promising evidence of sorghum’s health benefits in vitro and in animal studies, and now we are taking the critical next step of exploring these and other benefits within the complexity of the human body. By investing in rigorous clinical research, we aim to provide the science-backed evidence health professionals and food companies need to recognize sorghum as a truly beneficial grain for whole-body health.”
Tim Lust, CEO of the Sorghum Checkoff, noted that the study’s implications extend from the field to the consumer marketplace. “Sorghum farmers have always known this crop is special, and now we’re proving it on the biggest stage – human nutrition,” Lust said. “This groundbreaking trial is not just a research milestone; it’s laying the groundwork for sorghum’s future. The data will be crucial as we pursue qualified health claims for sorghum with the FDA and collaborate with food companies on new sorghum-based products that deliver on nutrition and sustainability. It’s an investment that we believe will pay dividends in the form of greater demand and value for our growers.”
Looking ahead, the findings from this study are expected to pave the way for subsequent research to further explore sorghum’s role in human health and to serve as a roadmap for food companies to innovate for sorghum-based products.
