Wheat Grass by The Vitamin Shoppe

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for BPH, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Beta-thalassemia. It is unclear if oral wheatgrass is beneficial in patients with beta-thalassemia. Details: A small clinical study in children with beta-thalassemia major shows that taking wheatgrass tablets orally in doses of 1-1.5 grams daily for children aged 1-3 years, 3 grams daily for children 4-8 years, and 4 grams daily for children aged 9 years and older for 12 months decreases the mean blood transfused as packed cells by about 18%, increases mean hemoglobin by about 7%, and increases the mean interval between consecutive blood transfusions by about 5 days when compared to baseline (93021). The validity of this study is limited by the lack of a comparator group and high patient dropout rate. However, another small clinical study shows that taking wheatgrass tablets 100 mg/kg orally daily for 6 months followed by 200 mg/kg daily for an additional 6 months does not reduce the transfusion requirement when compared to baseline in children or adults with beta-thalassemia major (93020). The validity of this study is limited by the lack of a comparator group. Another small, low-quality study shows that drinking wheatgrass juice 100 mL daily for 18 months reduces blood transfusion requirements in children with beta-thalassemia major when compared to baseline (85601). The validity of this study is limited by the lack of a comparator group and high patient dropout rate.
• Bronchitis. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for bronchitis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Cancer. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Common cold. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for common cold, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Cough. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for cough, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Diabetes. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for diabetes, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Gout. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for gout, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Hypercholesterolemia. It is unclear if oral wheatgrass is beneficial in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking freeze-dried wheatgrass powder 3.5 grams orally daily for 10 weeks reduces total cholesterol by 5% and triglycerides by 10% when compared to baseline in females aged 30-60 years with elevated cholesterol levels. However, taking wheatgrass powder does not reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or fasting blood glucose levels in these patients (95906).
• Hypertension. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for hypertension, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for nephrolithiasis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Plantar heel pain. It is unclear if topical wheatgrass is beneficial in patients with plantar heel pain. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adults with chronic plantar fasciitis shows that applying a wheatgrass 10% cream topically to the bottom of the feet twice daily for 6 weeks is no more effective than placebo for reducing pain or improving measures of injury resolution (85602).
• Pharyngitis. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for pharyngitis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Prostatitis. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for prostatitis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Ulcerative colitis. It is unclear if oral wheatgrass is beneficial in patients with ulcerative colitis. Details: A small clinical study in adults with active distal ulcerative colitis shows that drinking 100 mL of freshly extracted wheatgrass juice daily for 1 month modestly reduces overall disease activity and the severity of rectal bleeding when compared with placebo (11165).
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs). Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for UTIs, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose.
• Wound healing. Although there has been interest in using oral wheatgrass for wound healing, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of wheatgrass for this purpose. More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wheatgrass for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when consumed in amounts commonly found in foods (5286).

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when wheatgrass juice is taken orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts. Wheatgrass juice 60-100 mL daily has been used safely for up to 18 months (11165,85601,104878,104879). ...when wheatgrass cream is used topically. Wheatgrass 10% cream has been used safely for up to 6 weeks (85602). There is insufficient reliable information available about the long-term safety of wheatgrass when used medicinally.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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ANTIDIABETES DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking wheatgrass with antidiabetes drugs might lower blood glucose levels and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.  Details Animal research shows that taking wheatgrass stimulates the release of insulin from beta-cells and lowers blood glucose (93018,93019).

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, wheatgrass might decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.  Details In vitro research shows that wheatgrass induces CYP1A2 enzymes (111404).

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General ...Orally, wheatgrass is generally well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Allergic reactions, anorexia, constipation, nausea.

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, wheatgrass may cause nausea, anorexia, and constipation (11165).

Immunologic ...Wheat can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Due to the prevalence of this allergy in the general population, wheat and wheat products, such as wheatgrass, are classified as major food allergens in the United States (105410).

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