CSI Seminar Shengmin Sang, Sept 25 at 11:30 AM CT
The Center for Sorghum Improvement (CSI) will host a virtual seminar by Dr. Shengmin Sang, Distinguished Professor of Functional Foods and Human Health at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, on Tuesday, September 25 at 11:30 AM CT. Dr. Sang’s talk, “Hidden Health Power: How Whole Grain Bioactives Support Personalized Nutrition,” will focus on his lab’s research using integrated chemical and metabolomic approaches to identify key bioactive phytochemicals that are uniquely enriched in grains.
The abstract of Dr. Sang’s presentation is provided below:
Cereal-based foods have sustained human health for millennia, and increased whole grain (WG) consumption is strongly linked to reduced risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease. While fiber has traditionally dominated WG research, a growing body of evidence highlights the hidden health power of bioactive phytochemicals uniquely present in grains. Our research has identified key compounds, including alkylresorcinols in wheat, avenanthramides in oats, hordatines in barley, and phenolamides in sorghum and corn, using integrated chemical and metabolomic approaches. Through in vitro assays, animal studies, and human trials, we established biomarkers of WG intake and metabolism, revealing significant interindividual variability influenced by gut microbiota composition. These findings support the development of personalized nutrition strategies that leverage WG bioactives to optimize health and prevent chronic disease.
For information on this and future seminars visit the CSI seminar webpage.
