FERMENTED WHEAT GERM EXTRACT

OTHER NAME(S):

Fermented Extract Of Wheat Germ, FWGE, MSC, Triticum Aestivum Germ Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract.

Overview

Overview Information

Fermented wheat germ extract is made by treating extract of wheat kernel with yeast.

Fermented wheat germ extract is used for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sunburn, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific research to support any use.

How does it work?

Fermented wheat germ extract might prevent cancer from becoming worse by slowing cancer growth. It might also stimulate the immune system and have antioxidant effects.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Damage to the immune system caused by cancer drug treatment. Early research shows that taking a specific fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) as a drink twice per day while undergoing chemotherapy helps prevent fever and white blood cell count reduction in children compared to undergoing chemotherapy alone.
  • Colon cancer, rectal cancer. Early research shows that taking a specific fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) once or twice per day for at least 6 months while undergoing chemotherapy helps reduce the risk of death and prevents cancer from becoming worse or spreading compared to chemotherapy alone.
  • The most serious type of skin cancer (melanoma). Early research shows that taking a specific fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) as a drink once per day for 12 months along with dacarbazine chemotherapy increases survival compared to dacarbazine chemotherapy alone in patients with a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Early research shows that taking a specific fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) as a drink twice per day for 12 months along with steroids or other medicines used for RA helps reduce morning stiffness and decrease the need for steroids in people with RA.
  • An autoimmune disease that causes widespread swelling (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE).
  • Sunburn.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of fermented wheat germ extract for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Fermented wheat germ extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth. Doses of 8.5-9 grams once or twice per day have been used safely for up to 12 months. Fermented wheat germ extract might cause feelings of fullness, diarrhea, nausea, gas, constipation, or soft stools when taken by mouth.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fermented wheat germ extract is safe or what the side effects might be when applied to the skin.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fermented wheat germ extract is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children:Fermented wheat germ extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth. Doses of 6 grams/m2 twice per day have been used safely for 29 months.

Organ transplant recipients:Fermented wheat germ extract might increase the immune system. This might increase the risk of organ transplant rejection. If you have received an organ transplant, don't use fermented wheat germ extract until more is known.

Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for FERMENTED WHEAT GERM EXTRACT Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of fermented wheat germ extract depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for fermented wheat germ extract. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Balint G, Apathy A, Gaal M, et al. Effect of Avemar--a fermented wheat germ extract--on rheumatoid arthritis. Preliminary data. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2006;24(3):325-328. View abstract.
  • Boros LG, Lapis K, Szende B, et al. Wheat germ extract decreases glucose uptake and RNA ribose formation but increases fatty acid synthesis in MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Pancreas 2001;23(2):141-147. View abstract.
  • Comin-Anduix B, Boros LG, Marin S, et al. Fermented wheat germ extract inhibits glycolysis/pentose cycle enzymes and induces apoptosis through poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in Jurkat T-cell leukemia tumor cells. J Biol Chem 2002;277(48):46408-46414. View abstract.
  • Demidov LV, Manziuk LV, Kharkevitch GY, Pirogova NA, Artamonova EV. Adjuvant fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) nutraceutical improves survival of high-risk skin melanoma patients: a randomized, pilot, phase II clinical study with a 7-year follow-up. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2008;23(4):477-482. View abstract.
  • Ehrenfeld M, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y, Hidvegi M. AVEMAR (a new benzoquinone-containing natural product) administration interferes with the Th2 response in experimental SLE and promotes amelioration of the disease. Lupus 2001;10(9):622-627. View abstract.
  • Garami M, Schuler D, Babosa M, et al. Fermented wheat germ extract reduces chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients. J Pediat Hematol Oncol 2004;26(10):631-635. View abstract.
  • Gidali J, Hidvégi M, Fehér I, et al. The effect of Avemar treatment on the regeneration of leukocytes, thrombocytes and reticulocytes in sublethally irradiated or cyclophosphamide treated mice. First Congress of the Hungarian Society of Clinical Oncology, Budapest, Hungary, November 10-11, 2000.
  • Heimbach JT, Sebestyen G, Semjen G, Kennepohl E. Safety studies regarding a standardized extract of fermented wheat germ. Int J Toxicol 2007;26(3):253-259. View abstract.
  • Hidvegi M, Raso E, Tomoskozi Farkas R, Lapis K, Szende B. Effect of MSC on the immune response of mice. Immunopharmacology 1999;41(3):183-186. View abstract.
  • Jakab F, Mayer A, Hoffmann A, Hidvegi M. First clinical data of a natural immunomodulator in colorectal cancer. Hepatogastroenterology 2000;47(32):393-395. View abstract.
  • Jakab F, Shoenfeld Y, Balogh A, et al. A medical nutriment has supportive value in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 2003;89(3):465-469. View abstract.
  • Lin Y, Rudrum M, van der Wielen RP, et al. Wheat germ policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol concentrations. Metabolism 2004;53:1309-14. View abstract.
  • Minamiyama Y, Takemura S, Yoshikawa T, Okada S. Fermented grain products, production, properties and benefits to health. Pathophysiology 2003;9(4):221-227. View abstract.
  • Mueller T, Voigt W. Fermented wheat germ extract--nutritional supplement or anticancer drug? Nutr J 2011;10:89. View abstract.
  • Patel S. Fermented wheat germ extract: a dietary supplement with anticancer efficacy. Nutr Ther Metab 2014;32(2):61-67.
  • Saiko P, Ozsvar-Kozma M, Madlener S, et al. Avemar, a nontoxic fermented wheat germ extract, induces apoptosis and inhibits ribonucleotide reductase in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Cancer Lett 2007;250(2):323-328. View abstract.
  • Sukkar SG, Rossi E. Oxidative stress and nutritional prevention in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2004;3(3):199-206. View abstract.
  • Vucskits, AV, Hullar, I, Bersenyi, A, Andrasofszky, E, Kulcsar, M, Szabo, J. Effect of fulvic and humic acids on performance, immune response and thyroid function in rats. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2010;94(6):721-728. View abstract.
  • Balint G, Apathy A, Gaal M, et al. Effect of Avemar--a fermented wheat germ extract--on rheumatoid arthritis. Preliminary data. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2006;24(3):325-328. View abstract.
  • Boros LG, Lapis K, Szende B, et al. Wheat germ extract decreases glucose uptake and RNA ribose formation but increases fatty acid synthesis in MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Pancreas 2001;23(2):141-147. View abstract.
  • Comin-Anduix B, Boros LG, Marin S, et al. Fermented wheat germ extract inhibits glycolysis/pentose cycle enzymes and induces apoptosis through poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in Jurkat T-cell leukemia tumor cells. J Biol Chem 2002;277(48):46408-46414. View abstract.
  • Demidov LV, Manziuk LV, Kharkevitch GY, Pirogova NA, Artamonova EV. Adjuvant fermented wheat germ extract (Avemar) nutraceutical improves survival of high-risk skin melanoma patients: a randomized, pilot, phase II clinical study with a 7-year follow-up. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2008;23(4):477-482. View abstract.
  • Ehrenfeld M, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y, Hidvegi M. AVEMAR (a new benzoquinone-containing natural product) administration interferes with the Th2 response in experimental SLE and promotes amelioration of the disease. Lupus 2001;10(9):622-627. View abstract.
  • Garami M, Schuler D, Babosa M, et al. Fermented wheat germ extract reduces chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients. J Pediat Hematol Oncol 2004;26(10):631-635. View abstract.
  • Gidali J, Hidvégi M, Fehér I, et al. The effect of Avemar treatment on the regeneration of leukocytes, thrombocytes and reticulocytes in sublethally irradiated or cyclophosphamide treated mice. First Congress of the Hungarian Society of Clinical Oncology, Budapest, Hungary, November 10-11, 2000.
  • Heimbach JT, Sebestyen G, Semjen G, Kennepohl E. Safety studies regarding a standardized extract of fermented wheat germ. Int J Toxicol 2007;26(3):253-259. View abstract.
  • Hidvegi M, Raso E, Tomoskozi Farkas R, Lapis K, Szende B. Effect of MSC on the immune response of mice. Immunopharmacology 1999;41(3):183-186. View abstract.
  • Jakab F, Mayer A, Hoffmann A, Hidvegi M. First clinical data of a natural immunomodulator in colorectal cancer. Hepatogastroenterology 2000;47(32):393-395. View abstract.
  • Jakab F, Shoenfeld Y, Balogh A, et al. A medical nutriment has supportive value in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 2003;89(3):465-469. View abstract.
  • Lin Y, Rudrum M, van der Wielen RP, et al. Wheat germ policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol concentrations. Metabolism 2004;53:1309-14. View abstract.
  • Minamiyama Y, Takemura S, Yoshikawa T, Okada S. Fermented grain products, production, properties and benefits to health. Pathophysiology 2003;9(4):221-227. View abstract.
  • Mueller T, Voigt W. Fermented wheat germ extract--nutritional supplement or anticancer drug? Nutr J 2011;10:89. View abstract.
  • Patel S. Fermented wheat germ extract: a dietary supplement with anticancer efficacy. Nutr Ther Metab 2014;32(2):61-67.
  • Saiko P, Ozsvar-Kozma M, Madlener S, et al. Avemar, a nontoxic fermented wheat germ extract, induces apoptosis and inhibits ribonucleotide reductase in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Cancer Lett 2007;250(2):323-328. View abstract.
  • Sukkar SG, Rossi E. Oxidative stress and nutritional prevention in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Autoimmun Rev 2004;3(3):199-206. View abstract.
  • Vucskits, AV, Hullar, I, Bersenyi, A, Andrasofszky, E, Kulcsar, M, Szabo, J. Effect of fulvic and humic acids on performance, immune response and thyroid function in rats. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2010;94(6):721-728. View abstract.

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