Difference Between Ancient and Modern Grains

Science indicates that the real difference between ancient and modern wheat does not lie primarily in the total amount of protein, but rather in its quality and structural organization.

A – Scientific Evidence (CREA, University of Bologna, MDPI): Summary of Main Findings

1. Gluten Strength (W Value)

The most marked difference concerns rheological properties, meaning how dough behaves.

• Modern Wheat:

• Selected for strong gluten (high W, often between 200 and 400). This creates a tenacious and elastic gluten network, ideal for industrial baking and pasta-making.

• Ancient Wheat:

• Characterized by weak gluten (low W, often between 20 and 90). The gluten network is more fragile and less elastic, making mechanical processing more difficult but, according to some studies, making proteins more easily accessible to digestive enzymes.

2. Gliadin/Glutenin Ratio

Gluten consists mainly of two protein fractions:

• Gliadins – responsible for extensibility and for celiac toxicity

• Glutenins – responsible for elasticity and dough strength

MDPI research shows that ancient wheats (such as einkorn and spelt) often have a much higher gliadin/glutenin ratio than modern common wheat.

Consequence:
This explains why ancient-grain doughs are stickier and less capable of retaining fermentation gases, producing breads with lower volume.

3. Gluten Quantity and Toxicity

Contrary to popular belief, ancient grains do not necessarily contain less gluten.

• Protein content:

• Many ancient varieties contain higher protein levels (14–18%) than modern wheat (11–14%).

• Celiac disease:

• Studies from CREA and Fondazione Veronesi confirm that ancient grains contain the same toxic epitopes (and sometimes in greater quantity) as modern wheat. Therefore, they are not safe for people with celiac disease.

• Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS):

• Some research (e.g., Prof. Spisni, University of Bologna) suggests that the different gluten structure and the presence of other compounds (such as polyphenols) in ancient grains may reduce intestinal inflammation markers in non-celiac sensitive individuals.

Synthetic Comparison Table

B – Comparative Study on Gluten Protein Composition of Ancient and Modern Wheat Species

(Geisslitz et al., 2019 – Foods, MDPI)

Study Design

• 300 cereal samples

• 15 cultivars per species (einkorn, emmer, spelt, durum wheat, common wheat)

• Grown in four locations to eliminate environmental variability

Key Findings

Quantity vs Quality

Ancient species show higher total protein and gluten content than modern common wheat.

Gliadin/Glutenin Ratio

Modern wheat contains much higher glutenin levels, responsible for dough strength.
Ancient species exhibit extremely high gliadin/glutenin ratios (up to 12:1 in einkorn vs <3.8:1 in modern wheat).

Technological Weakness

This produces weak gluten incapable of forming a strong network, resulting in lower bread volume but a simpler protein structure.

Conclusion
Modern breeding did not increase gluten quantity but profoundly changed its polymeric quality to enhance industrial performance.

C – Differential Physiological Responses to Ancient vs Modern Wheat (Spisni et al., 2019)

1. The Nutritional Paradox

From a biochemical standpoint, ancient and modern wheat are very similar in macro- and micronutrients.
However, human clinical responses differ markedly.

2. Inflammatory Response and Gluten Strength

• Modern Gluten:

• Highly polymerized, strong, and resistant to human digestive enzymes.

• Ancient Gluten:

• Structurally weaker and less polymerized, therefore more easily fragmented during digestion, reducing exposure to pro-inflammatory peptides.

3. Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects

Clinical trials show that replacing modern wheat with ancient wheat leads to:

• Reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α)

• Improved metabolic parameters (cholesterol, blood glucose)

4. Role of the Gut Microbiota

Ancient grains promote growth of beneficial bacteria producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which:

• Strengthen the intestinal barrier

• Reduce intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)

5. Study Conclusions

Ancient grains are not suitable for celiac disease, but represent a superior choice for:

• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Healthy individuals seeking to reduce baseline inflammation

Final Synthesis

The industrially desirable technological strength of modern wheat gluten appears to be the main factor placing stress on the digestive and immune systems.

Ancient grains do not contain less gluten—but their gluten is structurally simpler, less polymerized, and potentially more digestible, which may explain their better tolerance in many individuals.