Improving the health potential of cereal products requires a
reverse engineering-based approach. The health potential of cereal
products and consumer's acceptance should be prioritised before
all other considerations.
However, there are numerous outstanding issues about the
health potential of cereal-based foods that remain to be investigated.
First, the relationship between cause and effect has not been
sufficiently well established to reinforce the conclusions of epidemiological
studies. Second, researchers must more precisely characterise
whole grains and their bioactive compounds and
determine how these factors interact to affect the metabolic and
physiological functions far beyond those of the gut. Third, more
studies are needed to confirm the role played by whole grains in the
protection against colorectal cancer via their fibre content. Fourth,
the polyphenols associated with the fibre fraction (‘fibre co-passengers’)
in whole grains may play a positive role in the oxidative
and inflammation processes underlying obesity and this issue must
be addressed. Fifth, a consensus on the definition of whole-grain
cereals is a necessary pre-requisite for a common language inbasic research and clinical and intervention studies of cereals, as
well as in the field of controlled labelling. The standardisation of
this definition and related labelling and health claims will help to
minimise the confusion of the consumer and facilitate advocating
for a healthy diet that includes whole grains (Gibson et al., 2013).
More generally, it is clear that the agro-food industry and cereal
sector must adapt to the production of grain products that are more
‘friendly’ for the environment and for health (eco-conception) at an
economically viable price. This goal can be realised only if there is a
concerted and integrated approach among all of the actors in the
sector.