September 18, 2007 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Hannah Hathaway - 360/536-3483
Dennis Brown - 509/335-2930 (office)
509/334-2297 (Home)
Nutrition Study May Give Potato New Respect
Pullman, Wash. -- The potato, avoided by some Americans for its high carbohydrate content, may be healthier than we give it credit. A new study at Washington State University is examining some of its nutritional benefits.
Brightly colored potatoes,such as purple, red and yellow, contain higher levels of antioxidantscompared with white potatoes, according to Boon Chew, WSU professor ofnutritional immunology. Antioxidants help to prevent diseases byimproving the human immune system.
“Wewant to be able to have our pie and eat it too so to speak,” Chew said,referring to being able to eat potatoes at the same time as improvinghealth.
The study,which will begin within the next two to three weeks, will involvefeeding participants different recipes made with different coloredpotatoes once a day for six weeks straight. The participants will thenbe tested for the strength of their immune systems, anti-inflammatoryresponse and antioxidant levels.
Chewand Jean Soon Park, WSU assistant research professor, will compare thehealth-related benefits of white, yellow and purple potatoes. They areworking with Chuck Brown and Roy Navarre, USDA Agricultural ResearchService plant geneticists, at the WSU Prosser Irrigated AgricultureResearch and Extension Center, to identify potato varieties that havethe highest antioxidant content. Brown is growing the potatoes for thefeeding study.
Kerrie Kaspar, adoctoral student working on the project, said the potatoes will beprepared in different kinds of recipes to make sure the participants donot get tired of eating the same thing. Kaspar said they will preparerecipes like traditional mashed potatoes and au gratin.
Thestudy group consists of non-smoking males, ages 18 to 40. According toChew, it would be easier to recruit this type of group in Pullman’scollege atmosphere. He said women would not be as easy to recruit toeat potatoes once a day compared to men because of the fear of puttingon weight. Each participant will receive a $100 at the end of the study.
Thespecific age group of non-smokers was chosen because all of theparticipants had to be consistent in order for the study to finish withconsistent results.
The study hasalready recruited 40 participants, which is well over the number neededto show a statistical difference. Chew said the more participants thebetter so they are prepared for people who dropout in the middle of thestudy.
The study is one of three being funded by a three-year $114,000 grant from the Washington State Potato Commission.
- 30 -
SOURCE CONTACTS
Boon Chew
509/335-1427
Jean Soon Park
509-432-1647
Kerrie Kaspar
509/335-1164
630/881-5953 (cell)
WSU employment and programs are available to all without discrimination.