Millets: Nutrient-dense, gluten-free grains for prevention and management of metabolic disorders

The prevalence of metabolic disorders including hyperglycemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia, obesity and hypertension continues to rise globally, resulting in an increased risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus with associated high rates of morbidity and mortality. Millets are a diverse group of small seeded edible grains of the family Poaceae, that are nutrient-dense, gluten-free and promising healthy alternatives to the common cereals, rice and wheat, to alleviate malnutrition and micronutrients deficiencies. Millets are rich in minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and potassium, vitamins, essential amino acids, bioactive compounds, dietary fibre, and complex carbohydrates. The rising gluten intolerance in both children and adults, makes it imperative to promote nutritious, gluten-free crops to prevent Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and gluten allergies. Millets are emerging as promising therapeutics for the prevention and management of metabolic disorders due to their multiple biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, hepatoprotective and anticancer, attributed to the presence of abundant polyphenols and bioactive metabolites. Millets are climate resilient crops, resistant to drought, salinity and extreme temperatures. With extreme weather patterns, global warming, unpredictable water availability, decline in cultivable land, as real threats to our planet, millets can prove to be environmentally sustainable crops with a low carbon and water footprint. The review highlights the nutritional and therapeutic effects of three promising millet crops, Eleusine coracana (finger millet), Setaria italica (foxtail millet) and Pennisetum typhoides (pearl millet) in the prevention and management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and cancer.