Pearl Millet-A Forgotten Ancient Grain with Emerging Immunomodulatory Potential in Sports Nutrition

Athletes are chronically exposed to high physiological stress from intense training, prolonged exercise, and inadequate recovery, whichcan trigger systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation. These immune challenges highlight the need for dietary strategies that can modulate inflammatory pathways and support athletic performance and recovery. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), an underutilised ancient grain, has recently gained attention for its dense nutrient profile and bioactive compounds with potential immunomodulatory effects. Thus, this review aim is to explore the potential of pearl millet in modulating the inflammatory cytokines.

Pearl millet is highly nutritious crop packed with fibre, polyphenols, flavonoids, peptides, and essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc, as well as B-vitamins, which enable it to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut-microbiota modulating properties that may contribute to improved immune resilience. Insights from cell-based and whole-organism studies indicates that millet consumption can effect inflammatory inducing cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), enhance antioxidant enzyme function, improve metabolic health, and support gut integrity, all of which are directly relevant to athletes' immune function. Emerging research in human populations further suggests that millet-based diets reduce oxidative stress and chronic low-grade inflammation. This review explores current scientific evidence on the immunomodulatory potential of pearl millet, with a focus on its applicability in sports nutrition, and highlights its role as a promising functional grain that can mitigate exercise-induced inflammation and enhance athletic health and performance.