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Enhancing the dietary properties of rice is crucial to contribute to alleviating hidden hunger and non-communicable diseases in rice-consuming countries. Germination is a bioprocessing approach to increase the bioavailability of nutrients in rice. However, there is a scarce information on how germination impacts the overall nutritional profile of pigmented rice sprouts (PRS). Herein, we demonstrated that germination resulted to increase levels of certain dietary compounds, such as free phenolics and micronutrients (Ca, Na, Fe, Zn, riboflavin, and biotin). Metabolomic analysis revealed the preferential accumulation of dipeptides, GABA, and flavonoids in the germination process. Genome-wide association studies of the PRS suggested the activation of specific genes such as CHS1 and UGT genes responsible for increasing certain flavonoid compounds. Haplotype analyses showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) between alleles associated with these genes. Genetic markers associated with these flavonoids were incorporated into the random forest model, improving the accuracy of prediction of multi-nutritional properties from 89.7% to 97.7%. Deploying this knowledge to breed rice with multi-nutritional properties will be timely to address double burden nutritional challenges. Extensive metabolomic and genomic analysis of pigmented rice sprouts identifies metabolites and nutrients associated with germination, and genetic variants that may contribute to production of these metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole grain cereals are a good source of nutrients. Several cutting-edge metabolomic platforms have been deployed to identify various phenolic compounds and enhance cereal bioactive bioavailability. A diet rich in cereal phenolics may modify the microbial composition, support gut homeostasis, and increase gut health, thereby lowering the risk of non-communicable illness. In this work, we reviewed current metabolomic breakthroughs in cereal phenolic profiling and their effects on human health via gut microbiota modulation. We argue that the information presented in this paper will assist in the development of nutritionally superior cereal breeds and functional foods. Most cereal grains contain ferulic acid derivatives, caffeoyl glycerides, and feruloyl and coumaroyl esters. While there has been significant progress in discovering novel phenolic compounds in cereals, quantifying these molecules, and translating their therapeutic effects from animal model systems to humans remains a challenge. To this end, metabolomics, and other high-throughput-omics-based platforms must be integrated to further examine the structure and functionality of phenolic metabolites to breed nutritionally rich cereals as well as map their influence on human health benefits. Rare alleles must be introduced to improve bioactive content in cereal grains while maintaining yield. Following that, these exceptional varieties must be effectively processed to maximize phenolic bioavailability. • Phenolic compounds are critical in avoiding metabolic disorders associated with oxidative stress. • Breeding cereal crops to enrich phenolic compounds in grains contributes to personalized nutrition. • A diet rich in cereal phenolics likely to increase human gut health, thereby lowering the risk of non-communicable illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]