I’ll Have That on Whole Wheat: More Evidence for Whole Grains’ Health Benefits
By Amy Orciari Herman
Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
A large meta-analysis in The BMJ strengthens the evidence supporting the connection between whole grain intake and better health outcomes.
Researchers examined data from 45 prospective cohort studies evaluating grain intake and numerous disease and mortality outcomes. Overall, an increase in whole grain intake of three servings per day was associated with a significant, 16% reduction in risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), a 13% reduction in cardiovascular disease, and a 15% reduction in total cancer. Whole grain intake was also associated with significant reductions in all-cause mortality and mortality from CHD, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
The authors point to several possible mechanisms underlying whole grains’ protective effects — for example, the high fiber content can lead to better glycemic control. They conclude that their findings “support dietary recommendations to increase intake of whole grains and as much as possible to choose whole grains rather than refined grains.”
