Whole Grain Diet Lowers Heart Disease Risk Factors

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Whole Grain Diet Lowers Heart Disease Risk Factors

 

December 28, 2001 02:28:25 PM PST, Reuters

By Emma Hitt, PhD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Patients with heart disease who eat whole grains and

legumes in place of refined grains may experience certain heart-healthy changes,

including a drop in blood sugar, findings of a new Korean study suggest.

According to Dr. Yangsoo Jang from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, and

colleagues, refined grains contain less fiber, minerals, vitamins and other

nutrients than whole grains.

Furthermore, they note, studies have shown that whole-grain intake may protect

against cardiovascular disease.

Jang and colleagues wanted to determine whether patients who ate a powder

containing whole grains and plant products, rather than refined rice, would

reduce their heart disease risk factors.

They selected 76 male patients with heart disease and assigned them to either

eat a meal of the whole-grain powder daily or consume their regular refined-rice

diet for 16 weeks.

The investigators then took several measurements, including tests of blood

glucose, insulin, homocysteine and vitamin E levels. High levels of homocysteine

indicate increased heart disease risk.

They also measured markers of a body process called plasma lipid peroxidation

which, when increased, can contribute to heart-disease risk.

In patients eating the whole grains, blood glucose decreased by 24% and insulin

levels decreased 14%. Their daily fiber intake increased by 25% and their

vitamin E intake rose by 41%.

The 55 patients in the whole grain group who did not have diabetes had decreased

fasting levels of glucose and insulin, while the 21 diabetic patients in the

whole-grain group also reduced their fasting glucose levels.

Patients both with and without diabetes in the whole-grain group also showed

improved ability to process glucose.

The researchers found that in the whole-grain group, markers of plasma lipid

peroxidation decreased by about 28% and concentrations of antioxidant vitamins

increased.

" The replacement of refined rice with whole grain and legume powder as a source

of carbohydrate in a meal showed significant beneficial effects on glucose,

insulin, and homocysteine concentrations and lipid peroxidation in (heart

disease) patients, " the authors note in the December issue of Arteriosclerosis,

Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

" These effects are likely to substantially reduce the risk factors for CAD and

diabetes, " they conclude.

The authors recommend that heart disease patients consume grains in a minimally

refined form and eat plenty of vegetables and legumes.

SOURCE: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2001;21:2065-

 

 

 

 

 

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