Bring on the Bran -- Whole Grain Is Better at All Ages

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Source: University of land, College Park

Released: Tue 17-Jan-2006, 13:45 ET

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517331/?sc=dwhp

Bring on the Bran -- Whole Grain Is Better at All Ages

Description

A new University of land shows, for the first time, that older

adults who eat whole grains foods instead of refined grain products have

lower incidence of health conditions that can lead to diabetes, heart

disease and cancer.

Edwin Remsberg, University of land

Newswise — It doesn’t matter how old you are, whole grain bread is still

better for you than white bread.

A new study led by University of land professor Nadine Sahyoun, an

expert in nutrition for older adults, shows, for the first time, that

older adults who eat whole grain foods instead of refined grain products

have lower incidence of health conditions that can lead to diabetes,

heart disease and cancer. In addition, they have a lower mortality rate

from cardiovascular disease than people who don’t eat whole grain.

In a paper published in the January edition of the American Journal of

Clinical Nutrition, Sahyoun’s team looked at how eating whole grain

foods affects the metabolic syndrome of older adults. Metabolic syndrome

is a condition characterized by disturbed glucose and insulin

metabolism, central obesity and hypertension.

By looking at 3-day food diaries of more than 500 people aged 60 and

older, Sahyoun’s group found those who consumed more whole grains were

at significantly lower risk of having metabolic syndrome.

“There have been studies that show the benefits for a middle-aged

population,” said Sahyoun, assistant professor in land’s department

of nutrition and food science. “Ours is the first study that shows the

relationship between eating whole grains and the health benefits for

older people, whose metabolic characteristics are different from younger

adults.”

Three Servings Makes a Difference

Metabolic syndrome, which is linked to increased risk of diabetes and

cardiovascular disease, is increasing in the United States. It’s

estimated that 40 percent of men and 51 percent of women over 60 are

affected with metabolic syndrome.

In a group whose average age was 72 for men and 73 for women, the study

found that subjects who at daily consumed about three servings of whole

grain, such as whole grain bread, cereal and brown rice, had a lower

prevalence of metabolic syndrome than people who ate less than one

serving a day.

Start Young

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends people consume

three or more ounces or the equivalent of whole grain products a day.

“Whole-grain foods contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and other things

that are removed during refining,” said Sahyoun. “We recommend that

whole grain intake should start from a very young age to develop a

healthy lifestyle. Cardiovascular changes and diabetes risk are starting

to occur earlier now, especially due to the obesity epidemic.”

More on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations for

whole grain foods -

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter5.htm

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - http://www.ajcn.org/

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

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