Whole grain intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective study in men.

Diets rich in whole grains are associated with low type 2 diabetes risk in men.

This study investigated the relationship between the consumption of whole and refined grains and the development of type 2 diabetes. Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers examined the intakes of whole and refined grains of 42898 non-diabetic and cardiovascular disease-free men recruited from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study for 12 years. The diabetes risk hazard ratios of all the subjects were also assessed.

Researchers discovered that high consumption of whole grains diminished type 2 diabetes risk. Though high intake of refined grains was found to have no significant effect on the development of type 2 diabetes in this study, the researchers encouraged individuals to substitute refined grains with whole grains in their diets. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that diets high in whole grains may confer significant protection against the development of type 2 diabetes in men.