Whole grain consumption and the metabolic syndrome: a favorable association in Tehranian adults.

Generous intake of diets high in whole grains may significantly cut down metabolic syndrome risk.

This study evaluated the correlation between whole grain and refined grain intakes and metabolic syndrome risk. Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers examined the diets of 827 Iranian men and women within the age bracket of 18-72 years. The weight, height, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, cholesterol, lipoprotein, and fasting plasma glucose levels were measured in each subject.

Researchers discovered that subjects who consumed greater amounts of whole grains had lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome than those who never or seldom ate whole grains. High refined grain intake was found to accelerate the development of hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and metabolic syndrome, but not diabetes. The results of this study show that high consumption of diets rich in refined grains may increase an individual’s susceptibility to the development of metabolic syndrome.