Whole- and refined-grain consumption and longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in the Framingham Offspring Cohort

Authors: SAWICKI, CALEIGH - Tufts University; JACQUES, PAUL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; LICHTENSTEIN, ALICE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; ROGERS, GAIL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; MA, JIANTO - Framingham Heart Study; SALTZMAN, EDWARD - Tufts University; MCKEOWN, NICOLA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2021
Publication Date: 7/13/2021
Citation: Sawicki, C., Jacques, P.F., Lichtenstein, A.H., Rogers, G., Ma, J., Saltzman, E., McKeown, N.M. 2021. Whole- and refined-grain consumption and longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. Journal of Nutrition. 151(9):2790-2799. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab177.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab177

Interpretive Summary: This study uses data collected from 3,121 middle-aged adults every 4 years over a total of 18 years to study how eating whole vs. refined grains affects long-term cardiometabolic health. Participants with higher whole grain consumption were better at maintaining healthier waist circumference, glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides, all of which help to promote better cardiometabolic health. Conversely, eating more refined grains was associated with increased waist circumference and higher triglyceride concentrations, which increase cardiometabolic risk. These observations contribute to the understanding of how whole and refined grain intake is linked to the development of CVD.

Technical Abstract: Background Greater whole grain (WG) consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, few prospective studies have examined WG or refined grain (RG) intake and intermediate cardiometabolic risk factors. Objectives We examined the longitudinal association between WG and RG intake on changes in waist circumference (WC); fasting HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations; and blood pressure. Methods Subjects were participants in the Framingham Offspring cohort study [n = 3121; mean +/- SD baseline age: 54.9 +/- 0.2 y; BMI (kg/m2) 27.2 +/- 0.1]. FFQ, health, and lifestyle data were collected approximately every 4 y over a median 18-y follow-up. Repeated measure mixed models were used to estimate adjusted mean changes per 4-y interval in risk factors across increasing categories of WG or RG intake. Results Greater WG intake was associated with smaller increases in WC (1.4 +/- 0.2 compared with 3.0 +/- 0.1 cm in the highest compared with the lowest category, respectively; P-trend < 0.001), fasting glucose concentration (0.7 +/- 0.4 compared with 2.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dL; P-trend < 0.001), and systolic blood pressure (SBP; 0.2 +/- 0.5 compared with 1.4 +/- 0.3 mm Hg; P-trend < 0.001) per 4-y interval. When stratified by sex, a stronger association with WC was observed among females than males. Higher intake of WG was associated with greater increases in HDL cholesterol and declines in triglyceride concentrations; however, these differences did not remain significant after adjustment for change in WC. Conversely, greater RG intake was associated with greater increases in WC (2.7 +/- 0.2 compared with 1.8 +/- 0.1 cm, P-trend < 0.001) and less decline in triglyceride concentration (-0.3 +/- 1.3 compared with -7.0 +/- 0.7 mg/dL, P-trend < 0.001). Conclusions Among middle- to older-age adults, replacing RG with WG may be an effective dietary modification to attenuate abdominal adiposity, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia over time, thereby reducing the risk of cardiometabolic diseases.