Whole-grain and blood lipid changes in apparently healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Open accessAbstract
Background Whole grains are recognized for their potential role in preventing cardiovascular diseases; however, results from randomized controlled studies on blood lipids are inconsistent, potentially because of compositional differences between individual grain types for some nutrients, including dietary fiber.Objective Using a meta-analytic approach, we assessed the effect of whole-grain compared with non-whole-grain foods on changes in total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.Design We conducted a systematic literature search in selected databases. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled comparisons between whole-grain foods and a non-whole-grain control in adults. A total of 6069 articles were screened for eligibility, and data were extracted from 24 studies. Weighted mean differences were calculated, and meta-regression analyses were performed for whole-grain dose, study duration, and baseline TC concentration.Results Overall, whole-grain intake lowered LDL cholesterol (weighted difference: -0.09 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.15, -0.03 mmol/L; P < 0.01) and TC (weighted difference: -0.12 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.19, -0.05 mmol/L; P < 0.001) compared with the control. Whole-grain oat had the greatest effect on TC (weighted difference: -0.17 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.10, -0.25 mmol/L; P < 0.001). No effect of whole-grain foods on HDL cholesterol was seen, whereas whole-grain foods tended to lower triglycerides compared with the control (weighted difference: -0.04 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.08, 0.01; P = 0.10). No association was found between whole-grain dose or baseline TC concentration and any of the outcomes, whereas study duration was positively associated with changes in TC and LDL cholesterol.Conclusions Consumption of whole-grain diets lowers LDL cholesterol and TC, but not HDL cholesterol or triglycerides, compared with consumption of non-whole-grain control diets. Whole-grain oat appears to be the most effective whole grain for lowering cholesterol.
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Increased whole grain consumption has been favorably associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors, including hypertension, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
“increased whole grain consumption has been favorably associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors, including hypertension, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.”
From Association Between Plant and Animal Protein Intake and Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality (2020) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Hollænder, P. L., Ross, A. B., & Kristensen, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Kristensen, Mette
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-09
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 556-572
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4241547105
- Cited by
- 233
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 18
- FWCI
- 2.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- Chalmers Publication Library (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- 3G Center (GUT, GRAIN & GNS)
- Danish Council for Strategic Research
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
- Keywords
- whole grains, serum lipids, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, whole grain oats, dietary fiber, cardiovascular disease prevention, healthy adults
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