January 20, 2006 – People aged 60 and over who regularly consume whole grains such as wheat, oats and brown rice are said to decrease their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
American researchers1 Affiliates with the American University of Maryland have in fact established, in the study of 535 adults aged 60 to 98 years, that those who consumed the most whole grains reduced their risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome and of dying from the consequences. cardiovascular disorders.
Metabolic syndrome is not a specific disease. It encompasses a series of risk factors – hypertension, being overweight, and high cholesterol and insulin levels – linked to heart and artery disease, among others.
Heavy consumers of whole grains were less fat and had lower blood glucose levels, according to this study. Their risk of suffering from this syndrome was half that of the participants who consumed the least. The protective effect was the same for diseases of the heart and circulatory system.
In light of these findings, researchers advise adults, young and old alike, to eat more than three servings of whole grain cereals per day.
Whole grain cereals contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds and other micronutrients, which are extracted during the refining process. Despite their poorer nutritional quality, most grains consumed in the United States are refined, according to the researchers. They point out that older Americans would consume five servings per day compared to a single serving of whole grain cereals.
Note that the study authors concede that other factors, such as education and exercise, may also contribute to protection against cardiovascular disease.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Reuters Health.
1. Sahyoun NR & al. Whole-grain intake is inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome and mortality in older adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jan; 83 (1): 124-31.
