Coronary heart disease and the consumption of diets high in wheat and other grains.
Diets high in cereal grains, legumes and other vegetables are consistently associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease. This appears to be due primarily to the associated reduction in serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Replacement of animal fats and specifically the saturated fat and cholesterol components with complex carbohydrates and with unsaturated fat from vegetable sources appear to be the major reasons for the reduced levels of serum cholesterol. Additional effects of the high carbohydrate diets from vegetable sources may be caused by certain plant fibers including lignin, pectin and gums. Vegetable proteins may also have an intrinsic cholesterol reducing effect as compared to certain animal proteins, such as casein. A habitual increase in vegetable grains in the western diet should produce a sustained reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease without a sacrifice of nutritional adequacy.
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014908:Triticum
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol