Whole grains are associated with serum concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein among premenopausal women.
In premenopausal women, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations have been associated with an increased risk of negative reproductive outcomes. Whole grain consumption has been associated with lower CRP concentrations in older women; however, less is known about this relationship in younger women. We investigated whether whole grain intake was associated with serum high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) concentrations in young women. BioCycle was a prospective cohort study conducted at the University of Buffalo from 2005 to 2007, which followed 259 healthy women aged 18-44 y for <or= 2 menstrual cycles. hs-CRP concentrations were measured longitudinally <or= 8 times/cycle with visits standardized to menstrual cycle phase. Whole grain intake was estimated by 24-h recalls <or= 4 times/cycle. Servings were defined as 16 g or 125 mL of a 100% whole grain food. Whole grain intake was inversely associated with hs-CRP concentrations after adjusting for age, race, BMI, illness, and antiinflammatory drug use. Consumers of between 0 and 1 serving/d of whole grains had, on average, 11.5% lower hs-CRP concentrations (P = 0.02) and consumers of >or= 1 serving/d had 12.3% lower hs-CRP concentrations (P = 0.02) compared with nonconsumers. Women who consumed >or= 1 serving/d of whole grain had a lower probability of having moderate (P = 0.008) or elevated (P = 0.001) hs-CRP according to the AHA criteria compared with nonconsumers. Given that elevated concentrations of hs-CRP have been linked to adverse reproductive outcomes and pregnancy complications, interventions targeting whole grain consumption may have the potential to improve health status among young women.
Gaskins
Audrey J
AJ
Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA.
Mumford
Sunni L
SL
Rovner
Alisha J
AJ
Zhang
Cuilin
C
Chen
Liwei
L
Wactawski-Wende
Jean
J
Perkins
Neil J
NJ
Schisterman
Enrique F
EF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D017697:Premenopause; D055815:Young Adult
D002097:C-Reactive Protein