title: Effect of whole grains on markers of subclinical inflammation.
abstract: The reduction of subclinical inflammation has been suggested as a potential mechanism to explain the favorable association between whole-grain consumption and reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. This review examines evidence for the effects of whole-grain consumption on markers of subclinical inflammation derived from 13 epidemiological and 5 interventional studies retrieved from a search of the PubMed database. Epidemiological studies provide reasonable support for an association between diets high in whole grains and lower C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. After adjusting for other dietary factors, each serving of whole grains is estimated to reduce CRP concentrations by approximately 7%. In contrast to epidemiological studies, interventional studies do not demonstrate a clear effect of increased whole-grain consumption on CRP or other markers of inflammation. Issues related to insufficient length of intervention, extent of dietary control, population selection, types of whole grains, and lack of a direct anti-inflammatory effect may underlie these discrepant findings. Additional carefully controlled interventional studies are needed to clarify the effects of whole grains on subclinical inflammation.
authors: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, Utah State University, 9815 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah, USA. michael.lefevre@usu.edu
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Lefevre
authors: Satya
authors: S
authors: Jonnalagadda
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein