Whole Grains Lower Heart Failure Risk

(October 28, 2008) - Changing your diet can have a dramatic impact on your health. (Read about "Dietary Guidelines") Researchers are constantly looking at links between diet and disease. In a new study, researchers observed over 14,000 participants for more than 13 years and found that whole grain consumption lowered heart failure (HF) risk, while egg and high-fat dairy consumption raised risk. Other food groups did not directly affect HF risk. (Read about "Congestive Heart Failure") The results are published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

About 5 million people in the United States suffer from HF. While some reports indicate that changes to diet can reduce HF risk, few large, prospective studies have been conducted. Diet is among the prominent lifestyle factors that influence major HF risk factors: coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance and hypertension. (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease" "Obesity" "Diabetes" "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure")

Researchers analyzed the results of baseline exams of more than 14,000 White and African American adults conducted over 2-years, with follow-up exams completed three, six and nine years later. The study also collected demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors, as well as other medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.

The findings showed:

• 7 percent lower risk per 1-serving increase in whole grain intake
• 8 percent greater risk per 1-serving increase in high-fat dairy intake
• 23 percent greater risk per 1-serving increase in egg intake

One of the researchers, Jennifer A. Nettleton, Ph.D., states, "Although risk estimates were modest, the totality of literature in this area suggests it would be prudent to recommend that those at high risk of HF increase their intake of whole grains and reduce intake of high-fat dairy and eggs, along with following other healthful dietary practices consistent with those recommended by the American Heart Association."