Yunhee Kang1, Kyueun Lee2, Jieul Lee2, Jihye Kim2. 1. Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. 2. Department of Medical Nutrition, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence on the prospective association between grain consumption and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the association between grain intake by subtype or various combinations of grain intake and the risk of developing MetS in South Korean adults using data from a community-based prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 5717 participants (2984 men and 2733 women) aged 40-69 y without MetS were followed up for 10 y (2001-2012). Grain consumption was assessed using a semiquantitative FFQ at baseline (2001-2002) and a follow-up examination (2005-2006). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the risk of incident MetS and its components according to grain consumption (<1, 1 to <3, or ≥3 servings/d) by sex. RESULTS: In total, 2218 participants (38.8%) developed MetS. Frequent consumers of whole grains (≥3 servings/d) had a lower risk of incident MetS (men-HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.63; P = 0.0001; women-HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.90; P = 0.0029), whereas frequent consumers of refined grains had a higher risk of incident MetS (men-HR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.31, 2.03; P < 0.0001; women-HR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.82, 2.78; P < 0.0001) compared with rare consumers (<1 serving/d). The combination of low whole grains (<2 servings/d) and high refined grains (≥2 servings/d) was associated with a higher risk of MetS than the combination of high whole grains and low refined grains (men-HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.41; P = 0.012; women-HR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.66; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher consumption of whole grains was associated with lower risk of incident MetS, whereas higher refined-grain consumption was associated with a higher risk in a middle-aged and older Korean population.
BACKGROUND: Evidence on the prospective association between grain consumption and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the association between grain intake by subtype or various combinations of grain intake and the risk of developing MetS in South Korean adults using data from a community-based prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 5717 participants (2984 men and 2733 women) aged 40-69 y without MetS were followed up for 10 y (2001-2012). Grain consumption was assessed using a semiquantitative FFQ at baseline (2001-2002) and a follow-up examination (2005-2006). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the risk of incident MetS and its components according to grain consumption (<1, 1 to <3, or ≥3 servings/d) by sex. RESULTS: In total, 2218 participants (38.8%) developed MetS. Frequent consumers of whole grains (≥3 servings/d) had a lower risk of incident MetS (men-HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.63; P = 0.0001; women-HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.90; P = 0.0029), whereas frequent consumers of refined grains had a higher risk of incident MetS (men-HR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.31, 2.03; P < 0.0001; women-HR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.82, 2.78; P < 0.0001) compared with rare consumers (<1 serving/d). The combination of low whole grains (<2 servings/d) and high refined grains (≥2 servings/d) was associated with a higher risk of MetS than the combination of high whole grains and low refined grains (men-HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.41; P = 0.012; women-HR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.66; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher consumption of whole grains was associated with lower risk of incident MetS, whereas higher refined-grain consumption was associated with a higher risk in a middle-aged and older Korean population.