Whole Grain Intake Associated with Less Abdominal Fat

Researchers at Tufts University, including Nicola McKeown, analyzed data from 2834 Framingham Heart Study participants aged 32-83 years old, to assess the relationship between whole grain consumption and body fat distribution. They found that people with the highest whole grain intake had less subcutaneous abdominal fat (fat under their skin) and less visceral abdominal fat (fat around their organs), while those with the highest refined grain intake had more of both types of abdominal fat, especially visceral fat. Visceral fat has been linked to higher risk for diabetes and heart disease.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. November 2010; 92(5):1165-71.