NFI - SISA

Whole-grain consumption, dietary fibre intake and body mass index in the Netherlands cohort study

van de Vijver LP, van den Bosch LM, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Sep 26

Il consumo di cereali integrali aiuterebbe a mantenere il peso forma e a scongiurare lo sviluppo di situazioni di sovrappeso e obesità sia nelle donne, sia negli uomini. Sono queste le conclusioni di uno studio pubblicato sull’European Journal of Clinical Nutrition che ha ricercato l’associazione tra il consumo di cereali integrali e fibre e i valori dell’Indice di Massa Corporea di 2078 uomini e 2159 donne di età compresa tra i 55 e i 69 anni.
Dall’analisi dei dati è emersa un’associazione inversa, più forte negli uomini, tra il consumo di cereali integrali e l’IMC; ogni grammo consumato, infatti, riduce il rischio di obesità del 10% negli uomini e del 4% nelle donne. L’assunzione di elevate quantità di fibra, invece, esplica un effetto benefico unicamente sui valori di IMC degli uomini.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association of whole-grain and (cereal) fibre intake with body mass index (BMI) and with the risk of being overweight (BMI>/=25) or obese (BMI>/=30 kg m(-2)). SUBJECTS: A total of 2078 men and 2159 women, aged 55-69 years, were included in the analysis, after exclusion of subjects with diagnosed cancer or deceased within 1 year after baseline or with missing dietary information. RESULTS: We found an inverse association between whole-grain consumption and BMI and risk of overweight and obesity in men as well as women. The association in men was stronger than in women; the risk of being obese as compared to normal weight was 10% (95% CI: 2-16%) and 4% (95% CI: 1-7%) lower for each additional gram of (dry) grain consumption in men and women, respectively. Fibre and cereal fibre intake were inversely associated with BMI in men only. Associations were similar after exclusion of likely under- and overreporters of energy. A retrospective analysis of baseline fibre intake and weight gain after the age of 20 years also showed a slight inverse association. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-grain consumption may protect against becoming overweight or obese; however, the cross-sectional design of the study does not allow conclusions about the causality of the association.