Higher Whole-Grain Intake Is Associated with Lower Mortality

Higher intake of whole grains is associated with improvements in a wide range of cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic disease risk factors and markers, but its influence on all-cause mortality is less clear. Investigators examined data from two large prospective studies of U.S. healthcare professionals that included about 118,000 adults (mean ages at baseline, 50 for men and 53 for women) who were free of cancer and CV disease at enrollment. Intakes of whole grains (e.g., wheat, oats, cornmeal, rye, bulgur, buckwheat, brown rice, popcorn) and other foods were assessed every 2 to 4 years for 25 years.

After adjustment for age, smoking, and other potential confounders, CV-related mortality was 15% lower among participants in the highest versus th…