Effects of increased wholegrain consumption on immune and inflammatory markers in healthy low habitual wholegrain consumers.
Journal article, 2016

Wholegrain (WG) consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but clinical data on inflammation and immune function is either conflicting or limited. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of increasing WG consumption to at least 80 g/day on markers of inflammation and glucose metabolism and on phenotypic and functional aspects of the immune system, in healthy, middle-aged adults with low habitual WG intake. Subjects consumed a diet high in WG (> 80 g/day) or low in WG (< 16 g/day, refined grain diet) in a crossover study, with 6-week intervention periods, separated by a 4-week washout. Adherence to the dietary regimes was achieved by dietary advice and provision of a range of food products, with compliance verified by analysis of plasma alkylresorcinols (ARs). On the WG intervention, WG consumption reached 168 g/day (P < 0.001), accompanied by an increase in plasma ARs (P < 0.001) and fibre intake (P < 0.001), without affecting other aspects of dietary intake. On the WG arm, there were trends for lower ex vivo activation of CD4(+) T cells and circulating concentrationsof IL-10, C-reactive protein, C-peptide, insulin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. The percentage of CD4(+) central memory T cells and circulating levels ofadipsin tended to increase during the WG intervention. Despite the dramatic increase in WG consumption, there were no effects on phenotypic or functional immune parameters, markers of inflammation or metabolic markers.

Wholegrain

Alkylresorcinols

Fibre

Immune

Inflammation

Author

A. Ampatzoglou

University of Reading

C. L. Williams

University of Reading

K. K. Atwal

University of Reading

C. M. Maidens

University of Reading

Alastair Ross

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

F. Thielecke

Cereal Partners Worldwide S.A.

Nestle S.A.

S. S. Jonnalagadda

General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition

O. B. Kennedy

University of Reading

P. Yaqoob

University of Reading

European Journal of Nutrition

1436-6207 (ISSN) 1436-6215 (eISSN)

Vol. 55 1 183-195

Subject Categories

Food Science

Nutrition and Dietetics

Areas of Advance

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

DOI

10.1007/s00394-015-0836-y

PubMed

25618418

More information

Latest update

11/4/2019