BOSTON—A study published in Circulation reported whole-grain and bran intakes were associated with reduced all-cause and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality in women with diabetes mellitus, suggesting a potential benefit of whole-grain intake in reducing mortality and cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients (May 10, 2010).
Researchers followed 7,822 U.S. women with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Nurses' Health Study. Dietary intakes and potential confounders were assessed with regularly administered questionnaires. A total of 852 all-cause deaths and 295 cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths during up to 26 years of follow-up were documented. After adjustment for age, the highest versus the lowest fifths of intakes of whole grain, cereal fiber, bran and germ were associated with 16 percent to 31 percent lower all-cause mortality. After further adjustment for lifestyle and dietary risk factors, only the association for bran intake remained significant (P for trend=0.01). Similarly, bran intake was inversely associated with CVD-specific mortality (P for trend=0.04).