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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #236637
Title: Whole-grain intake and cereal fiber are associated with lower abdominal adiposity in older adults

Author
item MCKEOWN, NICOLA - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item YOSHIDA, MAKIKO - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item SHEA, M KYLA - FOREST UNIVERSITY BMC
item Jacques, Paul
item Lichtenstein, Alice
item ROGERS, GAIL - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item Booth, Sarah
item Saltzman, Edward

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2009
Publication Date: 9/20/2009
Citation: Mckeown, N.M., Yoshida, M., Shea, M., Jacques, P., Lichtenstein, A.H., Rogers, G., Booth, S.L., Saltzman, E. 2009. Whole-grain intake and cereal fiber are associated with lower abdominal adiposity in older adults. Journal of Nutrition. 139(10):1950-1955.

Interpretive Summary: In the United States, most people over the age of 60 years are overweight or obese. If body fat is stored around the waist, older adults are at increased risk of developing health problems such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. A precise way to measure of abdominal adiposity (i.e. fat around the waist) in older adults is to conduct a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Many lifestyle behaviors can impact body weight and therefore making healthy changes, even at older ages, can improve health outcomes. Foods high in dietary fiber may play an important role in regulating body weight. Few observational studies have examined the relationship between dietary fiber from different sources and body fat in older adults. In the present study, people who ate more fiber from cereal foods (in particular whole-grains) had a lower % abdominal fat and body mass index. We did not find that higher intakes of refined grains or fiber from other foods (fruits, vegetables and legumes) were related to the measure of body fat distribution. The findings of this study suggest that cereal fiber, in particular from whole-grain products, may have a beneficial impact on body fat distribution. Based on current dietary recommendations, individuals over 50 years of age should aim to consume between 21 and 30 grams of dietary fiber daily, and at least half of their grain servings should be from whole-grain foods.

Technical Abstract: Foods high in dietary fiber may play an important role in regulating body weight. Few observational studies have examined the relationship between dietary fiber from different sources and body fat in older adults. The objectives were to examine the associations between grain intake (whole and refined), dietary fiber and fiber sources and body fat among older adults. We used baseline data from 434 free-living adults (177 men and 257 women), aged between 60-80 years. Dietary intake was estimated from a 126-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Percent body fat and % abdominal adiposity was measured by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). After adjustment for covariates, whole-grain intake was inversely associated with BMI (27.2 kg/m^2 vs. 25.6 kg/m^2 in the lowest compared to highest quartile category; P- trend 0.008), body fat (34.5 vs. 31.6%,P -trend 0.006), and % abdominal fat (42.6 vs. 38.2%; P- trend 0.002). No association was observed between refined grain intake and any measure of body fat distribution. Cereal fiber was inversely associated with BMI (27.7 vs. 25.6 kg/m^2, P-trend 0.015), % body fat (34.8 vs. 31.3, P-trend 0.002), and % abdominal fat (42.9 vs. 37.4%, P--trend < 0.001). No association was observed between intakes of total fiber, vegetable or fruit fiber and body composition. Higher intakes of whole-grain foods and cereal fiber are associated with lower total % body fat and % abdominal adiposity in older adults.