Eating refined grains may raise premature CAD risk
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Iranian adults who reported eating more refined grains were at elevated risk for developing premature CAD, whereas those who consumed more whole grains were at reduced risk, researchers reported.
Epidemiological studies show grain intake is associated with CAD risk depending on grain type; however, few studies have examined their relationship with premature CAD in the Middle East region, Mohammad Amin Khajavi Gaskarei, MD, of the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center and Cardiovascular Research Institute at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan, Iran, and colleagues wrote in an abstract presented at the joint American College of Cardiology Middle East 2022/Emirates Cardiac Society Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“There are many factors involved in why people may be consuming more refined grains as opposed to whole grains and these cases differ between people, but some of the most important factors to consider include the economy and income, job, education, culture, age and other similar factors,” Khajavi Gaskarei said in a press release. “A diet that includes consuming a high amount of unhealthy and refined grains can be considered similar to consuming a diet containing a lot of unhealthy sugars and oils.”
Khajavi Gaskarei and colleagues analyzed data from 2,099 adults with premature CAD who underwent coronary angiography; women were aged 70 years and younger and men were aged 60 years and younger. The case group (n = 1,369) included patients with CAD with obstruction of 75% or more in at least a single coronary artery or at least 50% in the left main artery. The control group (n = 1,168) included patients with normal coronary arteries.
Participants completed food frequency questionnaires to assess dietary intake. Researchers used logistic regression analysis to assess the association between whole-grain and refined-grain intake and risk for premature CAD.
In a crude model, the researchers did not observe an association between refined-grain intake and CAD risk (OR = 1.13; 95% CI, 0.92-1.39). However, after adjustment for all potential confounders, higher intake of refined grain was associated with increased risk for premature CAD (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 0.41-2.27).
Whole-grain intake was inversely related with premature CAD occurrence in both the crude and fully adjusted models, with ORs of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.56-0.84) and 0.54 (95% CI, 0.4-0.72), respectively.
“As more studies demonstrate an increase in refined grains consumption globally, as well as the impact on overall health, it is important that we find ways to encourage and educate people on the benefits of whole grain consumption,” Khajavi Gaskarei said in the release. “Tactics to consider include teaching improved dietary choices in schools and other public places in simple language the general population can understand, as well as on television programs and by continuing to do high level research that is presented at medical conferences and published in medical journals. Clinicians must also be having these conversations with each other and their patients.”
As Healio previously reported, the American Heart Association published an updated dietary guidance in November 2021 that outlines 10 recommendations for improving diet quality and cardiometabolic health in the U.S. Among those, the guidance encourages consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean and high-fiber protein and liquid nontropical plant oils and discourages consumption of ultra-processed foods, red meat, added sugars and high amounts of salt.
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Khajavi Gaskarei MA, et al. Abstract 1181. Presented at: ACC Middle East 2022/Emirates Cardiac Society Congress; Oct. 7-9, 2022; Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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