01.03.08
Indication: Heart failure
Source: Arch Intern Med, October 22, 2007;167(19):2080-5.
Research: Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among the elderly population in the U.S. Consumption of grain products and dietary fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction. However, it is not known whether a higher consumption of breakfast cereals is associated with risk of HF. Researchers evaluated prospectively the association between breakfast cereal intake and incident HF among 21,376 participants of the Physicians\' Health Study I. Cereal consumption was estimated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Incident HF was ascertained through annual follow-up questionnaires and validated using Framingham criteria.
Results: During an average follow-up of nearly 20 years, 1018 incident cases of HF occurred. Most cases occurred in men who ate no whole grain cereals. Those who ate at least one bowl of cereal a day had the lowest incidence of heart failure. The data led investigators to conclude that a higher intake of whole grain breakfast cereals is associated with a lower risk of HF. However, they said additional studies are warranted to confirm these findings and determine specific nutrients that are responsible for such a protection.