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Press Releases

October 10, 2006

Contact Name:	Tracie Lesser
Contact Email:	Tracie.Lesser@bm.com
Contact Phone:	312-596-3521

Findings Indicate Protective Effects on Coronary and Blood Vessel Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PARKER, Colo. (October 10, 2006) — Research featured as a cover article in the October issue of Diabetes Care highlighted the beneficial effect of a high-fiber/carbohydrate-rich meal for people with metabolic syndrome, a risk-factor for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The study was led by University of Virginia researchers Glenn A. Gaesser and David Brock and commissioned by the Wheat Foods Council.

The study, which looked at 12 patients with metabolic syndrome, found that a meal comprised of high-fiber/carbohydrate-rich foods, including grains, may provide an immediate measure of protection against cardiovascular disease. At the same time, a single high-fat/low-carbohydrate meal negatively affected blood vessel health in the short term. Persons with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other diseases related to plaque build-up in their arteries, as well as type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association estimates that more than 50 million Americans have metabolic syndrome.

On separate days and in randomized fashion, Gaesser’s subjects consumed either a high-fat/low-carbohydrate or high-fiber/carbohydrate-rich meal, representing 15 percent and 70 percent of total calories, respectively. The high-fiber/carbohydrate-rich meal contained 19 grams of fiber (from wheat bran cereal and whole wheat bread); the high-fat/low-carbohydrate meal contained less than 1 gram of fiber. Using a high-resolution ultrasound technique, changes in brachial artery dilation in response to an increase in blood flow -- an excellent barometer of blood vessel health -- were measured before and after consuming the meal.

The high-fiber/carbohydrate-rich meal significantly improved vascular dilation capability. By contrast, the high-fat/low-carbohydrate meal significantly impaired the artery’s ability to dilate. These results indicate that meals high in fiber and carbohydrates can acutely improve blood vessel health in persons with metabolic syndrome, possibly helping to prevent cardiovascular disease.

“While additional research is needed to confirm these findings,” says Dr. Gaesser, “these data are another reason to support a grain-rich diet that is high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, for a healthy cardiovascular system.”

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About the Wheat Foods Council
The Wheat Foods Council is a nonprofit organization formed in 1972 to help increase public awareness of grains, complex carbohydrates, and fiber as essential components of a healthful diet. The Council is supported voluntarily by wheat producers, millers, bakers, and related industries.

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