Milling & Baking News - September 8, 2009 - 31

Nutrition and Health 

Study links whole grains, bran with diminished
hypertension risk in men
BOSTON - Men who consume whole grain and bran may
be increasing their chances of fighting off hypertension, according to a new study from researchers at Harvard that
appeared in the September issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition.
As part of the study, "Whole grains and incident hypertension in men," lead researcher Alan J. Flint, project director at the Harvard School of Public Health, analyzed data
on 31,684 men who participated in the Health Professionals
Follow-Up Study.
At the beginning of the study in 1986, none of the men
had hypertension, cancer, stroke or coronary heart disease.
During the 18 years of follow-up from 1986 to 2004, researchers found a total of 9,227 cases of hypertension.
Men in the highest quintile of whole grain intake (46
grams per day) accounted for 1,648 of the 9,227 hypertension cases and were deemed to be 19% less likely to develop
high blood pressure compared with those men in the lowest quintile (3.3 grams per day), which accounted for 1,826
of the 9,227 cases. Meanwhile, the men in the highest quintile of bran intake (12 grams per day) were found to be 15%
less likely to develop high blood pressure compared with
those in the lowest quintile (0.3 grams per day).
The intakes of whole grains, bran and germ were calculated
by determining the whole grain content of each grain food

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32 / September 8, 2009 Milling & Baking News

according to the dry weight of its whole grain ingredients.
Nutrient profiles of the various grains were derived by using
composite recipes, nutrient data from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and product labels. For home prepared bakery
items, cookbooks were used to estimate whole grain content.
The reasons for whole grain's influence on hypertension
are wide ranging, the researchers noted, including its ability to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce food intake and
lower blood sugar.
"The current study is in a unique position to add to and
expand the existing knowledge base on the relation between
intake of whole grains and the risk of incident hypertension,"
the researchers said. "The true magnitude of the inverse association may be stronger than we estimated because of attenuation as a consequence of measurement error.
"There is a growing body of evidence from both observational epidemiologic studies and randomized clinical trials
that diet influences blood pressure, particularly intakes of
potassium and fiber, both of which are constituent compounds of whole grains."
The researchers said the inverse association between whole
grain intake and hypertension was independent of other
healthy lifestyle and diet factors, such as intake of sodium, alcohol, fruit and vegetables, as well as adjustment for physical
activity, multivitamin use and cholesterol screening. MBN

Nutrition education grants aimed at
children awarded by U.S.D.A.
WASHINGTON - Grants totaling $5.8 million to promote
better childhood nutrition and exercise habits were announced Sept. 1 by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
As part of the Team Nutrition grants, nutrition education materials for children and parents will be provided
to schools. Additionally, technical assistance will be available for communities and school food service
providers.
"We must continue encouraging children to eat healthy
and to engage in daily physical activity to help them stay
healthy and strong and reduce their risks for obesity,"
Mr. Vilsack said.
According to the U.S.D.A.,
Team Nutrition is central to the
Department's efforts to "enhance children's lifelong eating and physical activity behaviors by incorporating the
principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and
MyPyramid."
During the two-year grant period, the technical assistance will help food service staff prepare more whole grain
products and fruits and vegetables as well as other healthier foods. The program reaches out to parents, teachers,
caregivers and others to encourage positive role modeling.
Team Nutrition is a program of the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S.D.A., which also promotes its
HealthierUS School Challenge and provides schools with
technical assistance to create and maintain healthier school
environments and to implement wellness policies. MBN
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Milling & Baking News - September 8, 2009

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