Whole-grain consumption and cardiometabolic risk: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Authors

Sina Naghshi, Sevil Kiani, Alireza Ostadrahimi, Ahmad Jayedi, Majid Mobasseri, Sara Arefhosseini, Helda Tutunchi, Dagfinn Aune

Published in

European heart journal. Sep 15, 2026. Epub Sep 15, 2026.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that higher whole-grain intake is associated with lower cardiometabolic disease risks, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Randomized trials evaluating the effects of whole grains on cardiometabolic risk factors were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to estimate mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) per 48 g/day increment of whole grains (dry weight; equivalent to ∼90 g or 3 servings of fresh weight).
Eighty-seven trials (101 publications) were included. Each 48 g/day whole-grain intake was associated with reductions in body weight (MD: -.20 kg; 95% CI: -.31 to -.09; n = 41), waist circumference (-.22 cm; 95% CI: -.39 to -.06; n = 27), total cholesterol (-.10 mmol/L; 95% CI: -.13 to -.07; n = 54), and interleukin-6 (MD: -.12 pg/mL; 95% CI: -.23 to -.00; n = 12), with high certainty; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-.07 mmol/L; 95% CI: -.10 to -.05; n = 52), triglycerides (-.04 mmol/L; 95% CI: -.06 to -.02; n = 52), fasting plasma glucose (-.03 mmol/L; 95% CI: -.06 to -.00; n = 44), and systolic blood pressure (-.82 mmHg; 95% CI: -1.49 to -.15; n = 32), with moderate certainty. Non-linear analyses indicated greatest effects at 60-100 g/day for most outcomes, but at higher intakes (up to 180-220 g/day) for a few outcomes.
Whole-grain intake was associated with improvements in multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, with larger effects generally observed at intakes of ∼60-100 g/day. However, the certainty of evidence varied across outcomes, and sparse data at higher intake levels limit firm conclusions regarding dose thresholds.

PMID:
42743912
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 16 Sep 2026.

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