Milling & Baking News - April 23, 2019 - 33

Nutrition and Health

Study disputes negative health
claims surrounding refined grains
WASHINGTON - New research published in the medical journal Advances
in Nutrition concludes that refined grain
intake should not be linked to chronic
diseases or death. The study "Perspective: Refined grains and health: Genuine
risk, or guilt by association?" found that
current dietary recommendations by the
2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and similar groups endorsing the
reduction of refined grain consumption
are misguided because their research
only takes into account dietary patterns,
not separate food groups.
"While refined grains are frequently
characterized as unhealthy, this can be
attributed to their inclusion in a dietary
pattern that contains foods that are
the real culprits in the link between an

examined included bread, cereals, pasta,
cookies, cakes, donuts, brownies, muffins, sweet rolls or buns, sweets, pizza,
and desserts made with grains.
After reviewing 11 meta-analyses of
prospective cohort studies, which included a total of 32 publications with
data from 24 distinct cohorts, he found
that refined grain intake was not associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, coronary
heart disease or obesity.
The research also suggested that products made with refined grains as well as
high amounts of fat or sugar perpetuate
the ingredients' negative perception.
"The important takeaway of this
study is that consumers need to know
their stuff before they cut," said Sylvia

'While refined grains are frequently characterized
as unhealthy, this can be attributed to their
inclusion in a dietary pattern that contains foods
that are the real culprits in the link between an
unhealthy dietary pattern and increased risk of a
number of chronic diseases.'

- Glenn Gaesser, Ph.D.,
Arizona State University

unhealthy dietary pattern and increased risk of a number of chronic diseases," said the study's author Glenn
Gaesser, Ph.D., professor of exercise science and health promotion and director of the Healthy Lifestyles Research
Center at Arizona State University. He
is also a member of the scientific advisory boards of the Grain Foods Foundation, the Wheat Foods Council and
Ardent Mills.
According to the study, Western diets typically include red and processed
meat, foods and beverages high in sugar, french fries, high-fat dairy products,
and refined grains. This eating pattern is
linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases. When this eating pattern is studied as a whole, it takes away from the
benefits of products that may be healthy
when studied in isolation. In addition,
Dr. Gaesser believes these studies led
to the "make-half-your-grains-whole"
recommendation from the U.S. Dietary
Guidelines Advisory Committee.
To determine the health impacts of
products made with refined grains, Dr.
Gaesser reviewed research that analyzed items separately, and not as part
of a Western dietary pattern. Products
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

Klinger, a registered dietitian nutritionist
who sits on the scientific advisory board
of the Grain Foods Foundation. "The
make-half-your-grains-whole messaging has dominated. However, enriched
grain messaging has been lost. Eliminating enriched grain products will result in nutrient shortfalls. Refined grain
foods that have been enriched and/or
fortified help to alleviate shortfalls including B vitamins, folic acid, thiamin,
niacin, riboflavin and the mineral iron."
Ms. Klinger believes consumers
should increase their intake of whole
grains without having to reduce refined
grain consumption.
"Consumers can enjoy up to six or
seven servings per day of refined grains
without increasing risk for coronary
heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension or premature death," she explained.
When conducting future research on
refined grains, Dr. Gaesser said intake
should be better defined to distinguish
between staple grain foods and indulgent grain foods. He also noted that
randomized controlled trials need to
be designed to determine the benefits
of whole grains compared with refined
grains. MBN

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Milling & Baking News
April 23, 2019 / 33

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Milling & Baking News - April 23, 2019

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