Refined grains are often implicated in adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and obesity, largely based on dietary pattern studies. This perspective challenges the assumption that refined grains are inherently harmful, emphasizing the need to distinguish refined grains from other elements of the Western dietary pattern.
Key Points:
- Eleven meta-analyses of 24 cohort studies showed no significant association between refined grain intake and risks of all-cause mortality, CVD, T2D, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, hypertension, or cancer.
- Red and processed meat consumption, not refined grains, consistently correlated with increased health risks in these studies.
- Consuming up to 6–7 servings of refined grains daily (1 serving = 30 g) was not linked to adverse health outcomes.
- Total grain intake was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and was not linked to CVD, CHD, stroke, or cancer.
This study underscores the need to refine dietary recommendations by separating the effects of refined grains from those of other unhealthy dietary components. Future research should better define refined grain intake and address discrepancies between observational and controlled trial findings.
