Whole-grain diets reduce blood pressure in mildly hypercholesterolemic men and women.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects on blood pressure of predominantly insoluble fiber (whole wheat and brown rice) and soluble fiber (barley) in a whole-grain diet. Subjects (seven men, nine premenopausal women, and nine postmenopausal women) consumed a controlled Step I diet for 2 weeks; then about 20% of energy was replaced with whole wheat/brown rice, barley, or half wheat-rice/half barley, for 5 weeks each. Blood pressure was determined weekly and weight daily before breakfast.

Consumption of both resistant starch and beta-glucan improves postprandial plasma glucose and insulin in women.

Objective: Consumption of a meal high in resistant starch or soluble fiber (beta-glucan) decreases peak insulin and glucose concentrations and areas under the curve (AUCs). The objective was to determine whether the effects of soluble fiber and resistant starch on glycemic variables are additive.

Research Design And Methods: Ten normal-weight (43.

Atypically high insulin responses to some foods relate to sugars and satiety.

Much research has focused on how the glycemic index (GI) of the diets of healthy people relates to long-term risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and non-insulin dependent diabetes. Low-GI diets appear to produce some of their beneficial effects largely by moderating insulinemic responses to meals. Wolever and Bolognesi (1996) have derived a formula for predicting the insulinemic index (II) from the GI for starchy foods.

Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease with high folate intake: the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Background: Study findings have suggested an association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk and several vitamins and have speculated about their use as preventive agents. Here, we examine whether total intake (intake from diet plus supplements) of antioxidant vitamins (E, C, carotenoids) and B vitamins (folate, B(6), and B(12)) is associated with a reduced risk of AD.

Methods: Participants were 579 nondemented elderly volunteers from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who completed dietary diaries and recorded supplement intake for a 7-day period.

Comparison of hormone and glucose responses of overweight women to barley and oats.

Objective: To determine the effect of particle size (flour vs. flakes) on glycemic responses after oats and barley (Prowashonupana cultivar), which contain high amounts of soluble fiber, are consumed by overweight women.

Design: Ten women, average age 50 years and body mass index 30, consumed glucose (1 g/kg body weight) and four test meals (1 g carbohydrate/kg body weight; 2/3 of the carbohydrate from oat flour, oatmeal, barley flour, or barley flakes and 1/3 from pudding) in a Latin square design after consuming controlled diets for 2 days.