The SA Journal Diabetes & Vascular Disease Volume 18 No 2 (November 2021)

SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE Diabetes news VOLUME 18 NUMBER 2 • November 2021 27 Whole grains linked to smaller increases in waist size, blood pressure and blood sugar levels M iddle- to older-aged adults who ate at least three servings of whole grains daily had smaller increases in waist size, blood pressure and blood sugar levels over time compared with those who ate less than one-half serving per day, according to researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University, USA. MedicalBrief reports that the team examined how whole- and refined-grain intake over time affected five risk factors of heart disease: waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (good) cholesterol. Using data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort, which began in the 1970s to assess long-term risk factors of heart disease, the research examined health outcomes associated with whole- and refined-grain consumption over a median of 18 years. The 3 100 participants from the cohort were mostly white and, on average, in their mid-50s at the start of data collection. The research team compared changes in the five risk factors, over four-year intervals, across four categories of reported whole-grain intake, ranging from less than a half serving per day to three or more servings per day. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020– 2025, the recommended amount of whole grains is three or more servings daily. An example of a serving is one slice of whole-grain bread, a half cup of rolled oats cereal, or a half cup of brown rice. The results showed that for each four-year interval, waist size increased by an average of more than one inch in the low-intake participants, versus about half an inch in the high- intake participants. Even after accounting for changes in waist size, average increases in blood sugar levels and systolic blood pressure were greater in low-intake participants compared with high-intake participants. The researchers also studied the five risk factors across four categories of refined-grain intake, ranging from less than two servings per day to more than four servings per day. Lower refined- grain intake led to a lower average increase in waist size and a greater mean decline in triglyceride levels for each four-year period. SILDENAFIL 50 mg•100 mg It’s time we talk about ED www. mydynamics .co.za FOR YOUR PATIENTS’ CONVENIENCE PACKED IN A DISCREET PACK SIZE Give them one less thing to stress about. DYNAFIL 50, 100 mg. Each tablet contains sildenafil citrate equivalent to 50, 100 mg sildenafil respectively. S4 A42/7.1.5/1071, 1072. NAM NS2 13/7.1.5/0086, 0087. For full prescribing information, refer to the professional information approved by SAHPRA, 23 January 2020. DLC710/04/2021. CUSTOMER CARE LINE 0860 PHARMA (742 762) www.pharmadynamics.co.za