Whole Grain Wheat Consumption Affects Postprandial Inflammatory Response in a Randomized Controlled Trial in Overweight and Obese Adults with Mild Hypercholesterolemia in the Graandioos Study

Abstract

Background Whole grain wheat (WGW) consumption is associated with health benefits in observational studies. However, WGW randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies show mixed effects. Objectives The health impact of WGW consumption was investigated by quantification of the body's resilience, which was defined as the “ability to adapt to a standardized challenge.” Methods A double-blind RCT was performed with overweight and obese (BMI: 25–35 kg/m2) men (n = 19) and postmenopausal women (n = 31) aged 45–70 y, with mildly elevated plasma total cholesterol (>5 mmol/L), who were randomly assigned to either 12-wk WGW (98 g/d) or refined wheat (RW). Before and after the intervention a standardized mixed-meal challenge was performed. Plasma samples were taken after overnight fasting and postprandially (30, 60, 120, and 240 min). Thirty-one biomarkers were quantified focusing on metabolism, liver, cardiovascular health, and inflammation. Linear mixed-models evaluated fasting compared with postprandial intervention effects. Health space models were used to evaluate intervention effects as composite markers representing resilience of inflammation, liver, and metabolism. Results Postprandial biomarker changes related to liver showed decreased alanine aminotransferase by WGW (P = 0.03) and increased β-hydroxybutyrate (P = 0.001) response in RW. Postprandial changes related to inflammation showed increased C-reactive protein (P = 0.001), IL-6 (P = 0.02), IL-8 (P = 0.007), and decreased IL-1B (P = 0.0002) in RW and decreased C-reactive protein (P < 0.0001), serum amyloid A (P < 0.0001), IL-8 (P = 0.02), and IL-10 (P < 0.0001) in WGW. Health space visualization demonstrated diminished inflammatory (P < 0.01) and liver resilience (P < 0.01) by RW, whereas liver resilience was rejuvenated by WGW (P < 0.05). Conclusions Twelve-week 98 g/d WGW consumption can promote liver and inflammatory resilience in overweight and obese subjects with mildly elevated plasma cholesterol. The health space approach appeared appropriate to evaluate intervention effects as composite markers. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02385149.

The Combination of Whey Protein and Dietary Fiber Does Not Alter Low-Grade Inflammation or Adipose Tissue Gene Expression in Adults with Abdominal Obesity

“…We found no effects of the interventions on postprandial responses of MCP-1 or adiponectin. A previous study in adults with overweight and obesity found that consumption of wholegrain wheat for 12 weeks reduced the postprandial response of several inflammatory markers compared with consumption of refined wheat [28]; however, they investigated different inflammatory markers than we did in the present study.…”

Evaluation of Food-Intake Behavior in a Healthy Population: Personalized vs. One-Size-Fits-All

“…Both strategies probably lack information on metabolic regulation as only parts are considered. A more complex measurement and analysis of postprandial metabolism such as performed in a recent study, in volunteers with a compromised health state who substituted refined wheat with whole grains wheat, where subtle improvements of systemic responses were observed may provide better personalized nutrition solutions [53].…”

From lifespan to healthspan: the role of nutrition in healthy ageing

“…This concept of phenotypic flexibility or challenge testing has been used in several nutritional intervention studies to quantify the health effect of a specific intervention on health including health modulation by nutrition (55,(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63) . However, there was a need for a generic holistic standardised challenge test that would be able to pick up the early signs of individual homeostatic disturbances as well as assessing (individual) health benefits from nutrition by showing an optimised response to the challenge test.…”