BRAN LINKED TO LOWER TYPE 2 DIABETES RISK IN WOMEN

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Jeffrey Newman

A new Harvard study conducted on women has revealed that a diet rich in whole grains, particularly bran, may be a way to cut the risk of developing cardiovascular disease or dying prematurely. Researchers from Harvard and The Brigham & Women’s Hospital followed more than 7,822 women who had type 2 diabetes. Based on earlier findings that whole grain, cereal fiber and bran might reduce inflammation and protect the lining of blood vessels, the researchers divided subjects into groups based on how much of those foods they ate. After 36 years, adjusting for factors such as smoking, exercise and weight, the study found that women in the top bran-consuming group had a 35% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and 28% lower risk of death from other causes compared to the women who ate the least bran.