Consuming Fiber from Whole Grains May Reduce More Fat

From Pharmacy Intern, Lynda Pardo, Pharm.D.(c)
Palm Beach Atlantic University, Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy

In an observational study conducted by Tufts University researchers published in the October issue of Journal of Nutrition, it was discovered that subjects who had a higher intake of whole grain fiber, as opposed to fiber found in fruit and vegetables, had a lower overall percentage of body fat. The subjects included in the study where mainly women and men who were an average of 70 years old and whose dietary habits were closely observed and measured. The participants' fat was measured both in the abdominal area and total body to determine if the consumption of whole grains and fiber made a difference in where more fat loss tended to occur. The investigators separated the subjects according to how much grain and fiber, in grams, was consumed daily and they were also monitored for other possible confounding variables such as exercise, gender, alcohol intake, and smoking habits.
Even though most of the fiber intake came from breads and cereals, participants still did not meet the USDA's daily requirement of fiber and whole grain servings which is at least 21-30 grams of fiber and greater than or equal to three servings of whole grains. But regardless of these findings, researchers discovered that although their intake of these foods was low, subjects who ate a greater quantity of whole grains as opposed to fiber from fruits and vegetables had a lower percentage of both abdominal fat and total body fat. This occurred even in men and women who tended to be older and heavier.
Despite the positive outcomes of this trial investigators concluded that more studies like this one are required to accurately agree on which fiber containing foods reduce the most fat and from what part of the body.