This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of whole grains on glycemic control and diabetes prevention, addressing conflicting evidence from cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The analysis included 10 prospective cohort studies and 37 RCTs, examining the relationship between whole grain intake and type 2 diabetes risk as well as glycemic biomarkers like fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR. The results indicated that a daily intake of 50 grams of whole grains reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes (risk ratio: 0.761), with a monotonic inverse relationship observed. In RCTs, whole grains significantly lowered fasting blood glucose (mean difference: -0.103 mmol/L) and showed modest effects on HbA1C and HOMA-IR. The findings suggested that whole grain intake had a dose-dependent relationship with glycemic outcomes, and the study recommended a daily intake of over 150 grams of whole grain ingredients as a public health strategy for diabetes prevention.
Source: Canva