Effectiveness of whole grain to body weight and cardiometabolic risk in adults with obesity: a parallel randomised controlled trial

Background/objectives Obesity is a global health problem associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Whole grains are thought to contribute to weight management and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Methods A parallel randomised controlled trial was conducted with 115 obese adults who were randomly assigned to one of two whole grain intervention groups (50 g and 100 g per day) or to control group. Results The mean weight change from baseline to 12 weeks between the 50 g/d whole grain group and the control group was −2.0 kg (95% CI, −3.1 to −0.8), and −1.7 kg (95% CI, −2.7 to −0.6) between the 100 g/d whole grain group and the control group. Body-mass index (BMI), body fat and abdominal visceral fat also showed significant reductions in the whole grain groups compared to the control group. Fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance improved in both whole grain intervention groups. Additionally, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index decreased significantly in the 50 and 100 g/d whole grain groups. Serum uric acid and homocysteine levels were observed in the 50 and 100 g/d whole grain groups with notable decreases compared to the control group. Conclusion In adults with obesity, the whole grain intervention significantly improved weight loss and metabolic health. These findings support policies to increase whole grain consumption in the management of obesity. Clinical trial registration www.chictr.org.cn , identifier: ChiCTR2300072952.