Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Whole-grain consumption, dietary fibre intake and body mass index in the Netherlands cohort study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 31–38 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives:

To assess the association of whole-grain and (cereal) fibre intake with body mass index (BMI) and with the risk of being overweight (BMI⩾25) or obese (BMI⩾30 kg m−2).

Subjects:

A total of 2078 men and 2159 women, aged 55–69 years, were included in the analysis, after exclusion of subjects with diagnosed cancer or deceased within 1 year after baseline or with missing dietary information.

Results:

We found an inverse association between whole-grain consumption and BMI and risk of overweight and obesity in men as well as women. The association in men was stronger than in women; the risk of being obese as compared to normal weight was 10% (95% CI: 2–16%) and 4% (95% CI: 1–7%) lower for each additional gram of (dry) grain consumption in men and women, respectively. Fibre and cereal fibre intake were inversely associated with BMI in men only. Associations were similar after exclusion of likely under- and overreporters of energy. A retrospective analysis of baseline fibre intake and weight gain after the age of 20 years also showed a slight inverse association.

Conclusions:

Whole-grain consumption may protect against becoming overweight or obese; however, the cross-sectional design of the study does not allow conclusions about the causality of the association.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anonymous (1998). Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults.The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Bethesda, MD.

  • Anonymous (2000). Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 894.

  • Bazzano LA, Song Y, Bubes V, Good CK, Manson JE, Liu S (2005). Dietary intake of whole and refined grain breakfast cereals and weight gain in men. Obes Res 13, 1952–1960.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bes-Rastrollo M, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Sanchez-Villegas A, de la Fuente AC, Martinez JA (2006). Association of fiber intake and fruit/vegetable consumption with weight gain in a Mediterranean population. Nutrition 22, 504–511.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bouche C, Rizkalla SW, Luo J, Vidal H, Veronese A, Pacher N et al. (2002). Five-week, low-glycemic index diet decreases total fat mass and improves plasma lipid profile in moderately overweight nondiabetic men. Diabetes Care 25, 822–828.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foster-Powell K, Holt SH, Brand-Miller JC (2002). International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2002. Am J Clin Nutr 76, 5–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA, Brants HA, van ‘t Veer P, Al M, Sturmans F et al. (1994). Validation of a dietary questionnaire used in a large-scale prospective cohort study on diet and cancer. Eur J Clin Nutr 48, 253–265.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldbohm RA, van ‘t Veer P, van den Brandt PA, van ‘t Hof MA, Brants HA, Sturmans F et al. (1995). Reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire and stability of dietary habits determined from five annually repeated measurements. Eur J Clin Nutr 49, 420–429.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huang TT, Roberts SB, Howarth NC, McCrory MA (2005). Effect of screening out implausible energy intake reports on relationships between diet and BMI. Obes Res 13, 1205–1217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine (2002). Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein and Amino Acids. National Academy Press: Washington.

  • Jacobs Jr DR, Gallaher DD (2004). Whole grain intake and cardiovascular disease: a review. Curr Atheroscler Rep 6, 415–423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs DR, Marquart L, Slavin J, Kushi LH (1998). Whole-grain intake and cancer: an expanded review and meta- analysis. Nutr Cancer 30, 85–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins DJ, Wesson V, Wolever TM, Jenkins AL, Kalmusky J, Guidici S et al. (1988). Wholemeal versus wholegrain breads: proportion of whole or cracked grain and the glycaemic response. BMJ 297, 958–960.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins DJ, Wolever TM, Jenkins AL, Giordano C, Giudici S, Thompson LU et al. (1986). Low glycemic response to traditionally processed wheat and rye products: bulgur and pumpernickel bread. Am J Clin Nutr 43, 516–520.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koh-Banerjee P, Rimm EB (2003). Whole grain consumption and weight gain: a review of the epidemiological evidence, potential mechanisms and opportunities for future research. Proc Nutr Soc 62, 25–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koh-Banerjee P, Franz M, Sampson L, Liu S, Jacobs Jr DR, Spiegelman D et al. (2004). Changes in whole-grain, bran, and cereal fiber consumption in relation to 8-y weight gain among men. Am J Clin Nutr 80, 1237–1245.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lairon D, Arnault N, Bertrais S, Planells R, Clero E, Hercberg S et al. (2005). Dietary fiber intake and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in French adults. Am J Clin Nutr 82, 1185–1194.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtman SW, Pisarska K, Berman ER, Pestone M, Dowling H, Offenbacher E et al. (1992). Discrepancy between self-reported and actual caloric intake and exercise in obese subjects. N Engl J Med 327, 1893–1898.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Willett WC, Manson JE, Hu FB, Rosner B, Colditz G (2003). Relation between changes in intakes of dietary fiber and grain products and changes in weight and development of obesity among middle-aged women. Am J Clin Nutr 78, 920–927.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone MB, Black AE (2003). Markers of the validity of reported energy intake. J Nutr 133 (Suppl 3), 895S–920S.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig D, Pereira M, Kroenke C, Hilner J, Van Horn L, Slattery M et al. (1999). Dietary fiber, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adults. JAMA 282, 1539–1546.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig DS (2002). The glycemic index: physiological mechanisms relating to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. JAMA 287, 2414–2423.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McKeown NM (2004). Whole grain intake and insulin sensitivity: evidence from observational studies. Nutr Rev 62, 286–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McKeown NM, Meigs JB, Liu S, Wilson PW, Jacques PF (2002). Whole-grain intake is favorably associated with metabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the Framingham Offspring Study. Am J Clin Nutr 76, 390–398.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merchant AT, Pitiphat W, Franz M, Joshipura KJ (2006). Whole-grain and fiber intakes and periodontitis risk in men. Am J Clin Nutr 83, 1395–1400.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RIVM 2004. Volksgezondheid Toekomst Verkenning, Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid (versie 2.7). http://www.nationaalkompas.nl19 2004.

  • Roberts S, McCrory M, Saltzman E (2002). The influence of dietary composition on energy intake and body weight. J Am Coll Nutr 21, 140–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slabber M, Barnard HC, Kuyl JM, Dannhauser A, Schall R (1994). Effects of a low-insulin-response, energy-restricted diet on weight loss and plasma insulin concentrations in hyperinsulinemic obese females. Am J Clin Nutr 60, 48–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slavin JL (2005). Dietary fiber and body weight. Nutrition 21, 411–418.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slavin JL, Martini MC, Jacobs DR, Marquart L (1999). Plausible mechanisms for the protectiveness of whole grains. Am J Clin Nutr 70, 459S–463S.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steffen LM, Jacobs Jr DR, Murtaugh MA, Moran A, Steinberger J, Hong CP et al. (2003). Whole grain intake is associated with lower body mass and greater insulin sensitivity among adolescents. Am J Epidemiol 158, 243–250.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA, van ‘t Veer P, Volovics A, Hermus RJ, Sturmans F (1990). A large-scale prospective cohort study on diet and cancer in the Netherlands. J Clin Epidemiol 43, 285–295.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the participants of this study and further wish to thank C Rubingh for additional data analysis, Dr L Schouten, S van de Crommert, H Brants, J Nelissen, C de Zwart, M Moll, W van Dijk, M Jansen and A Pisters for assistance and D van der Doest, H van Montfort and T van Moergastel for programming assistance. This study was funded by the General Mills. The sponsor did not at any time contribute to the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the data and was not involved in formulation of the conclusions. Publication of the results was contractually agreed a priori.

Author information

Author notes

  1. L P L van de Vijver

    Present address: 3Current address: Louis Bolk Institute, Driebergen, the Netherlands.,

  2. R A Goldbohm

    Present address: 4Current address: Department of Prevention and Health, TNO Quality of Life, Leiden, the Netherlands.,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Chemical Risk Analysis, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, the Netherlands

    L P L van de Vijver, L M C van den Bosch & R A Goldbohm

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    P A van den Brandt

Authors
  1. L P L van de Vijver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L M C van den Bosch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P A van den Brandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R A Goldbohm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R A Goldbohm.

Additional information

Contributors: RAG and PAvdB were responsible for the study concept and design, and also for the acquisition of the data. LPLvdV, RAG and LMCvdB were responsible for the analysis and interpretation of data. LPLvdV and RAG drafted the manuscript. All authors took part in critical revision of the manuscript. Statistical expertise was provided by RAG. Funding was obtained by RAG and PAvdB.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van de Vijver, L., van den Bosch, L., van den Brandt, P. et al. Whole-grain consumption, dietary fibre intake and body mass index in the Netherlands cohort study. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 31–38 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602895

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602895

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links