We know that eating foods made from whole grains is good for us in reducing the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Researchers investigated whether this effect was due to improved insulin sensitivity.

They compared insulin sensitivity in overweight adults who had excessive levels of insulin in their blood. These individuals spent six weeks on a diet (55 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent fat) that included six to 10 servings a day of breakfast cereal, bread, rice, pasta, muffins, cookies and snacks made from whole grains and then six weeks of the same diet, but with refined grain products.

The researchers found that fasting insulin levels were 10 percent lower during the whole-grain diet. That suggests that eating whole grain foods improves insulin sensitivity, which may be the mechanism whereby whole-grain foods reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Related information: Lifestyle - diet | Nutrition channel

Source:  Pereira MA, Jacobs DR, Pins JJ, et al. Effect of whole gains on insulin sensitivity in overweight hyperinsulinemic adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. May 2002;75(5):848-855. (Abs.)