Review Article

Increasing Whole Grain Intake as Part of Prevention and Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Table 2

Associations between whole grain intake with risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Data are from meta-analyses only.

Relative risk ratio/weighted mean difference compared to controls* value (after adjustment for potential confounders unless otherwise stated)Median or average whole grain intake (high versus low; g whole grain/d)Whole grains consumedStudy typeNumber of cohorts/studies included in the meta-analysisReference

Cardiovascular disease (incidence)0.79 (0.74, 0.85)<0.00144 versus 0Mixed (mainly US studies)Prospective cohort9[20]
0.79 (0.73, 0.85)<0.00140 versus 3.27[21]
Type 2 diabetes (incidence)0.74 (0.69, 0.80)<0.00144 versus 0Mixed (mainly US studies)Prospective cohort6[20]
0.79 (0.72, 0.87)<0.00132 versus 0+Mixed (mainly US studies)Prospective cohort6[22]
Fasting insulin (pmol/L)−0.29 (−0.59, 0.01)<0.001>50 versus <20MixedIntervention10[20]
−0.011 (−0.015, −0.007)<0.00116 versus 0+MixedProspective cohort14[23]
Fasting glucose (mmol/L)−0.93 (−1.65, −0.21)<0.001>50 versus <20MixedIntervention11[20]
−0.009 (−0.013, −0.005)<0.00116 versus 0+MixedProspective cohort14[23]
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)−0.83 (−1.24, −0.42)<0.001>50 versus <20MixedIntervention16[20]
LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)−0.72 (−1.34, −0.11)<0.001>50 versus <20MixedIntervention15[20]
Weight gain (kg)−0.18 (−0.54, 0.18)ns>50 versus <20MixedIntervention12[20]
−0.17 (−0.22, −0.11)<0.00116 versus 0+Mixed (US cohorts)Prospective cohort3[24]

Highest versus lowest categories of whole grain intake in prospective cohort studies and weighted mean difference compared to controls in intervention studies.
**These values are not actual intake but are the difference intake estimated to lead to the corresponding change in biomarker concentration.