Whole grain-rich diet reduces body weight and systemic low-grade inflammation without inducing major changes of the gut microbiome: a randomised cross-over trial

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Josef Korbinian Vogt
  • Mette Bredal Kristensen
  • Lea Benedicte Skov Hansen
  • Sabine Ibrügger
  • Rasmus Baadsgaard Mærkedahl
  • Martin Iain Bahl
  • Mads Vendelbo Lind
  • Rikke Linnemann Nielsen
  • Rikke Juul Gøbel
  • Rikard Landberg
  • Alastair B. Ross
  • Susanne Brix
  • Jesper Holck
  • Anne S. Meyer
  • Morten H. Sparholt
  • Anders Fogh Christensen
  • Vera Carvalho
  • Jüri Johannes Rumessen
  • Thomas Sicheritz-Pontén
  • Marlene D. Dalgaard
  • Henrik Lauritz Frandsen
  • Silas Villas-Bôas
  • Christian Ritz
  • Henrik Bjørn Nielsen
  • Ramneek Gupta
  • Tine Rask Licht

Objective: To investigate whether a whole grain diet alters the gut microbiome and insulin sensitivity, as well as biomarkers of metabolic health and gut functionality.

Design: 60 Danish adults at risk of developing metabolic syndrome were included in a randomised cross-over trial with two 8-week dietary intervention periods comprising whole grain diet and refined grain diet, separated by a washout period of ≥6 weeks. The response to the interventions on the gut microbiome composition and insulin sensitivity as well on measures of glucose and lipid metabolism, gut functionality, inflammatory markers, anthropometry and urine metabolomics were assessed.

Results: 50 participants completed both periods with a whole grain intake of 179±50 g/day and 13±10 g/day in the whole grain and refined grain period, respectively. Compliance was confirmed by a difference in plasma alkylresorcinols (p<0.0001). Compared with refined grain, whole grain did not significantly alter glucose homeostasis and did not induce major changes in the faecal microbiome. Also, breath hydrogen levels, plasma short-chain fatty acids, intestinal integrity and intestinal transit time were not affected. The whole grain diet did, however, compared with the refined grain diet, decrease body weight (p<0.0001), serum inflammatory markers, interleukin (IL)-6 (p=0.009) and C-reactive protein (p=0.003). The reduction in body weight was consistent with a reduction in energy intake, and IL-6 reduction was associated with the amount of whole grain consumed, in particular with intake of rye.

Conclusion: Compared with refined grain diet, whole grain diet did not alter insulin sensitivity and gut microbiome but reduced body weight and systemic low-grade inflammation.

Trial Registration Number: NCT 01731366; Results.

Original languageEnglish
JournalGut
Volume68
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)83-93
Number of pages11
ISSN0017-5749
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2019

    Research areas

  • Colonic microflora, Diet, Immune response, Inflammation, Obesity, Metabolomics, Interleukin-6/blood, Blood Glucose/metabolism, Humans, Middle Aged, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Insulin Resistance, Male, Energy Intake, Cross-Over Studies, Inflammation/blood, Feces/microbiology, Weight Loss, Denmark, Whole Grains, Adult, Female, Aged, Lipids/blood

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