WHOLE-GRAIN INTAKE AFFECTS MARKERS OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION IN OBESE CHILDREN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CROSS-OVER CLINICAL TRIAL

Whole-grain foods have been reported to affect serum levels of inflammatory cytokines. However, we are aware of no study examining the effect of whole-grain intake on inflammatory biomarkers among children
The present study aimed to determine the effect of whole grain intake on serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers in overweight or obese children.
In this randomized cross-over clinical trial, 44 overweight or obese (BMI>85th percentile for age and sex) girls aged 8-15 y participated. After a 2-wk run-in period, subjects were randomly assigned to either intervention or non-intervention groups. Subjects in the intervention group were given a list of whole grain foods and were asked to obtain 50% of their grain servings from whole grain foods each day for 6 weeks. Individuals in the non-intervention group were also given a list of whole-grain foods and were asked not to consume any of these foods during the intervention phase of the study. A 4-wk washout period was applied following which subjects were crossed over to the alternate arm for an additional 6 wk. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after each phase of study to quantify markers of systemic inflammation.
Mean (±SD) age of study participants was 11.2±1.49 years. Mean weight and BMI of subjects was 51.2±10.2 kg and 23.5±2.5 kg/m2, respectively. No significant effect of whole-grain intake on weight and body mass index (BMI) was seen compared with the non-intervention group. We found a significant effect of whole grain intake on serum levels of hs-CRP (changes from baseline in intervention group: -0.55 vs. 0.20 mg/L in non-intervention group, P=0.03), soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (-121 vs. 23 μg/L, P=0.02), serum amyloid A (-0.59 vs. 0.32 mg/L, P=0.02) and leptin (-11.5 vs. 36.8 ng/L, P=0.02) after 6 weeks. A trend toward the significant effect of whole grain intake on serum levels of sVCAM-1 (-166 vs. -32 μg/L, P=0.07) was also observed.
This study provides evidence supporting the beneficial effects of whole-grain foods on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in obese children.