Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines (PDF, 3MB) - Eat For Health

2.3.2.1 Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and excess weightCardiovascular disease: There is evidence of a probable association between the consumption ofgrain (cereal) foods (especially wholegrains and those with fibre from oats or barley) and areduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adults (Grade B, Section 6.3 in Evidence Report [14])[236-252]. Almost all the high level trials were conducted with oats, with the evidence of beneficiallowering of levels of LDL and total cholesterol levels. The protective effect was noted withbetween 1–3 serves per day of wholegrain foods (predominantly oats).Type 2 diabetes: There is evidence of a probable association between the consumption of grain(cereal) foods (especially wholegrains) and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (Grade B, Section 6.7 inEvidence Report [14]) [238, 251, 253-260]. The evidence supports three serves per day ofwholegrain foods conferring between 21-42% reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes.Excess weight: There is evidence of a probable association between consumption of 3–5 servesper day of grain (cereal) foods (mainly wholegrain) and reduced risk of weight gain (Grade B,Section 6.6 in Evidence Report [14]) [249, 261-270].2.3.2.2 CancerColorectal cancer: There is recent evidence suggesting that consumption of 1-3 serves of cerealshigh in dietary fibre per day is associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer in adults (GradeC, Section 6.2 in Evidence Report [14]) [185, 271-275]. Although previously the WCRF reportnoted that the evidence was too limited to draw conclusions, it recently reviewed the evidenceand found it convincing that fibre-rich foods offer protection against colorectal cancer [42].Other cancers: Recent evidence is inconclusive for an association regarding the consumption ofgrain (cereal) foods and risk of other cancers in adults (Section 6.1 in Evidence Report [14]).2.3.3 How eating cereal (mostly wholegrain) foods mayimprove health outcomesMuch depends on which wholegrain is being considered [276]. For example, oat β-glucan bindswith bile acids, so the liver breaks down more cholesterol to maintain a supply of bile acids.Wheat does not contain these soluble fibres. Also, the slow rate of glucose delivery of oatsreduces the requirement for insulin [277]. The slower rate of absorption created by the presenceof dietary fibre from some grain (cereal) foods can also influence appetite. For example, oat β-glucan has been shown to have effects on postprandial cholecystokinin levels, decreased insulinresponse and extended subjective satiety in overweight adults [278]. Other sources of dietaryfibre, such as psyllium may act in a similar fashion. Grain (cereal) foods also contain starch that maybe resistant to digestion in the small intestine (resistant starch) and may help to provide a moreDRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 47