EFFECTS OF WHOLE-GRAIN CONSUMPTION ON SELECTED BIOMARKERS OF SYSTEMATIC INFLAMMATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

Background and Aim: Whole grains have potential benefits in preventing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes; nevertheless, results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on inflammatory markers are controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis of RCTs was to examine the effect of whole-grains on inflammatory markers.Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted by using the online database of PubMed, EMBASE, Google scholar and Scopus for relevant studies up to November 2017, using medical subject headings [MeSH] and other related keywords. Only studies that compared the effects of whole grains on inflammatory markers with refined grains were included. From over 2278 articles, 17 RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were systematically reviewed. Weighted mean differences were estimated and pooled effect size was calculated by random effects model.Results: Thirteen RCTs with 466 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. Whole grain consumption had significant effect on serum concentration of hs-CRP (Hedge s g: -0.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.45, 0.00; P= 0.047), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (-0.28 Pg/mL, 95% CI: -0.55, -0.02; P=0.037) but did not result in a significant decline in serum concentration of TNF-α (-0.12 Pg/mL, 95% CI: -0.39, 0.15; P=0.396). Significant heterogeneity was observed between studies for hs-CRP (I2=69.0%, P<0.0001), IL-6 (I2=96.6%, P<0.001) and TNF-α (I2= 95.4%, P<0.001). In sensitivity analysis, the effect of whole grain intake on hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α was not substantially modified by the result of a single study. Conclusion: This meta-analysis of RCTs suggested that whole grains might affect health status via improving systematic inflammation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Whole-grains ، Inflammation ، Randomized clinical trial ، Meta-analysis