New Research Reveals Optimal Whole Grain Intake for Heart Health
WHO:
Science Daily - Researchers conducted a large review of 87 clinical trials.
CNN - Dagfinn Aune, a coauthor on the meta-analysis and research fellow at Imperial College London’s School of Public Health.
CNN - Alice Lichtenstein, a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
WHAT:
USA Today - The study found that great reductions in total cholesterol were seen at 80 grams per day of whole grain intake.
USA Today - The systematic review and meta-analysis were based on 101 publications, including 87 studies.
USA Today - The largest overall positive health impacts in the study were observed at intakes of about 60 to 100 grams per day, which corresponds to about four to six servings.
Science Daily - Eating four to six servings of whole grains a day may deliver meaningful benefits for heart health.
CNN - The analysis suggests that benefits start at about 90 grams, or three servings, per day.
CNN - Eating four to six servings per day is associated with improvements in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight, and waist circumference.
CNN - The findings indicate a “likely causal effect” from eating whole grains, potentially translating into a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
WHERE:
CNN - The results were published in the European Heart Journal.
WHEN:
CNN - The dietary guidelines published in March by the American Heart Association.
WHY:
USA Today - The authors noted that their findings support results from cohort studies reporting lower risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension incidence with higher intakes of whole grains.
CNN - A diet rich in whole grains is associated with lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.
HOW:
CNN - Whole grain foods include all parts of a grain as it exists in nature, while refined grains are processed to remove parts that contain fiber and nutrients.
CNN - The recommendation is to replace refined grains with whole grains gradually, such as replacing three servings of refined grains with whole grains every day.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 19:04 UTC)
A new study published by USA Today reveals that significant reductions in total cholesterol were observed with a daily intake of 80 grams of whole grains. This systematic review and meta-analysis, which analyzed 101 publications including 87 studies, found that the most substantial health benefits occurred with intakes of about 60 to 100 grams per day, roughly translating to four to six servings. The authors highlighted that these findings align with previous cohort studies indicating that higher whole grain consumption is linked to lower risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 15:00 UTC)
Researchers have conducted a comprehensive review of 87 clinical trials, revealing that eating four to six servings of whole grains a day may significantly benefit heart health. The analysis, coauthored by Dagfinn Aune from Imperial College London and published in the European Heart Journal, indicates that starting with about 90 grams, or three servings, can lead to improvements in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and body weight, potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association's dietary guidelines recommend gradually replacing refined grains with whole grains to enhance overall health.