Table 4.
Potential effects of whole grains on diseases.
| Disease | Potential effects of cereals | References |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Reduced colon cancer incidence and cancer mortality | (162) |
| Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | Whole grains reduce the risk of atherosclerotic CVDs | (181, 182) |
| Stroke | Breakfast cereal and bran lower the risk of ischemic stroke; regular popcorn increases the risk of ischemic stroke | (229) |
| Elevated blood pressure | Whole grains lower the incidence of elevated BP | (187) |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus | Whole grains lower the risk of T2DM and related risk factors | (191, 230) |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | Dietary fiber attenuates IBS symptoms | (223, 224) |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | Dietary fiber reduces intestinal inflammation | (166) |
| Diverticular disease | Dietary fiber reduces the risk of diverticular disease | (166) |
| Chronic kidney disease | Whole grains can exert a beneficial effect in CDK | (225) |
| Low bone mineral density | Whole grains improve BMD and reduce the risk of its related complications | (226, 227) |
| Alzheimer's disease | Acetylcholinesterase inhibition by polyphenols, improving synaptic transmission, amyloid β toxicity reduction | (231) |
| Multiple sclerosis | Neural loss prevention through SIRT1 activation by polyphenols | (232) |
| Parkinson's disease | Antioxidant and antiapoptotic effect by polyphenols | (211) |
| Huntington's disease | Genetic and immunological modulation by poliphenols | (233) |
| Celiac disease | Intestinal mucosal inflammation and increased permeability by gliadin and prolamins | (215) |