Newly Published Study Concludes Cheerios Can Lower Cholesterol
More Than One in Two American Adults Have High-Risk Cholesterol of 200 mg/dl or higher
BOSTON, Mass.-A study published in the January/February 1998 issue of Nutrition in Clinical Care concludes that Cheerios breakfast cereal, a 56-year-old American favorite, can be an effective weapon in the war against heart disease and for the millions of Americans who have high-risk cholesterol. The study conducted by the University of Minnesota Heart Disease Prevention Clinic shows that eating one and a half ounces of Cheerios twice a day lowered cholesterol levels of study participants by an average 3.8 percent, but Cheerios lowered cholesterol for some participants by as much as 18 percent. The publication of the study falls on the heels of the announcement made in 1997 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowing food companies to say on packaging that "Diets high in soluble fiber from whole-grain oats may reduce the risk of heart disease." The FDA action was unprecedented because no claim has ever before been approved for a specific food such as oats. Cheerios and oatmeal are among the few foods able to make the FDA claim, but the study to be featured in Nutrition in Clinical Care, a Tufts University publication, is unique since it is the first ever peer-reviewed published study showing that a leading ready-to-eat breakfast cereal can actually reduce cholesterol. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for developing heart disease, this country's leading cause of death, and more than one of every two American adults (52 percent) have high-risk levels of blood cholesterol measuring 200 mg/dl or greater, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Researchers in Minnesota studied 135 men and women ages 40 to 70 years for a 12-week period. About half of the participants were given an unidentified whole-grain oat cereal (Cheerios) to eat daily, and the other half were given an unidentified corn flake cereal. On average, those who ate Cheerios achieved a significant reduction in blood cholesterol while those who ate the corn flakes did not.
"After I began eating Cheerios for the study, my cholesterol dropped by 40 points," said study participant Dewey White, 60, of St. Paul, Minn.
The study boasted nearly a 100 percent rate of compliance from those who participated, which is an indication that people had an easy time following the daily eating requirements. During the first six weeks of the study, participants were placed on a low-fat low-cholesterol diet, which is a routine part of this type of nutrition research, so
that a baseline level of blood cholesterol could be determined for each individual. Once the baseline levels were recorded, Cheerios were provided to one group and corn flakes were provided to the other group. Even while on a low-fat, low cholesterol diet, those who ate the Cheerios had additional reductions in total blood cholesterol. The cholesterol-reducing qualities found in Cheerios are consistent with results of studies done for oatmeal and oat bran. Cheerios is made with whole-grain oats and was called "Cheeri Oats" when General Mills first invented it in 1941 to provide a more convenient and better tasting alternative to cooked oatmeal.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. One million Americans are expected to die of cardiovascular disease in 1998. An American dies from cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds, and the toll on this country's economy exceeds $150 billion annually.
"Because cardiovascular disease kills almost a million people annually, even a slight reduction in blood cholesterol can lead to saving thousands of lives," said Dr. Donald Hunninghake, M.D., who is an internationally recognized cardiologist, principal investigator, co-author of the Cheerios study and director of the University of Minnesota Heart Disease Prevention Clinic. "The results of our study are very clear: eating foods like Cheerios can make a significant difference in the number of people who suffer from heart disease." Armed with the study that shows Cheerios lowers cholesterol, Harvard-trained cardiologist and leading health and fitness researcher Dr. James Rippe of the Tufts University School of Medicine is on a crusade to make cholesterol reduction easier and to save lives. "We must stem the epidemic of cardiovascular disease in this country, but people are wary of all the contradictory advice out there," Dr. Rippe said. "We need a starting point, a simple, practical, proven strategy for people to begin lowering their cholesterol levels."
Dr. Rippe's two-part plan is easy to execute and is based on research from the University of Minnesota and Tufts University School of Medicine, two of the leading nutrition and fitness research facilities in the nation. He recommends eating whole-grain oat Cheerios for breakfast and a snack and going for a 30 minute walk every day.
"People don't have to turn their lives upside down in order to start living better, healthier lives," said Dr. Rippe. "This plan is based on scientific research, and it is an easy first step to make on the path to improved health and fitness."
The University of Minnesota study applies to original Cheerios in the yellow box. The Cheerios franchise consists of Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Multi-grain Cheerios and Frosted Cheerios. General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, but has offices and plants across the country. Other popular brand names in the General Mills family include Betty Crocker, Gold Medal flour, Pop Secret Popcorn, Yoplait yogurt and others. -30-
For more information, contact: David Dix or Tom Johnson 612-540-7048
1997 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update Source: American Heart Association (Total Cardiovascular Disease Death Rate per 100,000 People)
STATE RANK DEATH RATE
Alabama 48 225
Alaska 2 149.7
Arizona 14 173.2
Arkansas 43 220.7
California 20 179
Colorado 5 150.8
Connecticut 15 174.6
Delaware 30 189.3
District of Col. 50 226.6
Florida 17 174.9
Georgia 46 222.7
Hawaii 4 150.3
Idaho 7 162.1
Illinois 37 206.9
Indiana 38 209.5
Iowa 25 183.5
Kansas 24 183.5
Kentucky 44 220.9
Louisiana 51 229.2
Maine 22 181.8
Maryland 29 189
Massachusetts 16 174.9
Michigan 39 210.5
Minnesota 6 160.6
Mississippi 52 255.5
Missouri 40 212.4
Montana 8 163.7
Nebraska 23 183.4
Nevada 32 194.5
New Hampshire 19 178.9
New Jersey 26 185.5
New Mexico 1 149.4
New York 41 216.5
North Carolina 36 205.9
North Dakota 13 172.8
Ohio 35 202.7
Oklahoma 45 221.9
Oregon 11 166.4
Pennsylvania 34 199.4
Rhode Isla 28 188.2
South Carolina 47 224
South Dakota 18 175.5
Tennessee 42 220.2
Texas 31 194.1
Utah 3 150
Vermont 27 187.4
Virginia 33 198.4
Washington 12 169.7
West Virginia 49 225.5
Wisconsin 21 181.4
Wyoming 10 166United States Total 182.7
Cholesterol and Whole-Grain Oat Fact Sheet
-- One of every two American Adults (52 percent) has high-risk cholesterol levels of 200 milligrams per deciliter or higher, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
-- High cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.
-- An estimated one million Americans will die from cardiovascular disease in 1998 and every year in the near future unless changes are made in the American lifestyle.
-- Each year cardiovascular disease costs the United States more than $150 billion.
-- Oat consumption by humans dates back to 400 BC when oats were described as a "healing agent."
-- Oats came to America in 1602 and were used for relief of stomach discomforts and other ailments.
-- Cheerios is the number-one ready-to-eat whole grain oat cereal in the world.
-- Cheerios was called "Cheeri Oats" when General Mills first invented it in 1941 to provide a more convenient and better tasting alternative to cooked oatmeal.
-- Whole grain oats contain more soluble fiber than other whole grains, such as wheat, corn or rye.
-- Whole grain oats contain more protein and lipids than other grains.
-- According to the American Dietetic Association, consumers should eat at least three servings of whole-grain foods daily, but on average most Americans eat less than one serving a day.
-- Cheerios meets the nutrition guidelines of the American Heart Association.
-- Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals account for about 90 percent of the cereal market with hot cereals comprising about 10 percent.
-- Oats contain naturally occurring phytochemicals that have been associated with protection from a variety of chronic diseases. Whole grains contain naturally occurring phytoestrogens which have been linked to decreased risk of hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer.
-- Scientists first discovered oats lowered cholesterol in 1963.
-- Oats are a good source of selenium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc and copper.
-- Oats are concentrated sources of antioxidants, which are thought to decrease the risk of cancer and aging, according to the American Oat Association.
RSS