Supplementation of Whole Grain on Body Weight and Lipid Profile in Obese Females of Various Ethnic Groups in Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

The effects of supplemented whole grain consumption for 4 weeks on Body Mass Index (BMI), total Cholesterol (CHO), Triglyceride (TG), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL) and Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL) in obese female subjects of 4 major ethnic groups in Quetta, i.e., Pathan (P), Baloch (B), Hazara (H) and Punjabi (PU) were studied. Two groups each of 32 obese female subjects and comprising 8 subjects from each ethnic group were chosen from the volunteers on the selection criteria according to World Health Organization (1998). The subjects of the group taken as control used the conventionally available carbohydrates in meals and another batch referred as treated subjects consumed 50g cereals in breakfast and whole grain chapattis in lunch and dinner for 4 weeks. Twelve hours fasting blood sample was taken from control and whole grain treated obese subjects a day after the completion of experiment duration. Lower BMI had been observed in the subjects of all the ethnic groups compared to their respective control, however, significantly (p<0.01) only in PU group. Significantly lower concentration of total cholesterol in fiber consuming subjects of B (p<0.01) and PU (p<0.05) ethnic groups was demonstrated compare to their respective controls. Similarly Triglycerides (TG) concentrations were lesser in all ethnic groups but not significant statistically. Trend of greater concentration of HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol in the fiber taking subjects in all the ethnic groups was only significant (p<0.05) compare to their controls in P and PU groups, respectively.