EFFECT OF DIETARY WHEAT ALEURONE ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND BLOOD GLUCOSE AND ITS MECHANISMS IN OBESE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS: PRELIMINARY REPORT ON COMPARISON WITH A SOY DIET

1 There are less epidemiological surveys or intervention studies on whole grains compared with those on soybeans, both of which contain phytoestrogens, lignans and isoflavones. Soybeans have so far been proven to exhibit profound effects on cardiovascular disease risk reduction in animal models and humans. 2 The effect of a dietary intake of wheat aleurone on the risks of metabolic syndrome was compared to that of a soy diet in obese spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR/NDmcr‐cp (cp/cp). 3 Protein and fat intakes were significantly lower and fibre intake was significantly higher in the aleurone diet group (ALR) than in the soy diet group (SOY). Wheat aleurone maintained blood pressure, 24‐hour urinary sodium (Na), potassium (K) excretion and the Na/K ratio lower than soy. Blood glucose and HOMA‐R were significantly lower in ALR than in SOY at 20 weeks of age. 4 Wheat aleurone, rich in dietary fibre and lignans, is more effective for reducing the risks of hypertension and hyperglycemia than soy.