Study Title
Pasta meal intake in relation to risks of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women: findings from the Women’s Health Initiative.
Principal Investigator
Mengna Huang, Kenneth Lo, Jie Li, Matthew Allison, Wen-Chih Wu, Simin Liu.
Affiliation
Brown University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, University of California San Diego, Providence VA Medical Center.
Start Date
1994.
End Date
2010.
Study Objective
To evaluate the association between pasta meal intake and long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, in postmenopausal women.
Short Abstract
This prospective cohort study analyzed 84,555 postmenopausal women to evaluate the relationship between pasta meal intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes and ASCVD. Higher pasta intake was associated with a lower risk of ASCVD, CHD, and stroke. However, no significant association with type 2 diabetes was observed. Replacing other starchy foods like white bread and fried potato with pasta was found to be beneficial for reducing the risk of stroke and ASCVD.
Study Design
Long-term follow-up analysis based on dietary data collected through validated food frequency questionnaires.
Population
84,555 postmenopausal women aged 50–79 years at baseline.
Sample Size
84,555 participants.
Inclusion Criteria
Postmenopausal women aged 50–79, free of diabetes, ASCVD, and cancer at baseline.
Exclusion Criteria
Participants of the Women’s Health Initiative dietary modification trial, individuals with implausible total energy intake, and those with pre-existing diabetes, ASCVD, or cancer.
Intervention/Exposure
Pasta meal consumption measured through food frequency questionnaires.
Outcome Measures
Incidence of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and ASCVD.
Funding Source
The study was partly supported by funding donated to Brown University by Barilla. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Collaborating Institutions
Brown University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, University of California San Diego.
Ethics Approval
Approved by the institutional review boards (IRBs) of all participating institutions, including 40 clinical site IRBs, the coordinating center IRB, and the NIH.
Publication Status
Published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2021.
Keywords
Pasta intake, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, postmenopausal women.
Data Collection Methods
Self-reported food frequency questionnaires, medical history updates, and follow-up visits.
Primary Data Availability
Data available through the Women’s Health Initiative and the National Institutes of Health.
Contact Information
Professor Simin Liu, Brown University,