Do Refined Grains Have a Place in a Healthy Dietary Pattern: Perspectives from an Expert Panel Consensus Meeting.

Although dietary guidance recommends increasing consumption of whole grains and concurrently limiting consumption of refined and/or enriched grain foods, emerging research suggests that certain refined grains may be part of a healthy dietary pattern. A scientific expert panel was convened to review published data since the release of 2015 dietary guidance in defined areas of grain research, which included nutrient intakes, diet quality, enrichment/fortification, and associations with weight-related outcomes. Based on a 1-d roundtable discussion, the expert panel reached consensus that ) whole grains and refined grains can make meaningful nutrient contributions to dietary patterns, ) whole and refined grain foods contribute nutrient density, ) fortification and enrichment of grains remain vital in delivering nutrient adequacy in the American diet, ) there is inconclusive scientific evidence that refined grain foods are linked to overweight and obesity, and ) gaps exist in the scientific literature with regard to grain foods and health.