Dietary Fiber Lowers CVD Risk

MARSEILLE, France--Higher intake of dietary fiber promotes cardiovascular health, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (82, 6:1185-94, 2005).

Researchers calculated quintiles of fiber intake from dietary records of 2,532 men and 3,429 women. The highest total dietary fiber and non-soluble fiber intakes were linked with a significantly lower risk of hypertension, elevated blood lipids and increased homocysteine levels, as well as being overweight and having an elevated waist-to-hip ratio. Fiber from cereals was associated with lower body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and homocysteine concentrations; fiber from vegetables was linked with lower blood pressure and homocysteine concentration; and fiber from fruit was associated with lower waist-to-hip ratio and blood pressure. Fiber from dried fruit or nuts and seeds was connected to lower body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and fasting apolipoprotein B and glucose concentrations.

The researchers concluded dietary fiber intake is inversely correlated with several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in both sexes, which supports its protective role against CVD as well as recommendations for its increased consumption.

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