Dietary Fiber and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

TLDR

Few epidemiologic studies have compared fiber types or reported sex‑specific results for dietary fiber and coronary heart disease risk. This study pooled data to examine the association between dietary fiber, its subtypes, and coronary heart disease risk. Data from 10 prospective US and European cohorts were analyzed to estimate the association between dietary fiber intake and coronary heart disease risk. Each 10‑g/d increase in total dietary fiber lowered coronary event risk by 14% and death risk by 27%, with fruit fiber showing the strongest protective effect; cereal fiber also reduced risk, while vegetable fiber had no effect, and the findings were consistent across sexes.

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Few epidemiologic studies of dietary fiber intake and risk of coronary heart disease have compared fiber types (cereal, fruit, and vegetable) or included sex-specific results. The purpose of this study was to conduct a pooled analysis of dietary fiber and its subtypes and risk of coronary heart disease. <h3>Methods</h3> We analyzed the original data from 10 prospective cohort studies from the United States and Europe to estimate the association between dietary fiber intake and the risk of coronary heart disease. <h3>Results</h3> Over 6 to 10 years of follow-up, 5249 incident total coronary cases and 2011 coronary deaths occurred among 91 058 men and 245 186 women. After adjustment for demographics, body mass index, and lifestyle factors, each 10-g/d increment of energy-adjusted and measurement error–corrected total dietary fiber was associated with a 14% (relative risk [RR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.96) decrease in risk of all coronary events and a 27% (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.87) decrease in risk of coronary death. For cereal, fruit, and vegetable fiber intake (not error corrected), RRs corresponding to 10-g/d increments were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.77-1.07), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-0.99), and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.88-1.13), respectively, for all coronary events and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.63-0.91), 0.70 (95% CI, 0.55-0.89), and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.82-1.23), respectively, for deaths. Results were similar for men and women. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Consumption of dietary fiber from cereals and fruits is inversely associated with risk of coronary heart disease.