Consumption of More Cereal Fiber Is Linked to a Reduction in Inflammation According to Medical Experts

Investigators from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues investigated whether dietary fiber consumption was linked to a reduction in inflammation in older people, as well as if the fiber was linked to cardiovascular disease in the reverse direction.

Total fiber, notably cereal fiber, but not fruit or vegetable fiber, was consistently related to decreased inflammation and lower CVD incidence, according to the findings.

There has previously been little research on the relationship between fiber and inflammation in older persons, who have greater levels of inflammation than younger adults.

The findings of the study were reported in JAMA Network Open.

Fiber has a great impact to reduce inflammation and heart risks

(Photo : Rob Kim/Getty Images for Del Monte)

There is a scarcity of data on the relationship between fiber and inflammation in older persons, as per News Medical Life Sciences.

Furthermore, there is still a scarcity of data on whether the source of fiber impacts inflammation differently in healthy people.

Most research on inflammation and dietary fiber has so far focused on circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase protein, as well as inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).

As a result, more research into the relationship between dietary fiber and systemic inflammation is needed in order to choose therapies that target specific components of inflammation.

Higher intakes of dietary fiber have been linked to a decreased risk of CVD, therefore understanding the link between dietary fiber and inflammation is crucial for CVD prevention.

A frequent explanation for this link is that eating more dietary fiber reduces inflammation, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, there is a dearth of research about whether and to what extent dietary fiber decreases inflammation and CVD risk.

Also Read: Increasing Fiber Intake Helps Heart Attack Survivors Live Longer

Older white individuals are the most benefit from eating more fiber to reduce inflammation

The current study comprised 4,125 people aged 65 and over who were enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) in the United States between 1989 and 1990, as per ScienceDaily.

Participants were asked to fill out a dietary frequency questionnaire to assess their total fiber consumption, total energy intake, and fiber source intake.

Based on the study, 95% of the 4,125 participants identified as White, 4.4% as Black, 0.3% as Native American, 0.1% as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 0.2% as other ethnicities.

With a mean age of 72.6 years, 40% of the research participants were men and 60% were women.

Dietary fiber consumption is linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

According to Rupak Shivakoti, Ph.D, assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, "a prevalent idea has been that increased fiber diets decrease inflammation, resulting in lower CVD risk."

With the results of this study, researchers now know that one form of dietary fiber, cereal fiber, but not fruit or vegetable fiber, is linked to reduced inflammation.

They now know from the findings of the research that cereal fiber has the potential to decrease inflammation, and that this hypothesis will have to be tested in future clinical studies.

Even though there is evidence that fiber, in general, may have anti-inflammatory impacts by enhancing gut function, modifying diet and lowering fat and total energy intake, and improving lipid and glucose profile metabolism are still important factors to consider.

Shivakoti noted that it is unclear why cereal fiber, but not vegetable or fruit fiber, is linked to lower inflammation, and needs further research.

He also pointed out that it's unclear if cereal fiber or other nutrients in cereal fiber-rich diets are causing the observed associations.

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