April 29th, 2014
Dietary Fiber After MI Linked to Improved Survival
Larry Husten, PHD
Consuming more dietary fiber after myocardial infarction is associated with a reduced risk for death.
In a report published in BMJ, researchers analyzed long-term data about diet and other risk factors from more than 4000 healthcare professionals who had an MI. Nine years after the MI, people who were in the highest quintile of fiber consumption had a 25% lower risk for death from any cause. Overall, there was a 15% reduction in mortality risk associated with every 10-g/day increase in fiber intake
The strongest association was observed for fiber derived from cereals and grains. A strong benefit was also found for people with the largest increases in fiber consumption after their MI.
The findings remained significant after adjustment for other factors known to influence survival after MI. However, the authors acknowledge that they were unable to “fully adjust for all known or unknown healthy lifestyle changes, and results may still be subject to modest residual and unmeasured confounding.”
The authors note that fewer than 5% of people in the U.S. consume the minimum recommended amount of fiber (25 g per day for women and 38 g per day for men).
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