Fiber and coronary heart disease

High fiber associated with low CHD mortality

Every additional amount of 10 g/d of recently consumed fiber was associated with a significant 17% lower risk of fatal CHD during 40 years of follow-up. A non-significant 13% lower risk was observed for long-term fiber intake. A dietary fiber intake of more than 36 g/d at entry in 1960 was also associated with a 4 times lower risk of fatal CHD during 10 years of follow-up when compared to an intake of less than 20 g/d. However, this association became non-significant in multivariable analysis.

Dietary fiber intake in 1960 and 2000

Between 1960 and 2000 seven dietary surveys were carried out in the Zutphen Study. The average dietary fiber intake was 33 g/d in middle-aged men in 1960 and 21 g/d among survivors in 2000. The average energy intake amounted to 3100 kcal/d in 1960 and 2100 kcal/d in 2000.

More about the relationship between diet and CVD

Dietary patterns and all-cause mortality

Diets contain nutrients, and these are generally highly correlated with other factors due to the choice of foods in which they occur, but also on the consumption of a particular food at the expense of another one. These factors are taken into account when indicators of dietary patterns are evaluated.

Serum cholesterol and coronary heart disease

Cholesterol found in the blood serum is, in higher quantities, associated with a higher incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). This is the conclusion after observing serum cholesterol levels and CHD risk mortality for forty years.