Preventing cardiovascular disease in older adults: the role of fiber

The role of dietary fiber in the prevention of cardiovascular disease has received increasing attention as supportive data have accumulated. Recent studies have found a consistently protective effect of diets that are high in fiber on cardiovascular disease outcomes, prompting many leading organizations to recommend increased fiber in the daily diet. However, the biologic mechanisms underlying how fiber influences the cardiovascular system have yet to be fully elucidated. Epidemiologic evidence demonstrating that high fiber diets (>20–30 g/day) are beneficial, coupled with new evidence of a possible metabolic effect on inflammatory markers, insulin resistance and lipids, suggest that there may be several important mediators in the association between dietary fiber and cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed regarding the optimal intake amount of fiber and which sources of fiber are most beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in older adults.