Adequate intake of fiber-rich foods may help guard against cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and coronary heart disease.

This study evaluated the association between pre-illness intake of dietary fiber and the risk of subsequent diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD). Researchers analyzed nutritional and clinical data obtained from 86,387 cancer- and cardiovascular disease-free subjects recruited from the Japanese Public Health Center-based Study Cohort.

The team of investigators found out subjects on high fiber diets had slim chances of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and coronary heart disease. The cardioprotective effect of dietary fiber was found to be strongest for insoluble fiber and was observed primarily in non-smokers (not in smokers) in this study. The findings of this study lend further support to the hypothesis that increased consumption of fiber-rich foods may protect individuals, particularly non-smokers, from developing cardiovascular disorders.