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Fiber-Rich Diet May Reduce Lung Disease

A diet rich in fiber may not only protect against diabetes and heart disease, it may also reduce the risk of developing lung disease, according to new research published online, ahead of print in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), researchers report in "The Relationship between Dietary Fiber Intake and Lung Function in NHANES," that among adults in the top quartile of fiber intake, the following occurred:

• 68.3% had normal lung function, compared with 50.1% in the bottom quartile.
• 14.8% had airway restriction, compared with 29.8% in the bottom quartile.

In two important breathing tests, those with the highest fiber intake also performed significantly better than those with the lowest intake. Those in the top quartile had a greater lung capacity and could exhale more air in one second than those in the lowest quartile.

"Lung disease is an important public health problem, so it's important to identify modifiable risk factors for prevention," says lead author Corrine Hanson PhD, RD, an associate professor of medical nutrition at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. "However, beyond [quitting] smoking, very few preventative strategies have been identified. Increasing fiber intake may be a practical and effective way for people to have an impact on their risk of lung disease."

Researchers reviewed records of 1,921 adults aged 40 to 79 who participated in NHANES between 2009 and 2010. Administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NHANES is unique in that it combines interviews with physical examinations.

Fiber consumption was calculated based on the amount of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains participants recalled eating. Those whose diets included more than 17.5 g of fiber a day were in the top quartile and represented the largest number of participants, 571. Those getting less than 10.75 g of fiber a day were in the lower group and represented the smallest number of participants, 360.

Researchers adjusted for a number of demographic and health factors, including smoking, weight, and socioeconomic status, and found an independent association between fiber and lung function. They did not adjust for physical activity, nor did the NHANES data allow them to analyze fiber intake and lung function over time—limitations acknowledged by the authors.

Authors cited previous research that may explain the beneficial effects of fiber they observed. Other studies have shown that fiber reduces inflammation in the body, and the authors noted that inflammation underlies many lung diseases. Other studies have also shown that fiber changes the composition of the gut microbiome, and the authors said this may in turn reduce infections and release natural lung-protective chemicals to the body.

If further studies confirm the findings of this report, Hanson believes that public health campaigns may one day "target diet and fiber as safe and inexpensive ways of preventing lung disease."

— Source: American Thoracic Society