Fiber-Rich Diet May Help Prevent Lung Disease

A new study suggests that a diet rich in fiber may help decrease the risk of lung disease as well as fending off diabetes and heart disease.

A team including researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) analyzed the records of 1,921 adults between the ages of 40 and 79, each of whom participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) during the years 2009 and 2010.
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The investigators calculated fiber consumption based on participants’ intake of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Participants consuming more than 17.5 grams of fiber daily comprised the top quartile (and, at 571, the largest number of participants), while those whose diets included less than 10.75 grams each day (360 participants) were in the lower and smallest group. The authors, led by Corrine Hanson, PhD, RD, LMNT, FAND, an associate professor of medical nutrition education at UNMC, adjusted for several demographic and health factors, such as smoking, weight and socioeconomic status, and found an independent relationship between fiber and lung function.

Participants performed 2 breathing tests, in which those in the top quartile significantly outperformed those with the lowest fiber intake, according to the researchers. Among those in the high-fiber group, 68.3% demonstrated normal lung function, compared to 50.1% of those in the bottom quartile. In addition, 14.8% of those in the top quartile experienced airway restriction, while 29.8% of those with the lowest fiber intake experienced the same.

The results “show that a diet high in fiber was associated with improved measurements of lung function,” says Hanson. “This is valuable information, because, other than smoking cessation, there have been very few preventative strategies identified for lung disease.”

Since diet is a modifiable risk factor, “this allows targeted nutrition interventions to be implemented in those at risk,” she says, adding that “encouraging patients to increase fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in their diets is a low-cost, non-invasive strategy that may provide benefits in overall lung health.

“We also know that fiber intake is associated with other disease states, including heart disease and cancer,” continues Hanson, “so there are multiple benefits that could be incurred from simple dietary changes.”

—Mark McGraw

Reference:

Hanson C, Lyden E, et al. The Relationship between Dietary Fiber Intake and Lung Function in NHANES. Annals ATS. 2016.