Dietary Soluble Fiber Reduces Visceral Fat

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.Individuals who eat more soluble fiber from fruits, vegetables and beans, and engage in moderate physical activity are more likely to shed visceral fat, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity.

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center examined whether lifestyle factors, such as diet and frequency of exercise, were associated with a 5-year change in abdominal fat of black Americans and Hispanic Americans, populations at a disproportionally higher risk for developing high blood pressure and diabetes and accumulating visceral fat. They found individuals who increased their daily soluble fiber by 10 grams reduced their visceral fat by 3.7% over five years. Adding 30 minutes of moderate activity two to four times a week resulted in a 7.4% decrease in the rate of visceral fat accumulation over the same time period. Increased soluble fiber intake was not associated with a decreased rate of subcutaneous fat.

We know that a higher rate of visceral fat is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes and fatty liver disease," said Kristen Hairston, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist and lead researcher on the study. Our study found that making a few simple changes can have a big health impact."