Fiber Lowers Diabetes, Heart Disease Risk in Teens

EAST LANSING, Mich.Teenagers who eat a high-fiber, nutrient-rich diet significantly reduce their risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Researchers from Michigan State Universitys Division of Sports and Cardiovascular Nutrition analyzed data from more than 2,100 individuals between the ages of 12 and 19 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002) to examine whether the teens had three or more conditions that make up metabolic syndromehigh blood pressure, high levels of sugar and fat in the blood, low levels of good cholesterol and a large waistline.

They more than 70% of teens in the study had at least one of the five risk factors. There was a threefold increase in the number of children that had metabolic syndrome when the group of children receiving the least fiber was compared with the group receiving the most. There was not a significant relationship with either saturated fat or cholesterol intake.

What we found is that as fiber intake increases, the risk for metabolic syndrome decreases," said lead author Joseph Carlson, a registered dietitian and associate professor at MSU. High-fiber, nutrient-dense foods are packed with heart healthy vitamins, minerals and chemicals that can positively affect many cardiovascular risk factors. It may be better to focus on including these foods than to focus, as is commonly done, on excluding foods high in saturated fat."

They found due to low intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, the total dietary fiber intake in teens is about 13 grams per day, well below the recommendation of 26 grams and 38 grams for female and male adolescents, respectively.

One of the takeaways is that our study reinforced the current dietary recommendations for dietary fiber intake by including a variety of plant-based foods," Carlson said. A strategy of emphasizing fiber-rich foods may improve adherence to dietary recommendations."