WEDNESDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) -- A fiber-rich diet may have a protective effect against elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), which is associated with heart disease and diabetes, according to research published in the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Yunsheng Ma, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, and colleagues studied data on CRP levels, diet, body composition, and exercise in 524 healthy adults aged 20 to 70 years who were assessed every 13 weeks for a total of five visits. The fiber intake ranged from 2.6 to 51 grams per day, with a mean intake of 16.1 g/day.
Patients in the highest quartile of fiber intake had a 63 percent lower risk of elevated CRP (defined as greater than 3 mg/L) than subjects in the lowest quartile of consumption.
"Given the strong evidence that CRP is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease events and diabetes, this study suggests that a diet high in fiber may play a role in reducing inflammation and, thus, the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes," the authors write.
Abstract
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