High-fibre Benefits Heart Attack Survivors

Sharon Moore May 01, 2014

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People who survived a heart attack and followed a high-fibre diet after were less likely to die nine years after, new research found. This gives additional proof to the heart health benefits of fibre.

Researchers also found that fibre may improve blood pressure and cholesterol.

In the study, every 10g-per-day increase in fibre intake was linked with a 15% drop in death risk.

A low-fibre diet is associated with constipation and gut diseases, such as diverticulitis and bowel cancer, but it may also have implications for heart health, say US researchers. The Harvard School of Public Health team analysed data from two large US studies involving more than 4,000 men and women who had survived a first heart attack and had provided information about their usual diet via questionnaires.

Participants were followed for an average of almost nine years after their heart attacks, during which time 682 of the women and 451 of the men died.

Researchers found that the one in five who ate most fibre had a 25% lower chance of dying from any cause during the nine years after their heart attack compared with the fifth who ate the least. The high-fibre group was 13% less likely to have a fatal heart attack.

The researchers say the findings point to a simple lifestyle step that people could take, alongside their medication, to improve their long-term health prospects.

On average, most people in the UK get about 14g of fibre a day, against a target of at least 18g. US experts recommend up to 38g a day.

"High-fibre foods are a key part of a healthy balanced diet, and this study suggests they may have a particular benefit for heart-attack survivors.” says Victoria Taylor of the British Heart Foundation. "We can’t say for sure what caused the fibre benefit seen here, but we do know that, on average, we’re not getting enough fibre in our diets.”

To get more fibre, Taylor suggests trading white bread for wholegrain versions or opting for higher-fibre breakfast cereals, like porridge or muesli.

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High-fibre diet ’benefits heart attack patients’