More fiber, lower risk of cardiovascular disease

[Guest guest]

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 86, No. 6, 1626-1632,

December 2007:

Dietary fiber intake and retinal vascular caliber in the

Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study1,2,3

Haidong Kan, June s, Gerardo Heiss, Klein, M Rose

and J London

1 From the Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health

and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC (HK and SJL); the

Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology (JS) and the Department of

Epidemiology (GH and KMR), School of Public Health, the University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC); and the Department of

Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of

Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI (RK)

Background: Dietary fiber appears to decrease the risk of

cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Microvascular abnormalities

can be observed by retinal examination and contribute to the

pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. The impact of dietary

fiber on the retinal microvasculature is not known.

Objective: We aimed to examine the association between dietary fiber

intake and retinal vascular caliber.

Design: At the third visit (1993–1995) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in

Communities (ARIC) Study, a population-based cohort of adults in 4 US

communities, the retinal vascular caliber of 10 659 participants was

measured and summarized from digital retinal photographs. Usual

dietary intake during the same period was assessed with a 66-item

food-frequency questionnaire.

Results: After control for potential confounders including

hypertension, diabetes, lipids, demographic factors, cigarette

smoking, total energy intake, micronutrients intake, and other

cardiovascular disease risk factors, higher intake of fiber from all

sources and from cereal were significantly associated with wider

retinal arteriolar caliber and narrower venular caliber. Participants

in the highest quintile of fiber intake from all sources had a 1.05-µm

larger arteriolar caliber (P for trend = 0.012) and a 1.11-µm smaller

venular caliber (P for trend = 0.029).

Conclusions: Dietary fiber was related to wider retinal arteriolar

caliber and narrower venular caliber, which are associated with a

lower risk of cardiovascular disease. These data add to the growing

evidence of the benefits of fiber intake on various aspects of

cardiovascular pathogenesis.

Key Words: Dietary fiber • cardiovascular diseases • microcirculation

• retinal abnormalities • cereal

[Guest guest]

>

> Conclusions: Dietary fiber was related to wider retinal arteriolar

> caliber and narrower venular caliber, which are associated with a

> lower risk of cardiovascular disease. These data add to the growing

> evidence of the benefits of fiber intake on various aspects of

> cardiovascular pathogenesis.

Ok, I hate to be too dumb but does this mean that the ateries

circumference increase and the veins decrease? Also, how do the eyes

or retinas show a a higher or lower risk for CVD when eating? Does a

person with heart disease have large veins (bloodshot) eyes and narrow

arteries that lead to the eyes? I guess the good part is that the

arteries open up when you eat oats or cereal. Would going to the

optimitrist help in noticing problems? Eat your fiber and help your

eyes and your heart!

Bob