Increase in the frequency of consumption of dietary fiber, especially cereal fiber, may help to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the elderly population.
This study assessed the role dietary fiber play in the development and prevention of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, examined more than 10 years of dietary and health records from 3,588 men and women aged 65 years and above and with no previous history of cardiovascular disease.
The team of investigators observed that generous intake of fiber from dietary sources, particularly cereal fiber, lessened cardiovascular disease risk in elderly individuals. The results of this study support dietary guidelines that encourage the consumption of dietary fiber in order to curb the high rates of cardiovascular disease among the elderly population.