Dietary fiber intake and stroke risk: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
PubMed 23073261 · doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.158
What was done
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies identified via PubMed (through July 2012) and reference screening to assess dietary fiber intake and stroke risk. Summary relative risks (RRs) were computed using a random-effects model for highest versus lowest intake categories, by sex and stroke subtype, along with a dose-response analysis per 10 g/day increment in dietary fiber.
What was found
Six prospective cohort studies with 314,864 participants and 8,920 stroke cases were included. The summary RR for the highest versus lowest fiber intake was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77–0.99). In subgroups, RRs were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.83–1.08) in men, 0.80 (95% CI, 0.66–0.96) in women, 0.83 (95% CI, 0.72–0.96) for ischemic stroke, and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.70–1.06) for hemorrhagic stroke, with no significant interaction by sex (P = 0.18) or stroke subtype (P = 0.85). Dose-response analysis indicated a 12% lower stroke risk per 10 g/day increase in dietary fiber intake (RR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79–0.97).
Why it matters
This study provides pooled prospective evidence of an inverse, dose-dependent relationship between dietary fiber consumption and incident stroke. It offers a quantitative benchmark of a 12% lower risk for each 10 g daily increase in fiber intake.
Limits
The meta-analysis included only six cohorts and relied on a single database search (PubMed). As an observational synthesis, it cannot rule out residual confounding from healthy lifestyle factors, dietary measurement errors in self-reported intake, or differences in specific fiber types.
Cited by
- supports A meta-analysis of over 300,000 individuals showed that each additional 10 grams of daily fiber intake reduces stroke risk by approximately 12%.