Fiber consumption and metabolic syndrome in adults: Results from NHANES 1999‐2004

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of increasing fiber and whole grain (WG) consumption on the odds of having metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a recent, nationally representative sample of US adults 19 to 51 years (n=7,039) and 51 + years (n=6,237) using a secondary analysis of NHANES 1999‐2004 data. . Participants were divided into four fiber consumption groups: <10g/d, 10 to <15, 15to <20, =20g/day. For a separate analysis of WG, participants were also divided into four WG consumption groups: <0.6 (control), 0.6 to <1.5, 1.5 to <3.0 and = 3.0 servings. MetS was defined using the ATPIII definition. Least‐square means + SE were calculated. For adults 19‐50 years, mean fiber intake was 14.97 g + 0.37; ORs with MetS were: 0.958 (CI = 0.755 to 1.216), 0.800 (CI = 0.603 to 1.063), and 0.807 (CI = 0.608 to 1.072) for the three fiber groups, respectively; p for trend with MetS was 0.08. For adults 51 + years, mean fiber intake was 15.65 g + 0.26; ORs with MetS were: 1.31 (CI = 1.05 to 1.64), 0.89 (CI = 0.71 to 1.14), and 0.60 (1.47 to 0.77) for the three WG groups, respectively; p for trend was 0.0010. However, whole grain intake was not associated with reduced ORs of MeS in both age groups. These data suggest that fiber consumption may have a positive impact on MeS. Supported by USDA & Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund.