Stroke

Higher fiber intake may lower stroke risk and mortality

May 23, 2025

Study details: This cross-sectional and Mendelian randomization analysis included 1,453 U.S. adults with stroke from NHANES (1999–2018). Stroke incidence was assessed using survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analyses. All-cause mortality among stroke survivors was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression models. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to assess causality between genetically predicted fiber intake and stroke risk.

Results: Higher dietary fiber intake was independently associated with lower odds of stroke (fully adjusted odds ratio [OR] per unit increase, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97–0.99; P<0.0001; highest vs. lowest tertile OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57–0.88; P = 0.002). The relationship was linear and robust to adjustment. Among stroke survivors, higher fiber intake was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and improved survival. MR analysis supported a causal association between increased fiber intake and reduced risk of small vessel stroke.

Clinical impact: These findings support a stable, inverse association between dietary fiber intake and both stroke risk and post-stroke mortality, with genetic evidence suggesting causality for small vessel stroke. Increasing dietary fiber may be a modifiable target for primary and secondary stroke prevention in U.S. adults.

Source:

Lai S, et al. (2025, April 29). Stroke. Association Between Dietary Fiber Intake and Stroke Among US Adults: From NHANES and Mendelian Randomization Analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40297895/