Eating more fibre extends life for heart attack survivors
Heart attack survivors live longer if they have a high-fibre diet, according to a US study of thousands of health professionals.
Fibre in breakfast cereals in particular could help survivors of myocardial infarction live for longer, the research suggests.
The researchers looked at data from two large nutrition and lifestyle projects − the Nurses’ Health Study of 121,700 female nurses and the Health Professional Follow-up Study of 51,529 male health professionals.
From these groups, the study authors identified and examined more than 4,000 heart attack survivors over a nine-year follow-up period, during which 682 women and 451 men died.
They divided the participants from the studies into five groups according to their fibre intake.
The group with the most fibre in their diets were found to have a 25% lower chance of dying when compared to those in the group with the lowest intake.
They also had a 13% decreased risk of dying from heart disease.
Every 10g per day increase in fibre was associated with a 15% lower risk of dying over the follow -up period, the researchers found.
When the authors examined the source of fibre − be it from fruit, vegetables or cereal − they found that higher cereal fibre consumption was associated with an increased chance of long-term survival after a heart attack than other sources of fibre.
Source: Nursing Times
Published: 30 Apr 2014
