Lee Swanson Research Update

Fiber Helps Reduce C-Reactive Protein Levels in the Body

October 2007

The results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine “demonstrate that fiber intake of about 30 grams per day from a diet naturally rich in fiber or from a supplement can reduce levels of CRP (C-reactive protein).”

Initially researchers wanted to know if fiber found naturally in the diet was better than fiber derived from supplements in reducing CRP. They stated: “Diets high in fiber are associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers. This study examined the reduction in inflammation from a diet supplemented with fiber compared with a diet naturally high in fiber.”

Scientists employed a randomized crossover intervention trial of two diets, a high-fiber (30 g/d) Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet or fiber-supplemented diet (30 g/d), after a baseline period of three weeks. There were 35 participants in the study (18 lean normotensive and 17 obese hypertensive individuals) aged 18 to 49 years.

Overall, the mean CRP level changed from 4.4 to 3.8 mg/L in the high-fiber DASH diet group and to 3.6 mg/L in the fiber-supplemented diet group, showing virtually the same results between the two groups.

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