Impact of nondigestible carbohydrates on serum lipoproteins and risk for cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and in most developed countries. Many nutritional factors contribute to risk for ASCVD including total and saturated fat consumption, fruits and vegetables in the diet and dietary fiber intake. This review will focus on the relationship of dietary fiber intake to risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and ASCVD (which includes, principally, CHD, cerebral vascular disease and peripheral vascular disease). Fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole- grain cereals and legumes are rich sources of nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants. For example, most high fiber foods contain soluble and insoluble fiber, minerals, vitamins, other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Cereals and legumes also contain complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fatty acids. Some high fiber foods are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, whereas others provide (n-3) fatty acids. Legumes and certain vegetables provide oligosaccharides. When assessing the health benefits of dietary fiber, one should consider the potential effects of associated nutrients, micronutrients and phytochemicals. These interactions will be reviewed as we discuss relationships of dietary fiber to ASCVD.