1996 Articles

High Fiber Intake: Indicator of a Healthy Lifestyle

Wynder, Ernst L.; Stellman, Steven D.; Zhang, Edith A.

In this issue of JAMA, Rimm and coworkers at the Harvard School of Public Health report that "fiber, independent of fat intake, is an important dietary component for the prevention of coronary disease." Their conclusion is based on observations within a cohort of more than 40 000 male health professionals followed up for 6 years to an end point of either myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary death. If correct, the finding is important because it could provide the basis for nutritional advice that will affect many groups in our society, including average Americans, practicing physicians, and the food industry, among others. Some might even interpret it as justification for advising Americans to eat more high-fiber food without necessarily making other dietary modifications.