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The impact of dietary fiber consumption on human health: An umbrella review of evidence from 17,155,277 individuals
Updated umbrella review (33 meta-analyses; 38 outcomes; >17M participants; search through Dec 2024) classifying credibility of fiber–disease associations: convincing evidence for cardiovascular mortality, pancreatic cancer, and diverticular disease; highly suggestive links for all-cause mortality, CVD, CHD, and ovarian cancer.
Design
- Umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies (Oct 2017 – 1 Dec 2024)
- 33 meta-analyses; 38 outcomes; 17,155,277 participants total
- Credibility tiers: Class I–IV with AMSTAR-2 quality grading
Credibility highlights (abstract)
- Class I (convincing): CVD mortality, pancreatic cancer, diverticular disease
- Class II (highly suggestive): all-cause mortality, CVD, CHD, ovarian cancer
- Class III: 16 additional outcomes with suggestive evidence
- 29/38 outcomes showed significant inverse associations (p < 0.05) with higher fiber intake
Evidence hygiene
Observational umbrella—does not replace RCT endpoints for BP/lipids; fibre types (cereal vs soluble) still need trial-level nuance.
Publication
Veronese N, et al. Clin Nutr. 2025 Aug;44(8):1710-1724. PMID 40651334.
Outcomes
- Convincing (Class I) evidence tier reported for inverse associations of higher fiber intake with cardiovascular disease mortality, pancreatic cancer, and diverticular disease.
- Highly suggestive (Class II) tier for all-cause mortality, total CVD, coronary heart disease, and ovarian cancer in umbrella classification.