Fiber Intake Linked to Osteoarthritis Risk

A higher intake of dietary fiber is associated with lower risk of symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA), according to the results of a recent analysis.

Using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (n= 4796) and Framingham Offspring Osteoarthritis Study (n=1268), the researchers estimated dietary fiber intake at baseline and followed incident radiographic OA and symptomatic OA for 48 months in the Osteoarthritis Initiative and 9 years later in Framingham.
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Overall, 861 cases of symptomatic OA and 152 cases of radiographic OA were identified in the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort, along with 1964 knees with pain that worsened over the course of the study from a total of 4051 participants with valid dietary intake.

In Framingham, 143 cases of symptomatic OA and 152 cases of radiographic OA were identified among 971 participants with valid dietary intake.

In both cohorts, dietary fiber was inversely associated with the risk of symptomatic OA, with significantly lower risk at the highest quartile, compared with the lowest. Dietary fiber and cereal fiber intake was also significantly inversely associated with worsening knee pain in the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort.

“In conclusion, data from 2 US prospective cohorts demonstrated that higher dietary total fiber intake was associated with lower risks of [symptomatic] OA and pain worsening of the knee, while the association with radiographic OA was not apparent. Such results support the current recommended daily fiber for older Americans,” the researchers wrote.

—Michael Potts

Reference:
Dai Z, Niu J, Zhang Y, Jacques P, Felson DT.  Dietary intake of fibre and risk of knee osteoarthritis in two US prospective cohorts [published online May 23, 2017]. Ann Rheum Dis. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210810.