CRD summary

This review assessed the effect of dietary fibre on blood-pressure (BP) and concluded that increased consumption of dietary fibre may reduce BP in patients with hypertension. A smaller, non-conclusive reduction in BP was observed in patients with normal BP, although further trials were recommended. This was a relatively well-conducted systematic review and the conclusions are likely to be reliable.

Authors' objectives

To assess the effect of dietary fibre intake on blood-pressure (BP).

Searching

MEDLINE was searched for studies published in English up to February 2004; the search terms were reported. The reference lists of the included studies were also reviewed in an attempt to find other relevant studies.

Study selection

Assessment of study quality

The studies were assessed for blinding procedure. The authors did not state how the papers were assessed for validity, or how many reviewers performed the validity assessment.

Data extraction

Two reviewers independently extracted the data. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion, or with input by another reviewer where necessary. The mean baseline SBP and DBP and net change in BP at the end of the intervention period were calculated for each study. Variance of the net change was presented using confidence intervals (CIs), standard errors or standard deviations.

Methods of synthesis

Results of the review

Twenty-five RCTs, with a total of 1,477 participants, were included in the review.

In terms of study quality, about half (13 out of 25) of the included studies were double-blind, nine were single-blind and the others were considered to be open.

There was no statistically significant difference in SBP between high and low fibre intake (25 trials; -1.15 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.68, 0.39).

High dietary fibre intake significant reduced DBP compared to low fibre (25 trials; -1.65 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.70, -0.61).

Subgroup analyses.

For patients with hypertension (5 trials), there was a statistically significant decrease in both SBP and DBP in the increased fibre group compared with the control group (respectively: -5.95 mmHg, 95% CI: -9.50, -2.40; -4.20 mmHg, 95% CI: -6.55, -1.85). There was no significant heterogeneity between the 5 trials. There was no statistically significant difference between treatments for SBP or DBP in the trials of patients without hypertension (n=20).

Studies with a duration of 8 weeks or longer (13 trials) reported a statistically significant decrease in both SBP and DBP in the increased fibre group compared with the control group (respectively: -3.12 mmHg, 95% CI: -5.68, -0.56; -2.57 mmHg, 95% CI: -4.01, -1.14). There was no statistically significant difference between fibre intakes in SBP or DBP in trials with a duration of less than 8 weeks (12 trials).

In studies with a fibre supplementation of 7.1 g/day or less (11 trials), only DBP was statistically significantly reduced with the high fibre intake (-1.77 mmHg, 95% CI: -3.32, -0.21). In studies with a supplementation of 7.2 to 18.9 g/day (8 trials), both SBP and DBP were statistically significantly reduced (respectively: -3.40 mmHg, 95% CI: -6.14, -0.67; -1.97 mmHg, 95% CI: -3.79, -0.14). In studies with a supplementation of 19 g/day or more (6 trials), there was no statistically significant difference between the increased fibre group and the control group.

When studies were subgrouped by the type of fibre, there was no statistically significant difference between the increased fibre group and the control group in studies that were supplemented with fruit and vegetables (4 trials) and cereal (9 trials). Studies in which fibre was provided by means of a pill (n=8) found a statistically significant decrease in DBP (-2.44 mmHg, 95% CI: -4.26, -0.62), but there was no statistically significant difference in SBP.

There was a statistically significant decrease in DBP in trials in which weight reduction was noted in the intervention group (9 trials; -2.56 mmHg, 95% CI: -4.69, -0.42), but there was no statistically significant difference in SBP.

There was a statistically significant decrease in DBP in parallel group trials (n=17; -1.96, 95% CI: -3.31, -0.62), but there was no statistically significant difference in SBP.

The funnel plots did not indicate the presence of publication bias.

Authors' conclusions

Increased dietary fibre consumption may reduce BP in patients with hypertension. A smaller, non-conclusive reduction in BP was observed in patients with normal BP. Further clinical trials with a larger sample size and longer period of intervention, to examine the effect of dietary fibre intake on BP, are recommended.

CRD commentary

The review question was clear in terms of the study design, participants, intervention and outcomes of interest. Limiting the search to English language articles listed in one electronic database or reference lists increased the potential for language bias and publication bias. However, the authors assessed publication bias and did not find any evidence of it. The authors did not state how studies were selected for the review, therefore the potential for reviewer bias and error cannot be assessed for this part of the study process. The data extraction was conducted independently by two reviewers, thereby reducing the potential for reviewer bias and error. The quality assessment appeared to be limited to blinding; the lack of a more comprehensive quality assessment might have reduced the reliability of the conclusions of the review. Adequate details of the included studies were presented. Appropriate measures of effect were calculated and the authors assessed statistical heterogeneity. A number of appropriate subgroup analyses were performed. The authors' conclusions appear to follow from the evidence presented. Despite some methodological limitations, this was a relatively well-conducted systematic review and the conclusions are likely to be reliable.

Implications of the review for practice and research

Practice: The authors stated that increased intake of fruit and vegetables may provide the best means to supplement dietary fibre intake because of the additional beneficial health effects, aside from any reduction in BP. For patients unable or unwilling to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, fibre administered in pill form is an alternative option.

Research: The authors stated that additional adequately powered, double-blind, clinical trials with longer follow-up are warranted to test the effect of increased dietary intake on BP in persons with pre-hypertension. They also recommended investigating the effect of different types (water-soluble versus insoluble) and sources (fruit or vegetable versus cereal) of dietary fibre.

Funding

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, grant numbers HL60300 and HL68057; Tulane-Charity-LSU General Clinical Research Centre, grant number RR05096.

Bibliographic details

Whelton S P, Hyre A D, Pedersen B, Yi Y, Whelton P K, He J. Effect of dietary fiber intake on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. Journal of Hypertension 2005; 23(3): 475-481. [PubMed: 15716684]

Indexing Status

Subject indexing assigned by NLM

MeSH

Blood Pressure; Dietary Fiber /administration & dosage; Humans; Hypertension /diet therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

AccessionNumber

12005000297

Database entry date

30/09/2006

Record Status

This is a critical abstract of a systematic review that meets the criteria for inclusion on DARE. Each critical abstract contains a brief summary of the review methods, results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the review and the conclusions drawn.