The effect of viscous soluble fiber on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Aims Dietary fiber intake, especially viscous soluble fiber, has been established as a means to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors. Whether this is true for blood pressure remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to investigate the effects of viscous soluble fiber supplementation on blood pressure and quantify the effect of individual fibers. Data synthesis MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. We included RCTs of ≥4-weeks in duration assessing viscous fiber supplementation from five types: β-glucan from oats and barley, guar gum, konjac, pectin and psyllium, on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Study data were pooled using the generic inverse variance method with random effects models and expressed as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-two (N = 1430) and twenty-one RCTs (N = 1343) were included in the final analysis for SBP and DBP, respectively. Viscous fiber reduced SBP (MD = -1.59 mmHg [95% CI: -2.72,-0.46]) and DBP (MD = -0.39 mmHg [95% CI: -0.76,-0.01]) at a median dose of 8.7 g/day (1.45-30 g/day) over a median follow-up of 7-weeks. Substantial heterogeneity in SBP (I 2 = 72%, P 2 = 67%, P Conclusion Viscous soluble fiber has an overall lowering effect on SBP and DBP. Inclusion of viscous fiber to habitual diets may have additional value in reducing CVD risk via improvement in blood pressure. Protocol registration Cli…
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Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of viscous fibre, total dietary fibre, and sources of plant protein including dietary pulses and soy protein have shown reductions in SBP/DBP.
“Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of viscous fibre 48,49 as well as total dietary fibre (inclusive of viscous fibre) 50 and sources of plant protein including dietary pulses and soy protein, have shown reductions in SBP/DBP 51,52 .”
From Portfolio Dietary Pattern and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Trials (2018) · cites this paper as [48]
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Chiavaroli, L., Viguiliouk, E., Nishi, S., Blanco Mejia, S., Rahelić, D., Kahleová, H., Salas-Salvadó, J., Kendall, C., & Sievenpiper, J. (2019) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu11020338 · Cited by 548 · see citing works
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Jovanovski, E., Mazhar, N., Komishon, A., Khayyat, R., Li, D., Blanco Mejia, S., Khan, T., L Jenkins, A., Smircic-Duvnjak, L., Sievenpiper, J. L., et al. (2020) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqz292 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Khan, K., Jovanovski, E., Ho, H. V. T., Marques, A. C. R., Zurbau, A., Mejia, S. B., Sievenpiper, J. L., & Vuksan, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá (BR)
- St. Michael's Hospital (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Vuksan, V.
- Venue
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-13
- ISSN
- 0939-4753 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2761639451
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 9
- FWCI
- 1.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- PSI Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship
- Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA)
- Canadian Institutes of health Research (CIHR)
- PSI Foundation
- Calorie Control Council
- Banting and Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC)
- American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Sodium Intake and Health
- Keywords
- blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, psyllium, β-glucan, guar gum, konjac, pectin, dietary fiber supplementation, cardiovascular risk reduction
- MeSH terms
- Diet, Healthy, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Blood Pressure, Dietary Fiber, Female, Galactans, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Mannans, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Risk Factors, Solubility, Time Factors, Viscosity, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Dietary Supplements, Risk Reduction Behavior, beta-Glucans, Plant Gums, Young Adult, Protective Factors
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