High dietary fiber intake increases skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in adults over 40 years of age.

First published: September 29, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12820

Commentary

Skeletal muscle mass begins to decline at age 40, suggesting that dietary fiber may alter lean body mass (BM).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary fiber intake, skeletal muscle mass, and related metabolic and functional parameters in adults over 40 years of age.

Analyzing cross-sectional data of adults aged 40 years and older from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2018, the study showed that higher intake of dietary fiber was associated with higher relative total lean mass, relative adnexal lean mass, relative bone mineral content, and composite grip strength.

Conversely, higher dietary fiber intake was associated with lower BM, BMI, relative total fat, relative trunk fat, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA2-IR.

In conclusion, higher dietary fiber intake was shown to lower BM and improve body composition. Therefore, they say that increasing dietary fiber intake may be a viable strategy to prevent age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass.