Adolescent Fiber Consumption Is Associated with Visceral Fat and Inflammatory Markers

Context: The link between adolescent fiber consumption, inflammation, and body fat distribution has not been investigated. Objective: This study investigated associations of dietary fiber intake with inflammatory-related biomarkers and robust measures of total and central adiposity in a sample of 559 adolescents aged 14–18 yr (49% female, 45% Black). Methods: Fasting blood samples were measured for leptin, adiponectin, resistin, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen. Diet was assessed with four to seven 24-h recalls, and physical activity was determined by accelerometry. Fat-free soft tissue mass and fat mass were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Visceral adipose tissue was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Multiple linear regression, adjusting for age, race, Tanner stage, fat-free soft tissue mass, energy intake, and physical activity, revealed that dietary fiber intake was inversely associated with fat mass and serum leptin in males (all P < 0.03) but not in females. In both genders, dietary fiber intake was negatively associated with visceral adipose tissue, plasma C-reactive protein, and plasma fibrinogen and positively associated with plasma adiponectin (all P < 0.05). No relations were found between dietary fiber intake and plasma resistin in either males or females. Conclusion: Our adolescent data suggest that greater consumption of dietary fiber is associated with lower visceral adiposity and multiple biomarkers implicated in inflammation.