Association between dietary fiber intake and physical performance in older adults: a nationwide study in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Physical performance is a major determinant of health in older adults, and is related to lifestyle factors. Dietary fiber has multiple health benefits. It remains unclear whether fiber intake is independently linked to superior physical performance. We aimed to assess the association between dietary fiber and physical performance in older adults.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study conducted with community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older (n=2680) from the ongoing Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study (HALST) in Taiwan 2008-2010. Daily dietary fiber intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Physical performance was determined objectively by measuring gait speed, 6-minute walk distance, timed "up and go" (TUG), summary performance score, hand grip strength.


RESULTS
Adjusting for all potential confounders, participants with higher fiber intake had significantly faster gait speed, longer 6-minute walk distance, faster TUG, higher summary performance score, and higher hand grip strength (all P <.05). Comparing with the highest quartile of fiber intake, the lowest quartile of fiber intake was significantly associated with the lowest sex-specific quartile of gait speed (adjusted OR, 2.18 in men [95% CI, 1.33-3.55] and 3.65 in women [95% CI, 2.20-6.05]), 6-minute walk distance (OR, 2.40 in men [95% CI, 1.38-4.17] and 4.32 in women [95% CI, 2.37-7.89]), TUG (OR, 2.42 in men [95% CI, 1.43-4.12] and 3.27 in women [95% CI, 1.94-5.52]), summary performance score (OR, 2.12 in men [95% CI, 1.19-3.78] and 5.47 in women [95% CI, 3.20-9.35]), and hand grip strength (OR, 2.64 in men [95% CI, 1.61-4.32] and 4.43 in women [95% CI, 2.62-7.50]).


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary fiber intake was independently associated with better physical performance.
Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, County, Taiwan ; Program for Aging, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
I-Chien
IC
Wu
Hsing-Yi
HY
Chang
Chih-Cheng
CC
Hsu
Yen-Feng
YF
Chiu
Shu-Han
SH
Yu
Yi-Fen
YF
Tsai
Shi-Chen
SC
Shen
Ken N
KN
Kuo
Ching-Yu
CY
Chen
Kiang
K
Liu
Marion M
MM
Lee
Chao A
CA
Hsiung
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology