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Sex difference in the association of dietary fiber intake with visceral fat volume in Japanese adults

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European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Dietary fiber is a possible nutritional component which aids in the prevention of visceral fat accumulation. We examined the association between dietary fiber intake and visceral fat volume (VFV) by sex, and further analysed the association by major food sources of dietary fiber.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we measured VFV in 2779 Japanese (1564 men and 1215 women) aged 40–89 who underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography for cancer screening between 2004 and 2005. Dietary fiber intake was calculated based on a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between dietary fiber intake and VFV was investigated using multivariate linear regression models after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Total, soluble, and insoluble fiber intakes were inversely associated with VFV in men (Q1: 3740 cm3, Q4: 3517 cm3, Ptrend: 0.0006 for total fiber), but not in women (Q1: 2207 cm3, Q4: 2193 cm3,Ptrend: 0.88 for total fiber). Statistically significant sex difference was observed (Pinteraction = 0.001 for total fiber). Subgroup analyses by major food sources revealed that dietary fiber intakes from beans, vegetables and fruits showed an inverse association with VFV in men, while cereal fiber intake showed a tendency toward a positive association in both sexes (Q1: 3520 cm3, Q4: 3671 cm3, Ptrend: 0.05 in men, Q1: 2147 cm3, Q4: 2227 cm3, Ptrend: 0.10 in women).

Conclusion

We observed a sex-specific association between dietary fiber intake and VFV in Japanese adults. This study suggests that efforts against visceral fat accumulation should take account of the source of dietary fiber.

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Data availability

Data described in the manuscript, code book, and analytic code will be made available upon request pending application and approval.

Abbreviations

VFV:

visceral fat volume

SCFAs:

short-chain fatty acids

BMI:

body mass index

JaSCo:

Japan-Screening Cohort

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, Japan

    Maki Igarashi, Motoki Iwasaki & Taiki Yamaji

  2. Department of Cohort Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, Japan

    Motoki Iwasaki, Ryoko Katagiri & Shoichiro Tsugane

  3. National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan

    Ryoko Katagiri

  4. Graduate School of Public Health, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan

    Shoichiro Tsugane

  5. Cancer Screening Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Nozomu Kobayashi

  6. Division of Screening Technology, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, Japan

    Nozomu Kobayashi

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  1. Maki Igarashi
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Contributions

Maki Igarashi and Taiki Yamaji wrote the manuscript and Motoki Iwasaki, Ryoko Katagiri, Shoichiro Tsugane, and Nozomu Kobayashi revised the manuscript. Maki Igarashi and Taiki Yamaji performed the statistical analysis. Taiki Yamaji designed the project. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taiki Yamaji.

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Conflict of interest

Maki Igarashi, Motoki Iwasaki, Ryoko Katagiri, Shoichiro Tsugane, Nozomu Kobayashi, and Taiki Yamaji report that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Sources of support for the work

The National Cancer Center Japan-Screening Cohort (JaSCo) Study was supported by the National Cancer Center Research and Development Fund (23-A-1, 26-A-1, 29-A-1, 2020-J-1, and 2023-J-1), and Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan (Grants-in-Aid for Cancer Research 17 - 1, Grants-in-Aid for the Third Term Comprehensive 10-Year Strategy for Cancer Control).

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Igarashi, M., Iwasaki, M., Katagiri, R. et al. Sex difference in the association of dietary fiber intake with visceral fat volume in Japanese adults. Eur J Nutr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03405-y

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