High fibre linked to lower heart disease risk for night shift workers
Mar 4th 2026
A UK Biobank analysis of more than 220,000 adults found higher dietary fibre intake was associated with a lower risk of coronary artery disease among night shift workers, with signals at about 15 to 19 grams per day depending on shift pattern.
- Study of about 220,000 UK Biobank participants followed for roughly 12 years and published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found the association.
- Night shift workers with lower dietary fibre intake had a higher risk of coronary artery disease than those with higher fibre intake.
- Protective associations appeared at about 19 grams of fibre per day for regular night workers and about 15 grams for sporadic night workers, below the 25 g/day guideline.
- The link remained after adjusting for lifestyle factors, indicating an association independent of other measured health behaviors.
- Researchers suggest fibre may help by improving the gut microbiome and lowering blood lipids and recommend increasing whole grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes, and lentils as a complement to other heart healthy habits.