Dietary Fiber, Genetic Variations of Gut Microbiota-derived Short-chain Fatty Acids, and Bone Health in UK Biobank

Abstract

Context: Dietary fiber intake may relate to bone health.

Objective: To investigate whether dietary fiber intake is associated with bone mineral density (BMD), and the modification effect of genetic variations related to gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

Design: The associations of dietary fiber intake with estimated BMD derived from heel ultrasound and fractures were assessed in 224 630 and 384 134 participants from the UK Biobank.

Setting: UK Biobank.

Main outcome measures: Estimated BMD derived from heel ultrasound.

Results: Higher dietary fiber intake (per standard deviation) was significantly associated with higher heel-BMD (β [standard error] = 0.0047 [0.0003], P = 1.10 × 10-54). Similarly significant associations were observed for all the fiber subtypes including cereal, fruit (dried and raw), and vegetable (cooked and raw) (all P < .05). A positive association was found in both women and men but more marked among men except for dietary fiber in cooked vegetables (all Pinteraction < .05). A protective association was found between dietary fiber intake and hip fracture (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.94, 0.89-0.99; P = 3.0 × 10-2). In addition, the association between dietary fiber and heel BMD was modified by genetically determined SCFA propionate production (Pinteraction = 5.1 × 10-3). The protective association between dietary fiber and heel BMD was more pronounced among participants with lower genetically determined propionate production.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that greater intakes of total dietary fiber and subtypes from various food sources are associated with higher heel-BMD. Participants with lower genetically determined propionate production may benefit more from taking more dietary fiber.

Keywords: bone mineral density; dietary fiber; short-chain fatty acids.