Evaluating an Intervention to Increase Cereal Fiber Intake in Children: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial
Journal article, 2021

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown that higher cereal fiber intake is associated with reduced type 2 diabetes risk. However, it remains uncertain whether this association is causal. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the feasibility of an intervention to increase cereal fiber intake in children using breakfast cereals. METHODS: The study was a 2-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial in 9-10-y-old children, who received free supplies of high-fiber breakfast cereals (>3.5 g/portion) or low-fiber breakfast cereals (<1.0 g/portion) to eat daily for 1 mo with behavioral support to promote adherence. Children provided baseline and 1-mo fasting blood samples, physical measurements, and 24-h dietary recalls. The primary outcome was the group difference in change in plasma total alkylresorcinol (AR) concentration; secondary outcomes were group differences in nutrient intakes and adiposity indices. Analyses (complete case and multiple imputation) were conducted by regressing the final AR concentration on baseline AR in models adjusted for sex, ethnicity, age, and school (random effect). RESULTS: Two-hundred seventy-two children were randomly assigned (137 receiving a low-fiber and 135 a high-fiber diet) and 193 (71%) provided fasting blood samples at baseline and follow-up. Among randomized participants, median (IQR) of baseline AR was 43.1 (24.6-85.5) nmol/L and of cereal fiber intake was 4.5 (2.7-6.4) g; 87% of participants reported consuming the cereal on most or all days. Compared with changes in the low-fiber group, the high-fiber group had greater increases in AR (40.7 nmol/L; 95% CI: 21.7, 59.8 nmol/L, P < 0.0001) and in reported cereal fiber intake (2.9g/d; 95% CI: 2.0, 3.7 g; P < 0.0001). There were no appreciable differences in other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a simple and acceptable nutritional intervention that increases markers of daily cereal fiber intake in children. This intervention could be used to test whether increases in cereal fiber intake in children might reduce insulin resistance. This trial was registered at www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN33260236.

children

type 2 diabetes risk

Cereal fiber

feasibility trial

dietary intervention

Author

Angela S. Donin

University of London

Claire M. Nightingale

University of London

Michael R. Perkin

University of London

Michael Ussher

University of Stirling

University of London

Susan A. Jebb

University of Oxford

Rikard Landberg

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Paul Welsh

University of Glasgow

Naveed Sattar

University of Glasgow

Peymane Adab

University of Birmingham

Chris G. Owen

University of London

Alicja R. Rudnicka

University of London

Derek G. Cook

University of London

Peter H. Whincup

University of London

Journal of Nutrition

0022-3166 (ISSN) 1541-6100 (eISSN)

Vol. 151 2 379-386

Subject Categories

Food Science

Nutrition and Dietetics

DOI

10.1093/jn/nxaa347

PubMed

33296467

More information

Latest update

4/29/2021