Health Benefits of Fiber Fermentation.

Although fiber is well recognized for its effect on laxation, increasing evidence supports the role of fiber in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the health benefits of fiber and its fermentation, and describe how the products of fermentation may influence disease risk and treatment. Higher fiber intakes are associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Fiber may also have a role in lowering blood pressure and in preventing obesity by limiting weight gain. Fiber is effective in managing blood glucose in type 2 diabetes, useful for weight loss, and may provide therapeutic adjunctive roles in kidney and liver disease. In addition, higher fiber diets are not contraindicated in inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome and may provide some benefit. Common to the associations with disease reduction is fermentation of fiber and its potential to modulate microbiota and its activities and inflammation, specifically the production of anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acids, primarily from saccharolytic fermentation, versus the deleterious products of proteolytic activity. Because fiber intake is inversely associated with all-cause mortality, mechanisms by which fiber may reduce chronic disease risk and provide therapeutic benefit to those with chronic disease need further elucidation and large, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm causality.Teaching Points• Strong evidence supports the association between higher fiber diets and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.• Higher fiber intakes are associated with lower body weight and body mass index, and some types of fiber may facilitate weight loss.• Fiber is recommended as an adjunctive medical nutritional therapy for type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and certain liver diseases.• Fermentation and the resulting shifts in microbiota composition and its activity may be a common means by which fiber impacts disease risk and management.

Cost of illness and drivers of cost in atrial fibrillation in Sweden and Germany.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important public health problem in European countries. AF is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, e.g. from heart failure and thromboembolic events. Little data have previously been presented regarding the costs of treatment in patients with AF. OBJECTIVE: To estimate total direct and indirect costs in patients with AF in Sweden and Germany, and to identify determinants of total costs. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted through surveys to patients and their treating physician in primary care and in hospital outpatient cardiology departments in Sweden and Germany. A total of 922 patients with AF as diagnosed in clinical practice were enrolled and completed the study. Data were collected on medical history, treatment, medical and non-medical resource use, and employment status. Costs (year 2005 values) were calculated by multiplying resources used with prices specific for Sweden and Germany, respectively. RESULTS: Total annual costs per patient were €7241 in Sweden and €5586 in Germany. Slightly less than 70% of total costs were judged as being AF related in both countries. Costs of AF-related medication were about 2% of total costs in both countries. In a generalized regression model, costs were found to increase with age, but were lower in patients aged>65 years than in those aged