Higher Fiber Intake Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk in Night Shift Workers: Study

Night shift work has long been linked to a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), and new research suggests diet-particularly fiber intake-may influence that risk. A large study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology explored whether dietary fiber and meat avoidance help explain differences in CHD risk between daytime and shift workers.

The study followed 222,801 adults with an average age of 53 years over a median period of 12.6 years. Participants were grouped into daytime workers (83.6%), shift workers with few or no night shifts (13%), and regular night shift workers (3.3%).

After adjusting for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, night shift workers had a 10% higher risk of developing CHD compared to daytime workers. Occasional shift workers did not show a significantly elevated risk after full adjustments.

Fiber intake emerged as an important modifying factor. Lower daily fiber consumption was associated with higher CHD risk among shift workers compared to daytime workers. However, as fiber intake increased, the excess risk weakened significantly.

Statistical modeling suggested that night shift workers would need around 19 grams of fiber per day to reduce their CHD risk to levels comparable to daytime workers, while occasional shift workers required about 15 grams per day. Researchers caution that this reflects statistical interaction rather than proof that high fiber completely neutralizes shift-related risk.

Meat avoidance—defined as consuming no processed or unprocessed red meat—was linked to a 10.4% lower CHD risk overall. However, unlike fiber, this association did not differ by work schedule.

Although observational, the findings suggest that higher fiber intake may help mitigate cardiovascular stress associated with night shift work. Tailored nutritional strategies could complement broader heart health recommendations for shift workers.

REFERENCE: Noga, D. A., Meth, E. M. S., Pacheco, A. P., et al. (2026). Night shift work, dietary patterns, and coronary heart disease. Cardiovascular Disease. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-026-01362-w.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-026-01362-w