LOS ANGELES - People who consume the most fiber are the most unlikely to suffer heart problems during their lifetime, a new study suggests.

The findings add to existing research that links high-fiber diets to lower rates of high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol, HealthDay News reported on Tuesday.

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In the study, researchers from Northwestern University analyzed data from a 2003-2008 survey of 11,079 people, all aged 20 and older, with an average age of 46.

Of the participants, about half were women, 22 percent were black and 27 percent were Mexican-American.

The researchers divided the study participants into four groups based on how much fiber they ate a day and then predicted their lifetime risk for heart disease based on such factors as blood pressure and whether they smoked.

In people 20 to 39 years old as well as those 40 to 59 years old, those who consumed the most fiber had a significantly lower risk for cardiovascular disease than those with the least intake of fiber, the study found.

The findings were presented on Tuesday in Atlanta at an American Heart Association scientific session on nutrition, physical activity, metabolism and cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention, according to HealthDay News.

The report said the researchers regard their findings as preliminary until it has been subjected to the rigorous scrutiny required for publication in peer-reviewed medical journals.