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Increased fruit, vegetable consumption in early adulthood lowers future CAC risk
Participants in a recent study, particularly women, who reported a greater amount of fruit and vegetable consumption at an early age were less likely to have coronary artery calcium 20 years later than those with lower fruit and vegetable intake.
Researchers evaluated data collected from 2,506 patients enrolled in the CARDIA prospective cohort study in 1985-1986 (mean age at baseline, 25.3 years; 62.7% women). Fruit and vegetable intake was evaluated at baseline and again in 2005-2006 via a semiquantitative diet history, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) was measured in 2005-2006 via CT.
After adjustment to a 2,000 kcal/day diet, the median fruit/vegetable intake was 3.3 servings/day in the lowest tertile and 8.9 servings/day in the highest tertile among women; and 2.6 servings/day and 7.2 servings/day, respectively, among men.
Researchers observed a significant inverse association between higher fruit/vegetable intake at baseline and the prevalence of CAC after adjustment for demographics and lifestyle factors (OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.59-1.02 for middle vs. lowest tertile; OR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.99 for highest vs. lowest tertile; P < .001 for trend). Similar results were observed with use of intake data collected in 2005-2006 compared with baseline data.
Further adjustment for other dietary variables attenuated but did not eliminate the significance of this association (OR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.63-1.11 for middle vs. lowest tertile; OR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.67-1.26 for highest vs. lowest tertile; P < .002 for trend). Analysis of fruit intake and vegetable intake separately indicated similar benefits from increased intake.
After stratification by sex, the researchers observed the inverse association between fruit/vegetable intake and CAC prevalence among women (OR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.48-1.1 for middle vs. lowest tertile; OR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35-0.87 for highest vs. lowest tertile; P = .01 for trend), but not men (OR = 0.77; 95% CI; 0.52-1.12 for middle vs. lowest tertile; OR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.6-1.31 for highest vs. lowest tertile; P = .67 for trend). However, the researchers wrote that the lack of association observed among men may be attributable to a lower number of male participants, and that other studies have suggested health benefits for men from increased fruit/vegetable intake.
“People shouldn’t assume that they can wait until they’re older to eat healthy — our study suggests that what you eat as a young adult may be as important as what you eat as an older adult,” researcher Michael D. Miedema, MD, senior consulting cardiologist and clinical investigator at Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, said in a press release. “Our findings support public health initiatives aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable intake as part of a healthy dietary pattern.” – by Adam Taliercio
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.