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Suboptimal fruit, vegetable intake linked to 2.8 million heart-related deaths
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Worldwide, almost 3 million CVD deaths may be linked to insufficient intakes of fruits, vegetables and legumes, according to research presented at Nutrition 2019.
Researchers reviewed food-related surveys and disease data representing 82% of the world’s population. Optimal fruit consumption was 300 g daily per day — about two small apples — and optimal consumption of vegetables, including legumes, was 400 g per day, about three cups of raw carrots.
They found that eating an amount of fruit below the set amount caused an estimated 521,395 coronary heart disease deaths (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 498,254 to 542,808) and 1,255,978 stroke deaths (95% UI, 1,187,716 to 1,325,879) annually. In addition, eating an amount of vegetables, including legumes, below the set amount caused an estimated 809,425 coronary heart disease deaths (95% UI, 783,362 to 836,687) and 210,849 stroke deaths (95% UI, 196,297 to 226,577) annually.
More of each type of death occurred in males and younger adults, researchers reported.
“Our findings indicate the need for population-based efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption throughout the world," Victoria Miller, a postdoctoral researcher at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, said in a press release.
Resource: Miller V, et al. Estimated global, regional, and national cardiovascular disease burdens related to fruit and vegetable consumption: An analysis from the Global Dietary Database. Presented at: Nutrition 2019; June 8-11; Baltimore.
Disclosures: Healio Primary Care was unable to confirm the authors’ relevant financial disclosures.