Plant foods and the risk of cerebrovascular diseases: a potential protection of fruit consumption

Abstract

Studies on the association between plant foods and cerebrovascular diseases have given contradictory results suggesting the existence of some effect-modifying factors. The present study determines whether the consumption of plant foods (i.e. fruits and berries, vegetables, and cereals) predicts a decreased cerebrovascular disease incidence in a population with low fruit and vegetable and high wholegrain intake. This cohort study on 3932 men and women was based on data from the Finnish Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey, conducted in 1968 -72. The participants were 40 -74 years of age and free of cardiovascular diseases at baseline. Data on the plant food consumption were derived from a 1-year dietary history interview. During a 24-year follow-up 625 cases of cerebrovascular diseases occurred, leading to either hospitalisation or death. An inverse association was found between fruit consumption and the incidence of cerebrovascular diseases, ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage. The adjusted relative risks (RR) between the highest and lowest quartiles of intake of any cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage were 0·75 (95 % CI 0·59, 0·94), 0·73 (95 % CI 0·54, 1·00) and 0·47 (95 % CI 0·24, 0·92), respectively. These associations were primarily due to the consumption of citrus fruits and occurred only in men. Total consumption of vegetables or cereals was not associated with the cerebrovascular disease incidence. The consumption of cruciferous vegetables, however, predicted a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases (RR 0·79; 95 % CI 0·63, 0·99), ischaemic stroke (RR 0·67; 95 % CI 0·49, 0·92) and intracerebral haemorrhage (RR 0·49; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·98). In conclusion, the consumption of fruits, especially citrus, and cruciferous vegetables may protect against cerebrovascular diseases.

Associations between low consumption of fruits and vegetables and nutritional deficiencies in Brazilian schoolchildren

“…The β coefficients of circulating carotenoids, tocopherol and folate (Table 3) between children who did not consume or rarely consumed F&V (FFI 0 ) and each category of consumption of F&V, including the grouping FFI [1][2][3][4] , showed statistically significant differences for carotenes and tocopherol in all FFI categories (except for FFI 4 ). Regarding serum folate concentration, differences according to categories of F&V consumption were not observed.…”

“…*FFI 0 , consumption of vegetables never or ≤ 3 times/month and fruits ≤ 3 times/week; FFI [1][2][3][4] , consumption of vegetables ≥ 1 time/week and fruits ≥ 4 times/week. †VDI defined as serum vitamin D < 75 nmol/l; ND defined as having at least one of the nutritional disturbances except for VDI; VAD defined as serum retinol < 0·70 µmol/l; VEI defined as serum tocopherol < 11·61 µmol/l; anaemia defined as Hb < 110·0 g/l for children under 5 years and Hb < 115·0 g/l for children aged 5-10 years; FD defined as serum folate < 10 nmol/l; stunting defined as HAZ < − 2; obesity defined as BMIZ > 2.…”

Legume consumption and CVD risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Legume consumption and stroke risk Six studies (19,21,22,26,27,29) comprising eight data sets were considered for the analysis on the highest v. lowest level of dietary legume intake and stroke risk. The pooled analysis showed null results with no substantial risk increment or reduction for higher consumption of legumes (RR = 1·01; 95 % CI 0·89, 1·14).…”

“…Among the thirty-four articles obtained after screening on the basis of title and abstract, twenty studies were excluded after a full-text examination because they were not relevant for the research (n 11), did not study CVD as outcome (n 3), had a study design other than prospective (n 2), reported insufficient statistics (n 2), were conducted on the same cohort of another study but had shorter follow-up (n 1) or considered composite legume and other foods consumption (n 1). This inclusion strategy resulted in the final inclusion of fourteen studies (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) and thirty-two data sets eligible to be considered for the quantitative analysis. Studies included were conducted on eleven cohorts and accounted for a total of 367 000 individuals and 18 475 cases of CVD, including 7451 CHD and 6336 stroke cases.…”

“…Exclusion of one study at the time did not change the strength of the association. Subgroup analyses demonstrated stability of results across strata considered, showing a significant decreased risk of CHD by high consumption of legumes in all subgroups with the exception of pooled analysis of studies conducted in the Mediterranean region.Legume consumption and stroke risk Six studies (19,21,22,26,27,29) comprising eight data sets were considered for the analysis on the highest v. lowest level of dietary legume intake and stroke risk. The pooled analysis showed null results with no substantial risk increment or reduction for higher consumption of legumes (RR = 1·01; 95 % CI 0·89, 1·14).…”