Dietary Fruits and Vegetables and Cardiovascular Diseases Risk

Abstract

Diet is likely to be an important determinant of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In this article, we will review the evidence linking the consumption of fruit and vegetables and CVD risk.Efforts were initially focused on individual protective nutrients, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and β-carotene, in an attempt to identify putative intervention strategies.However these have generally proven to be disappointing when tested in clinical trials.The evidence now suggests that a complicated set of several nutrients may interact with genetic factors to influence CVD risk. Therefore, it may be more important to focus on whole foods and dietary patterns rather than individual nutrients to successfully impact on CVD risk reduction.The initial evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption has a protective effect against CVD came from observational studies. However uncertainty remains about the magnitude of the benefit of fruit and vegetable intake on the occurrence of CVD and whether the optimal intake is five portions or greater. Results from randomized controlled trials do not show conclusively that fruit and vegetable intake protects against CVD, in part because the dietary interventions have been of limited intensity to enable optimal analysis of their putative effects.The protective mechanisms of fruit and vegetables may include some of the known bioactive nutrient effects dependent on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and electrolyte properties, but also include their functional properties, such as low glycemic load and energy density. Taken together, the totality of the evidence accumulated so far does appear to support the notion that increased intake of fruits and vegetables may reduce cardiovascular risk. It is clear that fruit and vegetables should be eaten as part of a balanced diet, as a source of vitamins, fiber, minerals and phytochemicals.A clearer understanding of the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and cardiovascular risk would provide health professionals with significant information in terms of public health and clinical practice.3

Dose‐response relationships between dairy intake and chronic metabolic diseases in a Chinese population

“…Many meta‐analyses have found that the intake of vegetables and fruit is inversely associated with the risk of weight gain, CVD, and type 2 diabetes . Nevertheless, the intake vegetables and fruit remains low worldwide . Therefore, nutritional education and health policies are needed to promote the intake of vegetables and fruit to decrease the burden of CMDs.…”

“…37 Nevertheless, the intake vegetables and fruit remains low worldwide. 38 Therefore, nutritional education and health policies are needed to promote the intake of vegetables and fruit to decrease the burden of CMDs.…”

A Novel Biological Role of α-Mangostin in Modulating Inflammatory Response Through the Activation of SIRT-1 Signaling Pathway

“…Epidemiological evidence suggests that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables prevents or may delay the onset of various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and dementia (Alissa and Ferns, 2015). These effects have been attributed, in part, to plant-derived poly-phenolic compounds that are good inducers of anti-inflammatory pathways 3), each bar is reported as the intensity of optical density (IOD) AE SD.…”

Involvement of nutrients and nutritional mediators in mitochondrial 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase gene expression

“…Endogenous metabolic pathways and exogenous factors, including nutrient molecules originating from diet, affect most cellular processes, considerably influencing human health state and susceptibility to diseases development. In particular, dietary intake, besides reintegrating metabolic balance, provides bioactive molecules that are selectively able to modulate molecular mechanisms involved in the etiology of numerous pathological conditions, especially cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases (Alissa & Ferns, ; Maehre, Jensen, Elvevoll, & Eilertsen, ; Song, Garrett, & Chan, ). Numerous bioactive nutrients are being progressively identified and their chemopreventive effects are being described at clinical and molecular mechanism levels, revealing the ability of some of them to regulate gene expression.…”

“…of numerous pathological conditions, especially cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases (Alissa & Ferns, 2017;Maehre, Jensen, Elvevoll, & Eilertsen, 2015;Song, Garrett, & Chan, 2015). Numerous bioactive nutrients are being progressively identified and their chemopreventive effects are being described at clinical and molecular mechanism levels, revealing the ability of some of them to regulate gene expression.…”