Dried fruit consumption and cardiometabolic health: a randomised crossover trial

Abstract

Fruit intake is associated with lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, effects of dried fruits on cardiometabolic health are not well researched. We investigated the effect of daily dried fruit consumption compared with a carbohydrate-rich snack on cardiometabolic disease risk factors in adults with increased cardiometabolic risk. A two-period randomised crossover trial was conducted in adults (n 55) with elevated BMI and at least one additional risk factor for cardiometabolic disease to compare the effects of consuming 3/4 cup/d mixed dried fruits (plums, figs, dates and raisins) or an energy- and carbohydrate-matched control snack for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was LDL-cholesterol; secondary outcomes included other lipids and lipoproteins, glucose and insulin, C-reactive protein, blood pressure and vascular stiffness. Linear mixed models were used for data analysis. Lipid and lipoprotein concentrations did not differ between conditions; however, dried fruit increased LDL-cholesterol (0·10 mmol/l, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·20) compared with baseline. Compared with the control, dried fruit increased mean fasting glucose (0·08 mmol/l, 95 % CI 0·005, 0·16; P = 0·038). Vascular outcomes, fasting insulin and C-reactive protein did not differ between conditions. Mean weight changes did not differ (P = 0·55) but tended to increase after both conditions (dried fruit 0·3 kg, 95 % CI –0·09, 0·65; control 0·4 kg, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·75). Thus, short-term daily consumption of a large portion of mixed dried plums, figs, dates and raisins, without structured dietary guidance, did not improve cardiometabolic risk factors, compared with carbohydrate-rich snacks, in adults with increased baseline cardiometabolic risk.

Causal associations between dried fruit intake and cardiovascular disease: A Mendelian randomization study

“…Some studies have reported that raisin intake can reduce CVD risk factors such as plasma lipids, inflammatory cytokine levels, postprandial glucose levels, and systolic blood pressure ( 8 , 9 ). However, a recent study showed that dried fruit consumption did not improve cardiometabolic risk factors ( 11 ). Therefore, whether dried fruit intake can actually decrease CVD risk is inconclusive.…”

“…Furthermore, dried fruits and nuts have been reported to help promote cardiometabolic health ( 10 ). Nonetheless, Sullivan VK found that dried fruit consumption did not reduce cardiometabolic risk factors ( 11 ). Therefore, these controversial findings highlight the need for further research to determine the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and cardiovascular disease.…”

Association between dried fruit intake and pan-cancers incidence risk: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

“…However, most observational studies on the relationship between diet and cancer do not distinguish between dried fruit and raw fruit or do not mention the impact of dried fruit on cancer. Dietary guidelines in many countries also encourage people to choose non-juice-form fruits as much as possible, including dried fruit ( 16 ). Dried fruit is a stable form of fruit that remains fresh through drying technology; however, it mainly appears in the human diet as a snack, accounting for a relatively small proportion.…”

Dried Fruits, Nuts, and Cancer Risk and Survival: A Review of the Evidence and Future Research Directions

“…The evidence from human intervention studies for cancer prevention by dried fruit consumption is very limited. Thus far, human intervention studies with dried fruits have focused on cardiometabolic health or other chronic diseases [ 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Some evidence is available for the function of high-value, freeze-dried berry products in healthy individuals and those with colorectal, oral, and prostate cancers [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”