Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Sep;6(9):599-608.
doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2009.131. Epub 2009 Aug 4.

Fruits, vegetables and coronary heart disease

Luc Dauchet  1 , Philippe Amouyel, Jean Dallongeville
Affiliations
Review

Fruits, vegetables and coronary heart disease

Luc Dauchet et al. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Diet plays an important part in the maintenance of optimal cardiovascular health. This Review summarizes the evidence for a relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the occurrence of coronary heart disease. This evidence is based on observational cohort studies, nutrition prevention trials with fruit and vegetables, and investigations of the effects of fruit and vegetables on cardiovascular risk factors. Most of the evidence supporting a cardioprotective effect comes from observational epidemiological studies; these studies have reported either weak or nonsignificant associations. Controlled nutritional prevention trials are scarce and the existing data do not show any clear protective effects of fruit and vegetables on coronary heart disease. Under rigorously controlled experimental conditions, fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a decrease in blood pressure, which is an important cardiovascular risk factor. However, the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on plasma lipid levels, diabetes, and body weight have not yet been thoroughly explored. Finally, the hypothesis that nutrients in fruit and vegetables have a protective role in reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and preventing complications of atherosclerosis has not been tested in prevention trials. Evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease remains scarce thus far.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • A natural way to cardiovascular health.
    Ghayur MN, Janssen LJ. Ghayur MN, et al. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010 Mar;7(3):1-2. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2009.131-c1. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010. PMID: 20213930 No abstract available.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. JAMA. 2006 Feb 8;295(6):643-54 - PubMed
    1. Circulation. 1992 Nov;86(5):1475-84 - PubMed
    1. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Sep;74(3):387-401 - PubMed
    1. JAMA. 2008 May 7;299(17):2027-36 - PubMed
    1. JAMA. 2007 Jul 18;298(3):289-98 - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources