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  • Review Article
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Fruits, vegetables and coronary heart disease

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 6, pages 599–608 (2009)Cite this article

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.

Key Points

  • Consumption of fruit and vegetables is weakly associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease in cohort studies

  • Prevention trials have failed to show clear effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on the occurrence of coronary heart disease

  • Consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with decreases in blood pressure, but effects on other cardiovascular risk factors have not been clearly established

  • Prevention trials have failed to confirm the hypothesis that vitamins and other individual nutrients in fruit and vegetables prevent coronary heart disease

  • Evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption prevents cardiovascular disease remains scarce thus far

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Acknowledgements

Charles P. Vega, University of California, Irvine, CA, is the author of and is solely responsible for the content of the learning objectives, questions and answers of the MedscapeCME-accredited continuing medical education activity associated with this article.

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  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM 744, Institut Pasteur de Lille and University of Lille Nord de France, Lille, France

    Luc Dauchet, Philippe Amouyel & Jean Dallongeville

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  1. Luc Dauchet
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  2. Philippe Amouyel
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  3. Jean Dallongeville
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Correspondence to Jean Dallongeville.

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Dauchet, L., Amouyel, P. & Dallongeville, J. Fruits, vegetables and coronary heart disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 6, 599–608 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2009.131

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