Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124794
Title: LOW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE IS ASSOCIATED WITH TOTAL AND CHD MORTALITY AMONG MEN IN THE BALTIMORE LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGING

Author
item TUCKER, KATHERINE - HNRCA
item Hallfrisch, Judith
item QIAO, NING - HNRCA
item ZONDERMAN, A - NATNL INSTITUTE ON AGING
item MUELLER, D - NATNL INSTITUTE ON AGING
item FLEG, J - NATNL INSTITUTE ON AGING
item ANDRES, R - NATNL INSTITUTE ON AGING

Submitted to: International Congress of Nutrition
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: TUCKER, K.L., HALLFRISCH, J.G., QIAO, N., ZONDERMAN, A.B., MUELLER, D., FLEG, J.L., ANDRES, R. LOW FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE IS ASSOCIATED WITH TOTAL AND CHD MORTALITY AMONG MEN IN THE BALTIMORE LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGING. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF NUTRITION. 2001;Program Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dietary factors are known to contribute to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, but few studies have investigated the role of fruit and vegetable consumption. Estimate the effect of fruit and vegetable consumption in adulthood with CHD and total mortality among men. Longitudinal cohort analysis with an average of 20 days of dietary records (7-49) per person, taken at 1-7 points in time over a mean of 23 years of follow-up. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) began in 1958 and continues to follow volunteers, primarily from the Baltimore- Washington area, biennially. This analysis included 392 male volunteers, 30-70 years of age at first diet measure, between 1961 and 1975. Mortality from CHD and from all causes was ascertained from death certificates. Men consuming more than 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day had 71% less CHD mortality, and 53% less total mortality, than those consuming fewer than 3 servings (p<0.01). Each additional serving was associated with 26% and 12% reductions in CHD and total mortality, respectively. Significance (p<0.01) remained after adjustment for age, energy intake, physical activity score, smoking status, alcohol use, use of vitamin or mineral supplements, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol concentration. Consumption of at least five servings per day of fruit and vegetables appears to reduce risk of both CHD and total mortality in men after adjustment for potential confounders, including supplement use, and for blood pressure.