Five daily portions of fruit and
vegetables may be enough to lower risk of early death
Eating
five daily portions of fruit and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of
death from any cause, particularly from cardiovascular disease, but beyond five
portions appears to have no further effect, finds a new study.
These
results conflict with a recent study published inBMJ's Journal
of Epidemiology and Community Health suggesting that seven or more
daily portions of fruits and vegetables were linked to lowest risk of death.
So
a team of researchers based in China and the United States decided to examine
the association between fruit and vegetable intake and risk of all-cause,
cardiovascular, and cancer deaths.
They
analysed the results of sixteen studies involving a total of 833,234
participants and 56,423 deaths. Differences in study design and quality were
taken into account to minimise bias. Higher consumption of fruit and vegetables
was significantly associated with a lower risk of death from all causes,
particularly from cardiovascular diseases.
Average
risk of death from all causes was reduced by 5% for each additional daily
serving of fruit and vegetables, while risk of cardiovascular death was reduced
by 4 percent for each additional daily serving of fruit and vegetables.
But
the researchers identified a threshold around five servings per day, after
which the risk of death did not reduce further.
In
contrast, higher consumption of fruit and vegetables was not appreciably
associated with risk of death from cancer. The researchers suggest that, as
well as advice to eat adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables, the adverse
effects of obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and high alcohol intake on
cancer risk should be further emphasised.
The
researchers say their study "provides further evidence that a higher
consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of
mortality from all causes, particularly from cardiovascular diseases. The
results support current recommendations to increase consumption of fruits and
vegetables to promote health and longevity."
Story Source:
The
above story is based on materials provided by BMJ-British
Medical Journal.Note:
Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
1.
X. Wang, Y. Ouyang, J.
Liu, M. Zhu, G. Zhao, W. Bao, F. B. Hu. Fruit and vegetable consumption
and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer: systematic
review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMJ,
2014; 349 (jul29 3): g4490 DOI:10.1136/bmj.g4490
Cite This Page:
·
MLA
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APA
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Chicago
BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Five daily portions of fruit
and vegetables may be enough to lower risk of early death." Science
Daily, 29 July 2014.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140729224918.htm>.
