The association between fruit and vegetable consumption and peripheral arterial disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Peripheral Arterial Disease

Background:

• High fruit and vegetable intake is linked to reduced cardiovascular disease risk.
• Research on the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption on peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of developing peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Main Methods:

• A cohort study of 44,059 men without prior cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
• Follow-up over 12 years, documenting 295 cases of PAD.
• Fruit and vegetable intake assessed using a food frequency questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Age-adjusted models suggested a protective effect of higher fruit and vegetable intake on PAD risk.
• These associations were substantially attenuated after adjusting for smoking and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• Adjusted relative risks for the highest vs. lowest intake quintiles were non-significant for overall, fruit, and vegetable intake.

Conclusions:

• The study did not find conclusive evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption protects against peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
• A potential modest benefit cannot be entirely ruled out, warranting further investigation.