Nut consumption, vegetarian diets, ischemic heart disease risk, and all-cause mortality: evidence from epidemiologic studies

Perhaps one of the most unexpected and novel findings in nutritional epidem iology in the past 5 y has been that nut consumption seems to protect again st ischemic heart disease (LHD). Frequency and quantity of nut consumption have been documented to be higher in vegetarian than in nonvegetarian popul ations. Nuts also constitute an important part of other plant-based diets, such as Mediterranean and Asian diets. In a large, prospective epidemiologi c study of Seventh-day Adventists in California, we found that frequency of nut consumption had a substantial and highly significant inverse associati on with risk of myocardial infarction and death From MD. The Iowa Women's H ealth Study also documented an association between nut consumption and decr eased risk of IHD. The protective effect of nuts on IHD has been found in m en and women and in the elderly. Importantly, nuts have similar association s in both vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The protective effect of nut cons umption on II-ID is not offset by increased mortality from other causes. Mo reover, frequency of nut consumption; has been found to be inversely relate d to all-cause mortality in several population groups such as whites, black s, and the elderly. Thus, nut consumption may not only offer protection aga inst IHD, but also increase longevity.