Iranian Journal of

Background: Limited data are available relating intake of fruits and vegetables to inflammatory markers and risk of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between fruits and vegetables intake and C-reactive protein (CRP) and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Fruits and vegetables intake were assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in a cross-sectional study of 486 Tehranian female teachers aged 40-60 y. Anthropometric measurements were done and blood pressure was assessed according to standard methods. Fasting blood samples were taken for biochemical measurements. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

Results: The reported mean daily intake of fruits and vegetables were 228±79 and 186±88 g/d respectively. Both fruits and vegetables intake were inversely associated with plasma CRP concentrations. After statistically controlling for age, BMI and waist circumference, mean plasma concentrations of CRP across increasing quintile categories of fruits were 1.94, 1.79, 1.65, 1.61 and 1.56 mg/L respectively (P for trend <0.01) and of vegetables were 2.03, 1.82, 1.58, 1.52 and 1.47 mg/L respectively (P for trend<0.01). These inverse associations remained significant after additional control for other potential confounding variables and dietary factors. After controlling for potential confounders individuals in the highest quintile of fruits intake had 34% (95% CI: 20%-46%) lower and those in the highest quintile of vegetables intake had 30% (95% CI: 16%-39%) lower chance of having the metabolic syndrome compared to those in the lowest quintiles.

Conclusion: In this study higher intake of fruits and vegetables were associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome part of this association may be mediated through CRP. These findings support current dietary recommendations to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables as a primary preventive measure against cardiovascular disease.

Background: Only limited data are available on the benefits of fruits and vegetable consumption on CVD risk factors. The aim of this study was to examine whether and to what extent intake of fruits and vegetables are inversely associated with cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors in adults.                                                           

Methods: In this population-based cross-sectional study a representative sample of 840 Tehranian adults (361 men and 479 women) aged 18-74 years were randomly selected in 1998. Usual dietary intake was assessed with the use of food frequency questionnaire. Portion sizes of consumed foods were converted from household measures to grams and analyzed by using Nutritionist III software designed for Iranian foods. Subjects were categorized based on category cut-points. : 0-1.9, 2-2.9, 3.0-3.9, and>=4 servings/d.

Results: In multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for confounders, dietary fruits and vegetable were found to be significantly and inversely associated with CVD risk factors. Adjusted odds ratio for high LDL concentrations were 1.00, 0.88, 0.81, 0.75(P for trend < 0.01) in first model which was adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), energy intake, smoking status, dietary cholesterol, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, a trend which was not appreciably altered by additional adjustment for education, physical activity, and saturated, polyunsaturated, total fat, Potassium and vitamin C intakes. This association was observed across categories of smoking status, physical activity, and tertiles of the Keys score.

Conclusion: Consumption of fruits and vegetables more than 4 servings a day is associated with lower concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-C and with decrease in the risk of cardiovascular diseases.