Cited by 700Nutritional Studies and DietAgriculture Sustainability and Environmental ImpactCardiovascular Health and Risk Factors

Plant-based foods and prevention of cardiovascular disease: an overview

Open access
Hu, Frank B·2003·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Abstract

Evidence from prospective cohort studies indicates that a high consumption of plant-based foods such as fruit and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains is associated with a significantly lower risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. The protective effects of these foods are probably mediated through multiple beneficial nutrients contained in these foods, including mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fiber, and plant protein. In dietary practice, healthy plant-based diets do not necessarily have to be low in fat. Instead, these diets should include unsaturated fats as the predominant form of dietary fat (eg, fats from natural liquid vegetable oils and nuts), whole grains as the main form of carbohydrate, an abundance of fruit and vegetables, and adequate n-3 fatty acids. Such diets, which also have many other health benefits, deserve more emphasis in dietary recommendations to prevent chronic diseases.

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  • The mechanisms through which hPDI could reduce CHD risk are likely shared with the mechanisms for type 2 diabetes risk reduction.

    “The mechanisms through which hPDI could reduce CHD risk are likely shared with the mechanisms for type 2 diabetes risk reduction.(2, 24–32)”
  • These dietary factors could aid in weight loss/maintenance, enhance glycemic control and insulin regulation, improve lipid profile, reduce blood pressure, improve vascular health, decrease inflammation, and foster more favorable diet-gut microbiome interactions, thereby lowering CHD risk.

    “all of which could aid in weight loss/maintenance, enhance glycemic control and insulin regulation, improve lipid profile, reduce blood pressure, improve vascular health, decrease inflammation, and foster more favorable diet- gut microbiome interactions (e.g. through lowered levels of trimethylamine N-oxide), thereby lowering CHD risk.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Brown L, Sacks F, Rosner B, Willett WC. Nut consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in patients with myocardial infarction. FASEB J 1999;13:A4332 (abstr).
  2. Posner BM, Cobb JL, Belanger AJ, Cupples A, D'Agostino RB, Stokes J III. Dietary lipid predictors of coronary heart disease in men. Arch Intern Med 1991;151:1181-7.
  3. Pietinen P, Ascherio A, Korhonen P, et al. Intake of fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease in a cohort of Finnish men: the ATBC Study. Am J Epidemiol 1997;145:876-87.

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Authors
Hu, F. B.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Hu, Frank B
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-09
Volume
78
Issue
3
Pages
544S-551S
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1939574446
Cited by
700
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 42
FWCI
4.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL60712, R01HL060712, R01HL035464, HL35464, HL34594, R01HL034594)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
Keywords
plant-based diet, cardiovascular disease prevention, coronary artery disease, stroke, fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, phytochemicals, antioxidants, plant proteins, dietary recommendations
MeSH terms
Cardiovascular Diseases, Edible Grain, Diet Surveys, Feeding Behavior, Fruit, Humans, Nuts, Vegetables

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