Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the association of vegetable and fruit consumption with carotid plaque (CP) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), two predictors of carotid atherosclerosis, within urban and rural adults at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in regional China. A total of 11,392 adults at high CVD risk were identified from general population of 71,511 in this cross-sectional study, conducted between November of 2015 and May of 2016 in the Jiangsu Province. Among these 11,392 high risk participants, CP prevalence was 36.7%. The independent variables, vegetable and fruit intake frequency, were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. The outcome variables, CIMT and CP, were measured by ultrasound examination. The ANCOVA analysis showed no association between CIMT values and vegetable and fruit intake frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression models were introduced to examine the association between vegetable and fruit intake and CP. After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios (ORs) for participants who occasionally and daily consumed vegetable to experience any CP were 0.67 (95%CI: 0.58-0.78) and 0.70 (95%CI: 0.62-0.79), respectively, compared with those rarely consumed vegetable. While the adjusted ORs were 0.77 (95%CI: 0.64-0.92) and 0.80 (95%CI: 0.68-0.94), separately, for occasional and daily vegetable consumers to develop single CP relative to their counterparts who rarely consumed any vegetables. However, no significant association between fruit consumption and CP was observed. Among the Chinese population at high CVD risk, consumption of fresh vegetables was negatively associated with the risk of developing carotid plaque.
Highlights
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, is a leading cause of death and disease burden worldwide, including in China [1,2]
95%CI: 95% confidence interval; odds ratios (ORs): odds ratio. * Model 1 is the unadjusted regression model; ** Model 2 is a multivariable regression model with adjustment for age, gender, household income, education level, current smoking status and drinking status, body mass index, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. In this large-scale population-based study, we aimed to explore the relationship between vegetable and fruit consumption and carotid atherosclerosis among adults at high CVD risk in China
We found that vegetable consumption was negatively associated with the risk of experiencing carotid plaque, a predictor of carotid atherosclerosis among residents at high CVD risk in regional China
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, is a leading cause of death and disease burden worldwide, including in China [1,2]. It accounts for more than 80% of the total disease burden in low- and middle-income countries 3, expected to increase in the decades [4,5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
