A comprehensive study orchestrated by McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences researchers at the Population Research Health Institute (PHRI) has uncovered that a deficiency in consuming a specific combination of six essential foods is linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults.
Incorporating fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and whole-fat dairy into one’s diet is crucial for reducing the risk of CVD, including conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. The findings also highlight that a nutritious diet can be accomplished through various means, including moderate amounts of whole grains or unprocessed meats.
While previous research has concentrated mainly on diets in Western countries that mix detrimental, ultra-processed foods with nutrient-rich foods, this study boasts a global perspective, focusing on universally acknowledged healthy foods.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 18 million individuals succumbed to CVD in 2019, accounting for 32% of all deaths worldwide. A staggering 85% of these deaths were a result of heart attacks and strokes. To arrive at their conclusions, PHRI researchers and their international partners examined data from 245,000 individuals across 80 countries, drawing from various studies. These findings were published in the European Heart Journal on July 6.
The study utilized a dietary score based on PHRI’s ongoing Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, which was then applied to five independent studies. This approach allowed for assessing health outcomes across different global regions and among individuals with and without previous CVD events.
“Past dietary scores, such as the EAT-Lancet Planetary Diet and the Mediterranean Diet, primarily explored the diet-CVD and mortality link within Western contexts. The PURE Healthy Diet Score, however, encompassed a broad representation of countries across different income levels,” explained Salim Yusuf, the study’s senior author and the principal investigator of PURE.
A notable aspect of the PURE Healthy Diet Score is its exclusive focus on protective or natural foods, setting it apart from other dietary scores that often mix potentially harmful foods (like processed and ultra-processed foods) with protective nutrients and foods.
Andrew Mente, the study’s lead author, PHRI scientist, and assistant professor at McMaster’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, pointed out the study’s unique emphasis on increasing the intake of protective foods for disease prevention. He highlighted that moderate consumption of natural foods like fish and whole-fat dairy can lower the risk of CVD and mortality. The same positive health outcomes can be attained with moderate consumption of grains and meats, provided they are unrefined whole grains and unprocessed meats.
The PURE Healthy Diet Score recommends a daily intake of two to three servings each of fruits and vegetables, one of nuts, and two servings of dairy. Additionally, it suggests three to four weekly servings of legumes and two to three weekly servings of fish, with potential substitutions including one daily serving of whole grains and one daily serving of unprocessed red meat or poultry.
This analysis received no specific funding, although each contributing study was independently funded and conducted over 25 years.
More information: Andrew Mente et al, Diet, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 80 countries, European Heart Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad269
Journal information: European Heart Journal Provided by McMaster University
