03 Mar High Peanut Consumption Linked To Reduced Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Xiao-ou Shu M.D., MPH, Ph.D
Associate Director of Global Health
Co-Leader, Cancer Epidemiology Research Program
Ingram Professor of Cancer Research
Professor of Medicine (Epidemiology)
Cancer Epidemiologist

MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Shu: Nuts are rich in nutrients, such as unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, phenolic antioxidants, arginine, and other phytochemicals. These are all known to be beneficial to cardiovascular health, probably through their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial function maintenance properties.   Previous studies, primarily conducted in white and affluent populations, have shown that nut consumption may be related to cardiovascular health. Much of the nut consumption in those populations would be tree nuts. In our study, we found that peanut consumption was associated with reduced total mortality and CVD mortality in a predominantly low-income black and white population in the US, and among Chinese men and women living in Shanghai. Because peanuts are much less expensive than tree nuts, as well as more widely available to people of all races and all socioeconomic backgrounds, increasing peanut consumption may provide a potentially cost-efficient approach to improving cardiovascular health.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Shu: High nut/peanut intake (highest vs lowest quintile) was associated with a 21% and 17% reduction in total mortality for Americans and Chinese, respectively.  The corresponding reduction in CVD mortality was 23% for blacks, 38% for whites, and 24% for Asians. However, our finding on peanut consumption, like those previously reported, was based on an observational study. Thus, we are not yet able to conclude that nut/peanut consumption reduces total or CVD mortality. Nevertheless, the totality of evidence from nutrition and health research suggests that nut/peanut consumption can be considered a healthy lifestyle choice.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Shu: A randomized clinical trial is required to prove the suggested cardiovascular disease benefit of peanut consumption.

Citation:

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Xiao-ou Shu M.D., MPH, Ph.D (2015). High Peanut Consumption Linked To Reduced Cardiovascular Disease Mortality 

Last Updated on March 3, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD