Ojo... 5 Fruits & Veggies a Day May Be Optimal in Terms of Survival

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Five servings of fruits and vegetables a day — in particular, three vegetables and two fruits — provide the greatest mortality benefit, according to an observational study and meta-analysis in Circulation.

Researchers analyzed results from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Over 100,000 people regularly completed food-frequency questionnaires and were followed for up to 30 years. During that time, nearly a third of participants died.

After multivariable adjustment, the greatest mortality benefit was seen for five servings of produce a day, compared with two servings (hazard ratio, 0.88). Eating more than five servings a day was not associated with greater risk reductions. Of note, increased intake of starchy vegetables, fruit juices, or potatoes was not associated with lower mortality. Results were similar in a meta-analysis of roughly 25 studies.

Editorialists conclude: "In the post COVID world, where diets and other health behaviours have been adversely impacted due to lockdowns, more, not less, needs to be done to tackle the epidemic of unhealthy eating."

Circulation article (Free PDF)

Background: Physician's First Watch coverage of a plant-based diet and coronary heart disease (Free)