Eating Fruit Slashes Aneurysm Risk by 25%

DALLASEating more than 2 servings of fruit a day lowers the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm by as much as 25% compared to those who eat the least amount of fruit a day, according to a new study published in the journal Circulation. The findings suggest high levels of antioxidants in fruits might protect against abdominal aortic aneurysm by preventing oxidative stress that can promote inflammation.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a ballooning of the lower part of the aorta, the main blood vessel that supplies the body. Its relatively rare, but can be lethal. Older men, especially those who have smoked, are at higher risk. Ultrasound screening can easily detect the condition.

In a Swedish study, people who reported eating more than two servings of fruit daily had a lower risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm than those who ate the least amount of fruit. Researchers divided more than 80,000 people, ages 46 to 84 years, into four equal-size groups based on how much fruit and vegetables they reported eating. Over a 13-year follow-up, hospital and death records showed 1,086 people had abdominal aortic aneurysms, including 222 whose aneurysms ruptured. More than 80% of the aneurysms and ruptures were in men.

The researchers also found compared to those eating the least amount of fruit (less than 1 full serving), those who ate the most (more than 2 servings daily, not counting juice) had a 25% lower risk of the aortic condition and 43% lower risk of a ruptured aneurysm. Compared to those who didnt eat any fruit, those who had 2 servings a day had a 31% lower risk of a nonruptured aneurysm and a 39% lower risk of a ruptured aneurysm.

A high consumption of fruits may help to prevent many vascular diseases, and our study suggests that a lower risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm will be among the benefits," said Otto Stackelberg, M.D., lead author and a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Environmental Medicines Nutritional Epidemiology Unit at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

Researchers found no association for vegetables, which are also rich in antioxidants. Vegetables lack some types of antioxidants that are in fruits, which might help explain the fruit versus vegetable findings, the researchers said.

Vegetables remain important for health. Other studies have found that eating more fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and several cancers," Stackelberg said.