Nut Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk in Older Chinese: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.
OBJECTIVE
In Western contexts nut consumption is associated with better health. We examined the associations of nut consumption with cardiovascular disease risk in the non-Western setting of Southern China.


METHODS
In the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study we used multivariable linear regression to examine the associations of baseline nut (mainly peanuts) consumption (none (n = 6688), <3 portions/week (n = 2596) and ≥3 portions/week (n = 2444)) with follow-up assessment of Framingham cardiovascular disease score (excluding smoking) and its components in older Chinese (≥50 years) (follow-up 57.8%).


RESULTS
Nut consumption was not associated with Framingham score (≥3 portions/week compared to none: 0.02 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.11 to 0.15), systolic blood pressure (-0.66 mmHg 95% CI -1.94, 0.62), diastolic blood pressure (-0.69 mmHg 95% CI -1.44, 0.07), HDL-cholesterol (-0.01 mmol/L 95% CI -0.02, 0.005), LDL-cholesterol (-0.01 mmol/L 95% CI -0.05, 0.02) or fasting glucose (0.04 mmol/L 95% CI -0.02, 0.09), adjusted for baseline values, energy intake, age, sex, phase of recruitment, socio-economic position, lifestyle and baseline health status.


CONCLUSIONS
Observations concerning the benefits of nut consumption may be contextually specific, perhaps depending on the type of nut consumed.
School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Yangbo
Y
Sun
Guangzhou Number 12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Chao Qiang
CQ
Jiang
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Kar Keung
KK
Cheng
Guangzhou Number 12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Wei Sen
WS
Zhang
School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Gabriel M
GM
Leung
School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Tai Hing
TH
Lam
School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, SAR, China; School of Public Health, CUNY, New York City, New York, United States of America.
C Mary
CM
Schooling
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D010367:Arachis / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL