title: Consumption of nuts and risk of total and cause-specific mortality over 15 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The published literature shows that nut consumption has a favorable impact on health. We aimed to assess the association between nut consumption and risk of 15-year total mortality, and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) (including ischemic heart disease, IHD, and stroke), and cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prospective analyses involved 2893 participants aged ≥49 years at baseline. Dietary data were collected by using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire, and nut intakes were calculated. Deaths and cause of death were confirmed by data linkage with the Australian National Death Index. Over 15 years, 1044 participants had died, of these 430 had died from stroke and another 430 had died from IHD. Participants in the second tertile of nut consumption versus those in the first tertile of intake had reduced risk of total mortality: multivariable-adjusted HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.65-0.89). Participants in the second tertile compared to those in the first tertile had 24% and 23% reduced risk of 15-year CVD and IHD mortality, respectively. Associations were more marked in women compared to men. Women in the second versus first tertile of nut consumption had 27%, 39%, 34% and 49% reduced risk of death from all causes (n = 489), CVD (n = 258), IHD (n = 188) and stroke mortality (n = 101), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nut consumption was independently associated with a decreased risk of overall and vascular-disease mortality, particularly in women.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: bamini.gopinath@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burlutksy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D009754:Nuts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D016019:Survival Analysis
keywords: Blue Mountains Eye Study; Cardiovascular disease; Mortality; Nut consumption; Older adults