Associations between the Intakes of Plant Foods and Coronary Artery Disease in Japanese Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography

Several Japanese cohort studies have reported that the intakes of plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, seaweed, and soy products, are inversely associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent. We investigated the association between CAD and the intakes of plant foods in 802 Japanese patients undergoing coronary angiography. The intakes of vegetables, fruits, seaweed, and soy products were determined by 3 categories (<3, 3-4, and >4 times/wk). CAD was found in 511 patients, of whom 173 had myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with higher vegetable and fruit intakes had a significantly lower prevalence of CAD and tended to have a lower prevalence of MI. However, no significant difference was found in the prevalence of CAD or MI among the 3 groups of seaweed and soy product intakes. In the multivariate analyses, the prevalence of CAD decreased depending on the intakes of vegetables and fruits. The odds ratios (OR) for >4 times/wk intakes of vegetables and fruits relative to <3 times/wk were 0.46 (95%CI: 0.29-0.74) and 0.62 (0.40-0.95), respectively. Thus, in Japanese patients undergoing coronary angiography, the intakes of vegetables and fruits were found to be inversely associated with CAD but not with MI. However, no significant association was found between the intakes of seaweed or soy products and CAD or MI.