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PACKING YOUR DIET full of vegetables does not protect against heart disease, a new study suggests.
The findings challenge previous research that suggests eating more vegetables is linked to a lower risk of (CVD) – which can lead to stroke, heart attacks, and death.
Researchers say past studies may not have taken into account lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and meat intake – and socioeconomic factors such as a person’s education, income and wealth.
They add that evidence from previous studies has been inconsistent.
New results from a large-scale UK study shows that a higher consumption of raw or cooked produce is unlikely to affect the risk of CVD.
But the experts stress that eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight remains important in reducing the risk of major diseases.
Dr Qi Feng, a researcher at the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, and the study’s lead author, said: “Our large study did not find evidence for a protective effect of vegetable intake on the occurrence of CVD.
“Instead, our analyses show that the seemingly protective effect of vegetable intake against CVD risk is very likely to be accounted for by bias from residual confounding factors, related to differences in socioeconomic situation and lifestyle.”
The researchers used data from 399,586 people (of whom 4.5% went on to develop CVD) enrolled in the UK Biobank study.
When they signed up to the study in 2006-2010, they were asked about their diet, lifestyle, medical and reproductive history, and other factors.
Responses to questions about how many raw and cooked vegetables they ate on average daily were analysed, together with how likely they were to be admitted to hospital from heart attack, stroke, or major CVD, and the risk of death.
Factors such as socio-economic status, physical activity, and diet were also considered.
The researchers assessed whether unknown additional factors or inaccurate measurement of known factors might lead to a misleading statistical association between CVD risk and vegetable consumption.
In the study, the daily intake of total vegetables, raw vegetables, and cooked vegetables was 5.0, 2.3, and 2.8 heaped tablespoons per person.
The researchers found the risk of dying from CVD was about 15% lower for those with the highest vegetable intake compared to the lowest.
However, this apparent effect was substantially weakened when possible socio-economic, nutritional, and health- and medicine-related factors were taken into account.
When these factors were taken into consideration, the effectiveness of using vegetable intake to predict the risk of CVD fell by more than 80%.
According to the scientists, future studies should further assess whether particular types of vegetables or their method of how they are cooked might affect the risk of CVD.
Last author Dr Ben Lacey, associate professor in the department at the University of Oxford, concluded: “This is an important study with implications for understanding the dietary causes of CVD and the burden of CVD normally attributed to low vegetable intake.
“However, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight remains an important part of maintaining good health and reducing risk of major diseases, including some cancers.
“It is widely recommended that at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables should be eaten every day.”
Dr Ian Johnson, nutrition researcher and Emeritus Fellow, Quadram Institute Bioscience, said: “This study raises interesting questions about the relative importance of the many different aspects of healthy diet and lifestyle, but it should not discourage consumers from following public health recommendations to consume diets high in vegetables of all types.”
Prof Naveed Sattar, professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Glasgow, said: “In short this paper should in no way change advice to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
“Many living in the UK fall well short of this, sadly, and more needs to be done to encourage better intake of vegetables.
“In fact, I suspect we may have underestimated the importance of a healthy diet on health and disease in general.
“We are good at treating with preventative drugs, but the UK needs to up its game in helping people improve lifestyles, including diet and activity – that is the big goal going forward post pandemic.
“How we best do this, though, requires more thought from Government and health agencies.”
The findings are published in the Frontiers in Nutrition journal.
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Another great Dubliner gone..
The Chinese have a saying about this kind of person. When someone like this dies a library has been burnt down. RIP.
Life really isn’t fair.. This man contributed so much to Irish society and I’m sure he left tourists and Irish people with a smile on their faces anytime they met. Then we have the other side of Dublin people, the scrouts that kicked that poor man in the face.. They’ll probably live to 80 and contribute nothing to society. Just live off the rest of us hard working people..
I’m so very sorry to hear this. He had the skills of his dad Eamonn, a man I listened to avidly on both radio and TV, hoping, because he was so brilliant, that he’d never pass away. His son did him proud, but didn’t spend long enough with us. R. I. P
R.I.P Shane
Shane was an outstanding expert on everything that had to do with Glasnevin. He was a passionate historian and was able to explain and weave stories to make every little bit of history interesting and exciting. I would dare to say that he left a lasting impression on anybody he met and his sudden death is a big loss. Very very sad!
Rip a passionate historian the world is a poorer place. sympathies to his family and friends
A loss to everyone interested in Irish history. RIP.
A loss to Ireland and to mankind – not enough people on Earth like Shane i’m afraid …RIP great inspirational man
That is sad news. A gentleman of the highest order.
Jaysis stunned. Only a young man. Remember bringing a group and getting the tour from Shane. Great day out. Rip shane
What a lovely man, he will be greatly missed. RIP.
A lovely man just like his late Dad RIP
Great loss for Dublin, it’s rare these days to find a man with such energy and passion in his work
Suan síoraí, a chomrádaí!
RIP Comrade. x
Passionate – in everything he said and did .
Immensely proud , in all the right ways and reasons .
Poblachtanach – like all before him.
Great respect for all victims of wars .
Immense loss to history , but most of all , I’m sure to his immediate Clann.
Immensely proud and honoured to have enjoyed our relatively short friendship .
Having enjoyed the friendship and kinship of his Athair and his Godfather , in another earlier and similar glorious if darker era, in Irish History.
He will be sorely missed by everyone he touched and beyond !
Deeply saddened by the news, a man I knew many years, a decent guy, a great historian, and an Irish Republican. Slán go fóill Shane.
RIP Shane MacThomais
RIP Shane.
Rest In Peace Shane
An immense loss! He will be sadly missed! RIP SHANE!
This is sad news.
Shocked to hear the sad news of Shane’s untimely death. RIP. He was a superb guide, innovator and motivator. A great friend and force for change at Glasnevin. He will be greatly missed by all.
It was such a shock to hear about Shane this morning, a wonderful and vibrant man full of knowledge and stories. I had the good luck to be on a guided tour with him and a group of others last August, a very funny, personable and interesting man,.
RIP Shane and my condolences to his colleagues in Glasnevin Museum and to his family.
Ah what a pity. Farewell Shane MacThomais.
A huge void really like him so much like his dad.
I met him once at the Museum. One meeting ill always remember.
I was very sad to hear the news, and there’s little more tribute I can offer than the many condolences already voiced.
Separately however, I find it odd how a few of red thumbs down have been put on practically every comment, even ones as innocuous as simply ‘RIP Shane’; isn’t it odd how some people behave at the demise of another? I feel truly sorry for them. Shane may be prematurely dead, but – unlike some others – at least he had a great life, with a true passion for a topic which he generously shared with anyone and everyone. May he rest in peace.
Dublin has lost its heart today. So long Shane..
Ignore them Nigel
Very sad news. Heard him on the radio a few times – made history vibrant. People like Shane make you realise why history should stay as a core subject on the Junior cert curriculum. My loss that I never took his tour.
RIP – heard Shane on Newstalk with George Hook not long ago touring Glasnevin – sound like a nice guy with a wealth of Knowledge and someone who enjoyed going to work each day.
RIP. He was a great and passionate historian.
RIP.
Listen to him many times on the Radio, his passion & energy were infectious, a genuinely entertaining & proud Irishman. If I can be permitted to make a seemingly unrelated but salient point, this is exactly the sort of person who the state should support in life & honour in death. When you remember that Charlie Haughey got a state funeral with all the trappings & his dumb & dumber acolytes Bertie Ahern & Brian Cowan will get the same taxpayer funded pomp & ceremony when they die, it makes you wonder where & why did this great country of ours go so horribly wrong ! My deepest sympathies to all of Shane’s family & friends.
Well said Edmond. Couldn’t agree with you more.
RIP Shane, you were a big inspiration to me and to others that knew you.
I heard the news as I was going to work this morning and instantly felt a cloud over me. I knew of Shane’s dad from a number of different things and really enjoyed his approach to things. I met Shane in Glasnevin years ago when I was in my first year of a history degree at university. Even though he was the man everyone was listening to he kept taking time out to ask about what aspects of history I was interested in and what parts I was studying at Uni. When the tour was over he wouldn’t accept any money from me and wished me good luck with the rest of my studies. We had each other’s contact details and when I finished my degree I began doing various articles on Irish history for different history sites and mags. He was really complimentary and encouraging to me and what I was doing. This meant a hell of a lot to me because of who he was and the historical pedigree of his family. I’ll never forget the generosity of spirit he showed to me.
Very saddened to hear of Shanes passing. R.I.P.
We were friends in our 20′s. I am shocked and saddened by the news.
Absolutely shocked to learn of Shane’s death. He was the perfect Dubliner and a gentle man. Slan go Foll a chara.
Was he related to Eamon macthomas?
He was Éamonn’s son.
Nicola, thanks and I thought so.
Eamonn was a great storyteller as well.
Eamonn was his “Da” as he told a group of us from Cork he showed around Glasnevin. A great Republican.
his dad.
Very sad, he really brought the whole history of Glasnevin and its residents to live ( pardon the pun ) He will be missed.
I met Shane 10 years ago. I found him to be extremely nice and pleasant person who always had time for a chat. I’m sorry I never did his walking tour of Dublin. Slan go foil a chara.
I am really sad to hear about the passing of Shane. I thoroughly enjoyed his tour of Glasnevin and he hat the wit and charm of his Father. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L7O7oU47n4 RIP Shane will miss your wicked sense of humour and all your contributions about our Fair City. Sleep tight up there with your beloved Dad
Such sad news. RIP xx
I had the pleasure of knowing and working in the same establishment with Shane, A great man, Everyone who knew him instantly loved him, it Will be weird Not Seeing him stroll around the cemetery, or to have him come in for an Americano in the cafe, RIP Shane, your legacy within glasnevin will never fade, gone but Certainty never will you be forgotten,
Sad sad News, RIP Shane.
I am so, so sorry to hear this news. He had an incredible bank of knowledge and a unique way of communicating it, and I imagine he made a big impression on anyone who ever met him – I know he did on me. A huge loss to Dublin city and my sympathies go to his family, friends and colleagues at Glasnevin Cemetery.
His knowledge of, & passion for, Irish history & heritage was unsurpassed.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
Fantastic ambassador and his tour was always delivered with such knowledge, engagement and illumination. A great loss. RIP
So so sad to hear this tragic news! As a former History student in TCD, I had the pleasure of meeting Shane during a tour of the cemetery and witnessed first-hand his clear passion & knowledge of Glasnevin Cemetery. I subsequently did my dissertation on the formation Glasnevin Cemetery and Shane kindly offered his wise words & knowledge to me on the subject… Will be forever grateful to him. May he rest in peace.
Ah that’s sad to hear, did his tour and always meant to do it again, very enjoyable day out, seems like a fitting tribute that he passed away in the cemetery which he knew so much about, he’ll be sadly missed, condolences to his mother and sisters
Such a shame. The good often die too young; a good life cut short. Those horrible guys that kicked the Brazilian in the head on St. Patrick’s Day will probably be around draining our resources to old age. Life is so unfair sometimes.
R I P Shane
I was shocked to hear of the sudden passing of Shane. A true son of Ireland and a most charismatic character. I was lucky to have been given a personal guided tour of the cemetery along with 2 friends. Shane had a great passion for Ireland and it’s wonderful history. He will be missed by many and I am all the richer in my knowledge of Irish history for meeting him. God bless Shane
That’s dreadful, was on the Glasnevin tour only yesterday, had hoped he would be the guide. Didn’t realise he had just passed away before I arrived. RIP, I also did some work with his dad.
Farewell Shane…a sad loss to us all
There is a Facebook page, Shane Mac Thomais remembered, if anyone likes to join.
Will be sadly missed like his late dad may he rest in peace
I’ll miss the banter but mostly the man. I’m devastated to hear of his death.
RIP Shane. A gentle man with knowledge wit and sunny disposition. Took walks with his Dad and did the tour with Shane in Glasnevin. Am sorry I won’t get the chance to do another tour with him. It was fitting that he passed away in a place he worked so hard to educate people about and in which he was fascinated with. It’s a wonderful tribute to him that Glasnevin cemetery is such a popular place to visit. He made it live again. Gone but never forgotten and am quite sure he will be still be quietly walking around checking up on things.
Rip…. He will be missed
I met him once, sleep easy Shane
He was a true legend RIP
What a sad loss great historian like his Father before him ,His column in The Northside People was an informative read R I P Shane
so sorry for the family
A tour of Glasnevin will surely not be the same without his eloquent true tales of those who lie in that cemetery. He hailed from a strong Republican tradition, but was not in any way subjective, as he told the stories of the dead in Glasnevin. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam.
Sorry to hear of the death of a great person RIP
RIP Shane you were indeed a star gone but not forgotton
Some people can show the best of themselves so easily
naturally lighting up and sharing that light
finding themselves in their right place
seemed a wonderfull space to be
and now occupying a place in our history and our hearts
Colette
some people can show you who they are so easily
naturally lighting up and sharing that light
finding themselves in their right place
seemed like a wonderful space to be
and now occupying a place in our history and our hearts
Colette Bradley
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