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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Feb;20(2):245-254.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980016002299.

Legume consumption and CVD risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Stefano Marventano  1 , Maria Izquierdo Pulido  2 , Claudia Sánchez-González  3 , Justyna Godos  4 , Attilio Speciani  5 , Fabio Galvano  4 , Giuseppe Grosso  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Legume consumption and CVD risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Stefano Marventano et al. Public Health Nutr. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies exploring the association between dietary legume consumption and CVD risk, including CHD and stroke.

Design: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched up to December 2015. A meta-analysis of the highest v. lowest (reference) category of dietary legume consumption was performed through random-effects models.

Results: Fourteen studies conducted on eleven cohorts and accounting for a total of 367 000 individuals and 18 475 cases of CVD (7451 CHD and 6336 stroke cases) were considered for the analyses. Compared with lower legume consumption, the highest category of exposure was associated with a decreased risk of 10 % in both CVD and CHD (relative risk=0·90; 95 % CI 0·84, 0·97) with no or little evidence of heterogeneity and no publication bias. Null results were found regarding legume consumption and stroke risk. No substantial confounding factors were evident in stratified analyses.

Conclusions: Legume consumption was associated with lower risk of CVD. Legumes' intrinsic characteristics, because they are often part of an overall healthy diet, or because they are a substitute for unhealthy sources of protein may potentially explain the current findings.

Keywords: CVD; Fibre; Legumes; Meta-analysis; Mortality.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart indicating the selection of relevant studies for the systematic review exploring the association between dietary legume consumption and CVD risk
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of summary relative risk (RR) of CVD for the highest v. lowest (reference) category of legume consumption. The analysis was stratified by pooling studies exploring as outcome the risk of CHD, stroke, CVD only and any CVD (all studies). The study-specific RR and 95 % CI are represented by the black square and horizontal line, respectively; the area of the black square is proportional to the specific-study weight to the overall meta-analysis. The centre of the diamond represents the pooled RR and its width represents the pooled 95 % CI
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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