Abstract

It has been suggested that vegetables protect the cardiovascular system in part by attenuating blood pressure. The purpose of the present research was to examine blood lipids according to vegetable intakes. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressures, nutrient intakes using the 24-hour recall method, and serum lipids of < 50th percentile vegetable intake group (< 50th percentile VIG; men = 66, women = 111) and > or = 50th percentile vegetable intake group (> or = 50th percentile VIG; men = 83, women = 94) were estimated. The average age, height, and BMI were 54.7 years, 158.2 cm, 62.2 kg, and 24.9 kg/m2 for < 50th percentile VIG and 53.7 years, 159.6 cm, 63.0 kg, and 24.7 kg/m2 for > or =50th percentile VIG, respectively. The daily food intake of the > or = 50th percentile VIG was significantly higher than that of the < 50th percentile VIG (p < 0.001). Also, daily intakes of cereals (p < 0.001), legumes (p < 0.05), nuts (p < 0.05), vegetables (p < 0.001), and fruits (p < 0.05) of the > or = 50th percentile VIG were significantly higher than those of the < 50th percentile VIG. The daily energy intakes of > or = 50th percentile VIG and< 50th percentile VIG were 1342.7 kcal and 1782.0 kcal (p < 0.001), and most nutrient intakes of the > or = 50th percentile VIG was significantly higher than that of the < 50th percentile VIG. Serum cholesterol of the > or = 50th percentile VIG were significantly lower than that of the < 50th percentile VIG (p < 0.01). Also, vegetable intake showed significantly negative correlations with total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). Based on these results, it should be emphasized that increase of vegetable intake improves the blood lipid profile.

• Keywords: blood lipids; blood pressure; adults; vegetable intake