A study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at Harvard University concludes that there is a direct connection between daily nut consumption and a substantial reduction in mortality from cardiovascular disease and other causes.

Citing programs of study previous studies conducted at the University of Navarra, this 30-year study of more than 100,000 people showed a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality. This reduction occurred in initially healthy subjects who consumed at least one daily serving of nuts, about 30 grams per day, compared to those who hardly ever ate them.

According to Professor Miguel Angel Martinez Gonzalez, researcher of the University of Navarra leader in this topic,"the observational results confirm the benefits of nuts that we have obtained during the randomized essay in Spain". "Putting these two findings together," he continues, "there are definite reasons to encourage nut consumption in the whole population.

Martínez González agrees with agreement that both the large sample size and the excellent methodological qualities of this study make it a very useful tool for the study. this publication of the Harvard group is absolutely unique and confirms, in addition, the work made at the University of Navarra..

As coordinator of the network of research Predimed responds to criticisms that observational programs of study cannot support causality. He explains that"this time there is a previous randomized essay published by our group that can confirm the causal link. Our essay, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated a very strong reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease in 7,447 participants at high risk for cardiovascular disease."

Likewise, a previous study also led by Miguel Ángel Martínez, known as project SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra), suggested an inverse relationship between nut consumption and the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The striking consistency between the epidemiological programs of study led by either the Spanish Predimed team, the project SUN team or the Harvard researchers provides strong evidence for what many epidemiologists consider to be a test final causal connection, which is the criterion of consistency. The researchers expect that future programs of study will only ultimately confirm the positive benefits of nut consumption for cardiovascular health.