Kim Carollo: Fruits and Vegetables Could Modify Gene Linked to Heart Disease g

Eating a healthy amount of greens could have an effect on genes linked to heart disease, according to a new study. Researchers from Canada's McMaster and McGill universities found that eating fruits and vegetables may actually change a gene variant, called 9p21, that is one of the strongest predictors for heart disease. "We found that in people with this high-risk gene who consumed a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, their risk came down to that of people who don't have that gene," said Dr. Sonia Anand, a lead author and professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Michael G. DeGrote School of Medicine at McMaster University. The researchers analyzed the diets of more than 27,000 people from different parts of the world, who were already enrolled in two separate studies looking for heart disease. "Despite having a high genetic risk for heart disease, a healthy lifestyle can actually turn off the gene," said Anand. She also said it's not yet clear exactly how diet affects the gene. The study participants who lowered their risk through their diet ate at least two servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Raw fruits and vegetables played the biggest role in lowering risk, Anand said.