A review of earlier studies has found that vegetables, nuts and a Mediterranean dietary pattern are associated with a lower risk for heart disease.

It was conducted by Dr. Andrew Mente and colleagues from the Population Health Research Institute in Ontario, Canada, and looked at articles investigating dietary factors in relation to heart disease published between 1950 and June 2007.

A total of 146 prospective cohort studies and 43 randomized controlled trials were included in the review.

“[W]e identified strong evidence of a causal relationship for protective factors, including intake of vegetables, nuts, monounsaturated fatty acids and Mediterranean, prudent and high-quality dietary patterns,” wrote the authors.

They added that they also found a link between the consumption of trans-fatty acids and simple carbohydrates and adverse heart health. Their report was published in the April 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Some people have turned to nutritional health supplements to boost their intake of vitamins and minerals that have been shown to have protective effects on the cardiovascular system.

They include supplements containing fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, folate, fiber, vitamins E and C and beta carotene.