Consumption of whole-grains, refined-grains, and fruits and vegetables has a beneficial effect on total mortality and the risk of coronary artery disease, but not on the risk of ischemic stroke. ARIC investigators measured the frequency of consumption of food items using questionnaires completed by the 15,792 ARIC cohort participants. After 11 years of follow-up an inverse relationship between whole-grain intake and total mortality and coronary artery disease was found. It was also observed that fruit and vegetable intake decreased the risk of total mortality among the study population and decreased the risk of coronary artery disease among African Americans, but not among whites. Whole-grain, refined-grain and fruit and vegetable. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3):383-90. Link

Incidence and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in African Americans with diabetes: the ARIC study.

Risk factors were measured in 741 African Americans aged 45 to 64 years with diabetes. Total cholesterol, prevalent hypertension and current smoking were significantly and positively associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease among these African Americans with diabetes. Among the non-traditional risk factors, serum creatinine, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, and white blood cell count were positively and serum albumin negatively and independently associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease incidence. Adjusted relative risks for highest versus lowest tertiles of these risk factors ranged from 1.77 to 2.13. This study confirms that the major risk factors (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking) are important determinants of cardiovascular disease in African Americans with diabetes.
J Natl Med Assoc. 2002 Dec;94(12):1025-35. Link