American scientists found nuts and peanuts were linked to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease in different ethnic groups and among people with low socio-economic status, suggesting it may be a cost effective way to improve cardiovascular health.

Nuts are rich in nutrients while peanuts, which are legumes, have nutrients similar to tree nuts.

Xiao-Ou Shu from Vanderbilt University in Nashville and her co-authors analysed three groups involving 71,764 low-income black and white men and women in the United States and 134,265 Chinese men and women in Shanghai.

Men in the US and China consumed more peanuts than women.

In the US, about 50 per cent of the nut consumption was peanuts, while in China, only peanut consumption was assessed.

Results indicated nut intake was linked to reduced risk of total mortality and cardiovascular disease death in all three groups.

In the US, there was a reduced risk of total mortality of 21 per cent for people who ate the most peanuts.

Among the Chinese, the risk reduction for death associated with high nut intake was 17 per cent in a combined analysis.