Prudent dietary patterns are associated with reduced risk of arterial 
cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Limited data exist on the relation between diet 
and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of our prospective, population based 
study was to investigate the association of a heart healthy diet on risk of 
myocardial infarction (MI) and VTE. Information on dietary habits was available 
in 18,062 subjects, aged 25-69, who participated in the fourth Tromsø study, 
1994-1995. Dietary patterns were assessed by a slightly modified version of the 
validated SmartDiet score; a 13-item questionnaire producing a diet score based 
on the intakes of fat, fibre, fruit and vegetables. Incident events of MI 
(n=518) and VTE (n=172) were recorded to the end of follow-up December 31, 2005 
(median follow-up 10.8 years). Cox-regression models were used to calculate 
hazard ratios (HR). A healthy diet score of >27 points (upper tertile) was 
associated with 17% reduced risk of MI (HR: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 
0.66-1.06), and no association with VTE (HR: 1.01; 95%CI: 0.66-1.56), compared 
to <24 points (lower tertile) in multivariable analysis. High intake of fish, 
fruit, vegetables and polyunsatured fat had a 23% reduced risk of MI (HR 0.77; 
95%CI: 0.60-0.98), but no association with VTE (HR 0.95; 95%CI: 0.64-1.40). A 
heart healthy diet showed an even more favourable association with MI in obese 
subjects (HR: 0.62; 95%CI: 0.41-0.95), but not with VTE. Our findings suggest 
that a heart healthy dietary pattern is associated with moderately reduced risk 
of MI, but not related to risk of VTE.