Dietary patterns and their association with cardiovascular risk factors in a population undergoing lifestyle changes: The Strong Heart Study

Geographic and dietary differences of urinary uranium levels in the Strong Heart Family Study

BACKGROUND

American Indian (AI) communities are affected by uranium exposure from abandoned mines and naturally contaminated drinking water. Few studies have evaluated geographical differences across AI communities and the role of dietary exposures.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated differences in urinary uranium levels by diet and geographical area among AI participants from the Northern Plains, the Southern Plains, and the Southwest enrolled in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS).

METHODS

We used food frequency questionnaires to determine dietary sources related to urinary uranium levels for 1,682 SHFS participants in 2001-2003. We calculated adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of urinary uranium for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in self-reported food group consumption accounting for family clustering and adjusting for sociodemographic variables and other food groups. We determined the percentage of variability in urinary uranium explained by diet.

RESULTS

Median (IQR) urinary uranium levels were 0.027 (0.012, 0.057) μg/g creatinine. Urinary uranium levels were higher in Arizona (median 0.039 μg/g) and North Dakota and South Dakota (median 0.038 μg/g) and lower in Oklahoma (median 0.019 μg/g). The adjusted percent increase (95% confidence interval) of urinary uranium levels per IQR increase in reported food intake was 20% (5%, 36%) for organ meat, 11% (1%, 23%) for cereals, and 14% (1%, 29%) for alcoholic drinks. In analyses stratified by study center, the association with organ meat was specific to North Dakota and South Dakota participants. An IQR increase in consumption of fries and chips was inversely associated with urinary uranium levels -11% (-19%, -3%). Overall, we estimated that self-reported dietary exposures explained 1.71% of variability in urine uranium levels.

IMPACT

Our paper provides a novel assessment of self-reported food intake and urinary uranium levels in a cohort of American Indian participants. We identify foods (organ meat, cereals, and alcohol) positively associated with urinary uranium levels, find that organ meat consumption is only associated with urine uranium in North Dakota and South Dakota, and estimate that diet explains relatively little variation in total urinary uranium concentrations. Our findings contribute meaningful data toward a more comprehensive estimation of uranium exposure among Native American communities and support the need for high-quality assessments of water and dust uranium exposures in SHFS communities.

Air Pollution in American Indian Versus Non-American Indian Communities, 2000-2018

Objectives. To compare fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in American Indian (AI)-populated with those in non-AI-populated counties over time (2000-2018) in the contiguous United States. Methods. We used a multicriteria approach to classify counties as AI- or non--AI-populated. We ran linear mixed effects models to estimate the difference in countywide annual PM2.5 concentrations from well-validated prediction models and monitoring sites (modeled and measured PM2.5, respectively) in AI- versus non-AI-populated counties. Results. On average, adjusted modeled PM2.5 concentrations in AI-populated counties were 0.38 micrograms per cubic meter (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.23, 0.54) lower than in non-AI-populated counties. However, this difference was not constant over time: in 2000, modeled concentrations in AI-populated counties were 1.46 micrograms per cubic meter (95% CI = 1.25, 1.68) lower, and by 2018, they were 0.66 micrograms per cubic meter (95% CI = 0.45, 0.87) higher. Over the study period, adjusted modeled PM2.5 mean concentrations decreased by 2.13 micrograms per cubic meter in AI-populated counties versus 4.26 micrograms per cubic meter in non-AI-populated counties. Results were similar for measured PM2.5. Conclusions. This study highlights disparities in PM2.5 trends between AI- and non-AI-populated counties over time, underscoring the need to strengthen air pollution regulations and prevention implementation in tribal territories and areas where AI populations live. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(4): 615-623. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306650).

[Association of nutritional patterns and arterial hypertension in Russia: does it exist?]

AIM

To evaluate nutritional patterns in patient with arterial hypertension (AH) compared to the control group without elevated blood pressure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective search for unique records of the patients aged 1875 y.o. with complete data on usual nutrition with food frequency methods who had no mentions of diabetes mellitus, food intolerance or allergies, and history of major abdominal surgery, as well as signs of secondary reasons of AH. Nutritional patterns were assessed with the use of healthy eating pyramid principles. Ststistical analysis was performed with the use of SPSS 13.0 for Windows software (SPSS Inc., USA).

RESULTS

The data of 711 patients were available for the final analysis (595 of them in AH group). Both groups consumed lower compared to the recommended amounts of fruits, dairy and higher amounts of meat. Those with AH consumed larger amounts of vegetables (1.130.74 compared to the values of healthy eating pyramid vs 0.940.63 in the control group; p=0.004), fruits (0.800.66 vs 0.520.57; p=0.001), meat (1.851.05 vs 1.620.91; p=0.002) and fats (0.770.60 vs 0.490.55; p=0.001). On the other hand, there were lower rates of consumption of sugars, and confectionaries in the structure of nutritional patterns in patients with AH compared to the control group: (0.350.44 of the healthy eating pyramid in AH vs 1.930.98, in the control group; p=0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Nutritional patterns of patients with arterial hypertension significantly differ compared to the control group. The obtained data may be used for diet modification in patients with arterial hypertension.

Major dietary patterns and predicted cardiovascular disease risk in an Iranian adult population

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available on the association of major dietary patterns and predicted risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS).

AIM

To investigate the association between major dietary patterns and the predicted 10-year CVD risk in an Iranian population.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 522 apparently healthy adults referred to health centers in Tehran. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between dietary patterns and the predicted risk of development of CVD was evaluated using linear multiple regression. Principal component analysis was used to identify major dietary patterns.

RESULTS

In total, 41% of the men (n = 95) and 46% of women (n = 134) were in the low risk (<10%) and 6% of men (n = 14) and 1% of women (n = 3) were in the high risk (> 20%) category of the FRS. A significant decrease was found for body mass index (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.003), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.005), and triglyceride (p = 0.02) in the higher tertile of healthy dietary pattern. Adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with a significant increase in body weight (p = 0.03) and a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001). The healthy dietary pattern score was negatively associated with SBP (p = 0.04) and FRS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although we observed improvements in CVD risk factors with greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns, there was no association between identified dietary patterns and the predicted risk of 10-year CVD.

Dietary Patterns and Their Association with CVD Risk Factors among Bangladeshi Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and CVD risk factors among adults.

METHODS

Demographic data, knowledge, attitude, practices toward CVD related data, dietary data, and some biochemical data were collected from 250 participants at Coronary Care Unit of Jashore 250 bedded Sadar Hospital in Jashore district. A multinomial logit regression method was used to examine the association between LDL and TG levels with the dietary diversity of CVD risk patients.

RESULTS

According to the BMI, most of the respondents were overweight. The respondent's practice level was poor than their knowledge and attitude level toward CVD. A positive correlation was found among the respondents' knowledge, attitude, and practice. Most of the CVD patient's troponin value and BP level were found higher than the acceptable limit. Along with their lipid profile level was not good. Most of them were in borderline risk condition of CVD and some had high risk. The patients who consumed a higher amount of red meat, egg, cheese, fast food, soft drinks, and salty snacks had more probability of increasing LDL and TG level in blood which was the major risk factors of CVD than the patients who consumed fish, chicken, pulse, nuts, fruits, and vegetables in their diet regularly.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the consumption of fatty foods, fast foods, and soft drinks leads to the probability of increasing LDL and TG levels in CVD risk patients.

Associations between dietary patterns and blood pressure in a sample of Australian adults

BACKGROUND

Investigating effects of whole diets on blood pressure (BP) can contribute to development of diet-based recommendations for health. Our aim was to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and BP in a sample of free-living Australian adults.

METHODS

Usual dietary patterns of participants recruited to dietary intervention studies were assessed using factor analysis (two 24-h recalls). The mean of seven days of daily, seated BP measurements were used.

RESULTS

Complete data from 251 participants (112 males; mean age 55.1(9.1) (SD) years; body mass index (BMI) 29.5(3.9) kg/m²) was included. Three dietary patterns were identified. Only Dietary Pattern 2 was positively associated with home systolic BP (β = 1.88, 95% CI 0.16, 3.60) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, anti-hypertensive medication, smoking, education, physical activity and energy intake. This dietary pattern was characterised by high consumption of low-fibre bread, pasta, noodles and rice, meat dishes, poultry dishes and egg dishes, mixed cereal dishes, salted nuts and low consumption of milk and yoghurt (low-fat), vegetable juice, vegetables and high-fibre bread. Dietary Pattern 2 was also positively associated with intakes of energy (P = 0.002) and sodium (P = 0.005) and inversely associated with potassium intake (P = 0.002). After adjustment for energy, only the inverse association with potassium remained (P <  0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this sample of Australian adults, Dietary Pattern 2 was associated with higher BP and thus chronic disease risk, supporting the evidence that diets high in energy and sodium, and low in potassium from vegetables and dairy, are detrimental to cardiovascular health.

Patterns of PCBs and OCPs exposure in a sample of Lebanese adults: The role of diet and physical activity

BACKGROUND

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the general population is 90% from food intake. Dietary patterns provide a global estimation of exposure to POPs, taking into account multiple food sources of environmental contaminants.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association of dietary, socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle-related variables with clusters of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in a sample of students and employees of Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

METHODS

A total of 302 participants were randomly recruited. Questionnaires covering dietary, socio-demographic, and lifestyle-related characteristics were administered. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Serum concentrations of six indicator PCBs (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and four OCPs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexanes (β-HCH), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolite p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were measured, and cluster analysis was applied. We evaluated the association of dietary intake with PCBs/OCPs exposure using two different approaches: food consumption categories and dietary patterns retrieved from principal component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

Three clusters of PCBs/OCPs were obtained: middle-level, high-level, and low-level. Practicing physical activity was associated with a three times higher risk of having high-level PCBs/OCPs, after adjustment for confounding variables (ORa = 2.97; CI = 1.23-7.19; p < 0.05). The highest tertile of fish and shellfish consumption increased by three-folds the odds of having high-level PCBs/OCPs (ORa = 3.41; CI = 1.07-10.84; p < 0.05). PCA revealed six dietary patterns. A "cereals, fats and oils, and eggs" dietary pattern was associated with 50% increase in the risk of having high-level PCBs/OCPs (ORa = 1.48; CI = 1.03-2.13; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The present results offer a valuable contribution to the understanding of the factors increasing exposure to POPs, namely fish consumption and the "cereals, fats and oils, and eggs" dietary pattern. We also demonstrated that physical activity was positively associated with a higher risk of exposure to PCBs and OCPs, knowing that data on this matter are scarce.

Early-Life Arsenic Exposure, Nutritional Status, and Adult Diabetes Risk

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In utero influences, including nutrition and environmental chemicals, may induce long-term metabolic changes and increase diabetes risk in adulthood. This review evaluates the experimental and epidemiological evidence on the association of early-life arsenic exposure on diabetes and diabetes-related outcomes, as well as the influence of maternal nutritional status on arsenic-related metabolic effects.

RECENT FINDINGS

Five studies in rodents have evaluated the role of in utero arsenic exposure with diabetes in the offspring. In four of the studies, elevated post-natal fasting glucose was observed when comparing in utero arsenic exposure with no exposure. Rodent offspring exposed to arsenic in utero also showed elevated insulin resistance in the 4 studies evaluating it as well as microRNA changes related to glycemic control in 2 studies. Birth cohorts of arsenic-exposed pregnant mothers in New Hampshire, Mexico, and Taiwan have shown that increased prenatal arsenic exposure is related to altered cord blood gene expression, microRNA, and DNA methylation profiles in diabetes-related pathways. Thus far, no epidemiologic studies have evaluated early-life arsenic exposure with diabetes risk. Supplementation trials have shown B vitamins can reduce blood arsenic levels in highly exposed, undernourished populations. Animal evidence supports that adequate B vitamin status can rescue early-life arsenic-induced diabetes risk, although human data is lacking. Experimental animal studies and human evidence on the association of in utero arsenic exposure with alterations in gene expression pathways related to diabetes in newborns, support the potential role of early-life arsenic exposure in diabetes development, possibly through increased insulin resistance. Given pervasive arsenic exposure and the challenges to eliminate arsenic from the environment, research is needed to evaluate prevention interventions, including the possibility of low-cost, low-risk nutritional interventions that can modify arsenic-related disease risk.

Dietary patterns of bank employees and their association with socioeconomic, behavioral and labor factors

This paper aimed to evaluate food consumption of bank employees and its association with socioeconomic, behavioral and labor factors. This is a cross-sectional study with 515 bank employees. To evaluate food consumption, a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used. The analysis of main components with Varimax rotation was used to determine the dietary patterns. Three dietary patterns were identified: "vegetables, fruits, cereals and tubers", "sweets and snacks" and "traditional and protein". We found that individuals who did not consume sweeteners were more likely to adhere to the "vegetables, fruits, cereals and tubers" pattern and were less likely to adhere to the "sweets and snacks" and "traditional and protein" patterns. Bank employees who rarely ate in restaurants were three times more likely to adhere to the "sweets and snacks" pattern. However, those who used to consume industrialized seasoning and those who reported receiving low social support were, respectively, 2.3 and 1.5 times more likely to adhere to the "traditional and protein" pattern. We can conclude that food consumption of bank employees is not related to the sociodemographic conditions of these individuals, and behavior and perception of social support received is associated with these dietary patterns.

Low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio improves inflammation and myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury

This study investigated the potential effect of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on inflammation and myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats, together with the underlying protective mechanisms, and screen out most effective ratio of n-6/n-3 within limits. The rats with pre-infarct treatment were distributed among 5 groups according to the n-6/n-3 ratio (36:1; 1:1, 5:1, 10:1, 50:1); for the post-infarct treatment, the rats were distributed among 6 groups, including the control group (36:1) which was subjected to a sham procedure; the model group (36:1); and 4 test groups (n-6/n-3 ratio: 1:1, 5:1, 10:1, 50:1). All of the rats were fed a purple perilla seed oil and safflower oil-based fatty emulsion. The serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Staining with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, hematoxylin and eosin, or Masson's trichrome was performed for histological examination. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay. Western blotting was performed to examine the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and signaling pathway proteins. Our data indicate that in both the pre-infarct treatment and post-infarct treatment, low ratios of n-6/n-3 PUFAs significantly inhibited the levels of serum inflammatory factors, the infarct size of MIRI rats, number of cardiomyocytes undergoing apoptosis, and the expression levels of caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax in the MIRI group. Thus a low ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs ameliorates inflammation and myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury.

Dietary patterns in relation to lipid profiles among Iranian adults

Introduction: Lipid metabolism is one of the main concerns of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Little is known about the association between dietary patterns and dyslipidemia. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine such association among Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1433 Iranian adults in Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP). Usual dietary intakes were assessed with the use of a 48 items food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Three major dietary patterns were identified: western, semi healthy and healthy fat patterns. Results: After adjustment, subjects in the upper quartiles of western dietary pattern were more likely to have high total cholesterol concentrations than those in the first quartile (odds ratio [OR]: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.25-3.42). Individuals with greater adherence to western dietary pattern had greater odds of having high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels compared with those in the lowest quartiles (2.53; 1.45-4.40). Conclusion: Semi healthy dietary pattern was not associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Same trend was observed for healthy fat dietary pattern. Significant association was found between western dietary pattern and dyslipidemia among Iranian adults.

Coaching of lifestyle recommendations improves sensory neurophysiological parameters in neuropathies related to glycemic disorder or metabolic syndrome. A pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Metabolic abnormalities, such as, glycemic disorders and metabolic syndrome (GDMS) are one of the main causes of peripheral neuropathies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adding specific coaching care (CC) to standard care (SC) of therapeutic education based on lifestyle recommendations for neuropathies associated with GDMS.

METHODS

This prospective randomized study included two groups of four patients (SC vs. CC) with examiners blinded to group allocation. The SC group had one day of therapeutic education on lifestyle measures (physical activity and diet recommendations) followed by only one phone call of reinforcement. The CC group received an additional weekly phone call of reinforcement for 3 months. Clinical, biological and neurophysiological variables were compared between the two groups at baseline and for the percentage of change at 3 months.

RESULTS

All patients (4 men and 4 women) had diabetes or pre-diabetes, which was associated with metabolic syndrome in 5 cases. There was no difference on any variable at baseline, but at 3 months, Mann-Whitney test showed a difference (P=0.0008) between the two groups regarding the sensory neurophysiological variable, which deteriorated in the SC group (median: -6.0%) and improved in the CC group (median: +12.4%). No significant difference was observed between the two groups for the other variables at 3 months.

CONCLUSION

The weekly coaching of recommendations for lifestyle measures over a period of three months allows an improvement of GDMS neuropathies, at least in terms of sensory aspects, as evidenced by neurophysiological assessments.

Diets high in vegetables, fruits, cereals, and tubers as a protective factor for metabolic syndrome in bank employees

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing, and its development may be related to westernized diets and working conditions.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of dietary patterns in bank employees with the presence of MetS, considering sociodemographic and behavioral factors as well as laboratory tests.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 515 bankers. Sociodemographic, occupational, behavioral, and food consumption data were collected. Dietary patterns were determined by principal component analysis with orthogonal varimax rotation.

RESULTS

The dietary pattern of vegetables, fruits, cereals, and tubers was correlated with the presence of MetS and with waist circumference measurements and triglyceride levels. Individuals in the third and fifth quintiles of the pattern "vegetables, fruits, cereals, and tubers" presented with 3.28 and 2.24 times less chances of MetS when compared to individuals in the first quintile of this dietary pattern (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.13-0.67, and OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.92, respectively). Subjects over 45 years of age were almost twice as likely to develop MetS (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.01-3.77).

CONCLUSION

Healthy eating represented by the dietary pattern "vegetables, fruits, cereals, and tubers" was associated with better health among bank employees, especially when evaluating competing metabolic complications such as MetS.

Barriers and Strategies for Healthy Food Choices among American Indian Tribal College Students: A Qualitative Analysis

BACKGROUND

American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals experience disproportionate levels of chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and overweight and obesity that are influenced by dietary patterns and food choices. Understanding factors that influence healthy food choices among tribal college students can enrich education and programs that target dietary intake.

OBJECTIVE

To build an understanding of factors that influence healthy food choices among tribal college students at increased risk for college attrition.

DESIGN

A nonexperimental cohort design was used for qualitative descriptive analysis.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Participants (N=20) were purposively sampled, newly enrolled, academically underprepared tribal college students enrolled in a culturally relevant life skills course at an upper Midwest tribal college between September 2013 and May 2015. Participant demographic characteristics included various tribal affiliations, ages, and number of dependents.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participant responses to qualitative research questions about dietary intake, food choices, self-efficacy for healthy food choices, psychosocial determinants, and barriers to healthy food choices during telephone interviews were used as measures.

ANALYSIS

Qualitative analysis included prestudy identification of researcher bias/assumptions, audiorecording and transcription, initial analysis (coding), secondary analysis (sorting and identifying meaning), and verification (comparative pattern analysis).

RESULTS

Qualitative analysis revealed a variety of themes and subthemes about healthy food choices. Main themes related to barriers included taste, food gathering and preparation, and difficulty clarifying healthy food choices. Main themes related to strategies included taste, cultural traditions and practices, and personal motivation factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Qualitative analysis identified barrier and strategy themes that may assist nutrition and dietetics practitioners working with tribal/indigenous communities, tribal college educators and health specialists, and tribal community health workers who target health and dietary intake of American Indian and Alaskan Native students.

Inuit Country Food Diet Pattern Is Associated with Lower Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

BACKGROUND

Inuit have experienced a rapid transition in diet and lifestyle over the past several decades, paralleled by the emergence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

To identify contemporary dietary patterns among Inuit and investigate their association with cardiovascular disease outcomes.

DESIGN

This was an association study in a cross-sectional population health and nutrition survey.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants included 1,570 adults (aged ≥18 years) from Nunavut in the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey 2007-2008 who completed diet/health questionnaires and provided blood samples.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes measured included the prevalence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Principal component analysis was used to derive dietary patterns based on the consumption of nine market food groups and four country food groups reported in 24-hour dietary recalls. The associations between cardiovascular outcomes and identified dietary patterns were examined with logistic regression.

RESULTS

Three dietary patterns were identified: market food, country food-fat, and country food-fish. The market food diet, characterized by high consumption of market-bought meat, cereals, vegetables, and added oil, was associated with elevated prevalence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.44, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.51; OR 2.27, 95% CI 0.88 to 5.83; and OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.88 to 2.09). The country food-fish diet, characterized by high fish consumption and low sugar and sweets intake, was inversely associated with the prevalence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hyperlipidemia (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.37; OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.20; OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.13; and OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.22). The country food-fat diet, characterized by high marine mammal and added fat intake, was positively associated with the prevalence of coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

A diet featuring high food variety, high fish intake, and low sugar intake was negatively associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes among Inuit.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiorespiratory fitness among Indigenous populations in North America and circumpolar Inuit populations

Indigenous populations experience health disparities including increased obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease rates. Cardiorespiratory fitness is beneficial for maintaining positive health outcomes. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness among Indigenous populations including comparisons across genders, Indigenous identities, age groups, decades, socio-demographic variables and in comparison to non-Indigenous groups. Included articles reported various cardiorespiratory fitness measures using maximal treadmill or cycle ergometer tests, 20 m shuttle run, 1 mile run/walk test and 6 min walk test. From 14 databases searched in March 2017, including MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus, 1069 citations were evaluated and 39 articles included, representing 32 investigations and 10,579 individuals. First Nations/American Indian (FN/AI) adults have greater cardiorespiratory fitness than Inuit. Inuit and FN/AI men and boys have higher cardiorespiratory fitness than women and girls. Lower cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and a western lifestyle. Cardiorespiratory fitness has declined among Inuit adults, averaging 51.7 ± 7.9 mL·kg^-1·min^-1 in 1970 to 37.7 ± 6.9 mL·kg^-1·min^-1 in 2000. Among men, FN/AI have greater cardiorespiratory fitness compared to European-descents, and European-descents have greater cardiorespiratory fitness compared to Inuit. The 1 mile run/walk time showed that FN/AI boys, girls, and youth had faster times compared to European-descendants, but 20 m shuttle run showed that European-descent boys and youth advanced to further stages compared to FN/AI populations. Cardiorespiratory fitness is declining, and among some Indigenous populations to lower levels than European-descent populations. Improving cardiorespiratory fitness for Indigenous populations should be considered a primary health strategy.

Effects of Chinese Dietary Pattern of Fat Content, n-6/n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Ratio, and Cholesterol Content on Lipid Profile in Rats

This study aims to investigate the effect of Chinese diet pattern of fat content (30% or 36.06%), n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio (5 : 1 or 9 : 1), and cholesterol content (0.04 or 0.057 g/kg total diet) on lipid profile using a rat model. Results showed that rats' body weights (BWs) were controlled by the simultaneous intakes of cholesterol level of 0.04 g/kg total diet and n-6/n-3 ratio of 5 : 1. In addition, under high-fat diet, increased cholesterol feeding led to increased total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and decreased triacylglycerols (TG) in rats' plasma. However, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level and the ratios of HDL-C/LDL-C and HDL-C/TC in rats' plasma increased in response to simultaneous intakes of low n-6/n-3 ratio (5 : 1) and cholesterol (0.04 g/kg total diet) even under high-fat diet. Moreover, as the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in the diet decreased, the proportion of n-3 PUFAs increased in plasma, liver, and muscle and resulted in the decrease of n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio.

Role of Dietary Antioxidants in the Preservation of Vascular Function and the Modulation of Health and Disease

In vascular diseases, including hypertension and atherosclerosis, vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) occurs secondary to altered function of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). A novel redox regulated pathway was identified through which eNOS is uncoupled due to S-glutathionylation of critical cysteine residues, resulting in superoxide free radical formation instead of the vasodilator molecule, nitric oxide. In addition, the redox sensitive cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin, BH₄, is also essential for eNOS coupling. Antioxidants, either individually or combined, can modulate eNOS uncoupling by scavenging free radicals or impairing specific radical generating pathways, thus preventing oxidative stress and ameliorating VED. Epidemiological evidence and dietary guidelines suggest that diets high in antioxidants, or antioxidant supplementation, could preserve vascular health and prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, the purpose of this review is to highlight the possible role of dietary antioxidants in regulating eNOS function and uncoupling which is critical for maintenance of vascular health with normal blood flow/circulation and prevention of VED. We hypothesize that a conditioned dietary approach with suitable antioxidants may limit systemic oxidation, maintain a beneficial ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione, and other redox markers, and minimize eNOS uncoupling serving to prevent CVD and possibly other chronic diseases.

Food intake patterns and cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese adults: analyses from the 2012 National Health and nutrition survey, Japan

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing global interest in the role of Japanese diet as a possible explanation for the nation's healthy diet, which contributes to the world's highest life-expectancy enjoyed in Japan. However, nationwide studies on current food intake status among general Japanese population have not been established yet. This study examined the association between food intake patterns and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) such as waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (SBP, DBP), HbA1c and blood lipid profiles among general Japanese adults.

METHODS

De-identified data on the Japan National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) 2012 with a total of 11,365 subjects aged 20-84 years were applied. Food intake patterns were derived by principal component analysis (PCA) based on 98 food groups. Generalized linear regression analysis was used to assess the relation between the food intake patterns and CVRF.

RESULTS

We identified three food intake patterns: traditional Japanese, Westernized, and meat and fat patterns. Traditional Japanese pattern was significantly related to high WC and BMI in men, and high DBP in women. Westernized pattern was associated with lower SBP, but high total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in both men and women. Meat and fat pattern was associated with high WC, high BMI, high blood pressure and blood lipid profiles in both men and women (trend P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The significant association between cardiovascular disease risks and three food intake patterns derived from the NHNS, showed a similar tendency to other dietary survey methods.

Dietary patterns and the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and neurodegenerative diseases

Diet and lifestyle play a significant role in the development chronic diseases; however the full complexity of this relationship is not yet understood. Dietary pattern investigation, which reflects the complexity of dietary intake, has emerged as an alternative and complementary approach for examining the association between diet and chronic diseases. Literature on this association has largely focused on individual nutrients, with conflicting outcomes, but individuals consume a combination of foods from many groups that form dietary patterns. Our objective was to systematically review the current findings on the effects of dietary patterns on chronic diseases. In this review, we describe and discuss the relationships between dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean, the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, Prudent, Seventh-day Adventists, and Western, with risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and neurodegenearive diseases. Evidence is increasing from both observational and clinical studies that plant-based dietary patterns, which are rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are valuable in preventing various chronic diseases, whereas a diet high in red and processed meat, refined grains and added sugar seems to increase said risk. Dietary pattern analysis might be especially valuable to the development and evaluation of food-based dietary guidelines.

Relative validation of a short questionnaire to assess the dietary habits of pregnant American Indian women

The objective of this study was to compare a short dietary screener developed to assess diet quality with interviewer‐administered telephone 24‐hour dietary recalls in a population of pregnant Northern Plains (NP) American Indian women. Participants were recruited from NP clinical sites of the Prenatal Alcohol and SIDS and Stillbirth (PASS) Network, as part of a large, prospective, multidisciplinary study. Prenatal PASS participants who enrolled prior to 24 weeks gestation were eligible to participate. Repeated 24‐hour dietary recalls were collected using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software and a short dietary screener was administered intended to capture usual dietary intake during pregnancy. The available recalls were averaged across days for analysis. Items were grouped from the recalls to match the food group data estimates for the screener (e.g., total vegetables, total fruit, total dairy, total and whole grains). Deattenuated Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the two data sources after correcting for the within‐person variation in the 24‐hour recall data. A total of 164 eligible women completed the screener and at least two 24‐hour dietary recalls and were included in the analyses. Pearson deattenuated correlation coefficients between the diet screener and the dietary recalls for the majority of food groups were 0.40 or higher. This short diet screener to assess usual diet appears to be a valid instrument for use in evaluating diet quality among pregnant American Indian women.

Associations between dietary patterns and serum lipids, apo and C-reactive protein in an adult population: evidence from a multi-city cohort in South America

Several previous epidemiological studies from developed countries have shown that an unhealthy dietary pattern affects plasma lipid levels and inflammation biomarkers. We assessed the cross-sectional associations between dietary patterns and cardiovascular risk factors among 961 adults from a multi-city cohort in South America. We conducted a principal component analysis to derive dietary patterns. As outcomes, we examined plasma levels of apo A-I, apo B, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), LDL-, HDL- and serum total cholesterol and TAG. The crude and adjusted changes in each outcome were estimated for quartiles of dietary patterns using multivariable linear regression models. The prudent pattern (PP) characterised by higher intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, seafood, whole cereal and low-fat dairy products was associated with reduced plasma concentrations of apo B (-8·5 mg/l), total cholesterol (-18·8 mg/dl) and LDL-cholesterol (-16·5 mg/dl) and hs-CRP (-1·6 mg/l) in men. In women also reduced plasma concentrations of apo B (-6·6 mg/l), total (-12·0 mg/dl) and LDL (-9·3 mg/dl). The 'Western-like' pattern characterised by higher intake of eggs, pastry and cakes, pizza, snacks, refined grains, red meat, vegetable oils and poultry was not significantly associated with any of the selected serum lipid or inflammatory biomarkers. The explained variances were 10·3 and 7·4 %, respectively. The PP was associated with better lipid profile, mainly lower atherogenic particles (apo B) and LDL-cholesterol and serum total cholesterol. This study provides possible evidence of a prudent diet in South American populations to help reduce the burden of CVD.

Accuracy of Weight Perception Among American Indian Tribal College Students

INTRODUCTION

National data indicate a higher prevalence of obesity among American Indian (AI) populations and greater disparity of morbidity and mortality among younger age groups compared with other ethnicities. Diet and physical activity are important obesity preventive behaviors, but no published data exist that describe these behaviors in relation to obesity in AI young adults at tribal colleges. Study purposes were to: (1) identify fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity practices of AI young adults from three U.S. tribal colleges according to BMI categories; (2) identify the accuracy of body weight perceptions; and (3) identify predictor variables for weight misperception.

METHODS

In this observational study during 2011-2014, a total of 1,256 participants were recruited from three participating U.S. tribal colleges to complete an online survey addressing issues related to diet, physical activity, and weight perception. Reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI categories, and differences between BMI categories were examined. Gender differences related to accuracy of weight perception by BMI categories were also examined. Analyses were conducted in 2016.

RESULTS

Based on self-reported height and weight, 68% of the sample was overweight or obese (BMI ≥25) and mean BMI was 28.9 (SD=6.9). Most did not meet recommendations for fruit intake (78.7%), vegetable intake (96.6%), or physical activity (65.6%). More than half (53.7%%) who were overweight/obese underestimated their weight category. Men more often underestimated their weight category (54.2%) than women (35.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions are needed to improve weight-related lifestyle behaviors of AI tribal college students.

Association between Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study from 2003 to 2012

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and loss of disability-adjusted life years in developed countries. This study derived a dietary pattern using an a priori method and additionally derived dietary patterns using a posteriori methods, and assessed the relationship with CVD risk factors in Taiwanese middle-aged and elderly adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analyses of 62,965 subjects aged 40 years and above from the Mei Jau (MJ) database collected between 2003 and 2012 in Taiwan. Diet was assessed using a 22 item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Using this information, three dietary patterns were generated. The a priori diet was labeled the Taiwanese dietary pattern and was derived using hypothesized effect of 22 food groups, while two a posteriori dietary patterns, "vegi-fruits" and "meat-processed", were derived using principal component analysis. The association between dietary patterns and a range of CVD risk factors (i.e. blood lipids, blood glucose and C-reactive protein) was evaluated using linear regression.

RESULTS

The results showed that high intake (Q5, quintile 5) of Taiwanese diet was negatively associated with CVD risk factors at (p < 0.001, model 3), but not with triacylglycerol. In addition, high intake of vegi-fruit dietary pattern (Q5) was negatively associated with CVD risk factors (p < 0.001), but not with high-density lipoprotein, while high consumption of meat-processed dietary pattern (Q5) was positively associated with CVD risk factors (p < 0.001), but negatively related with triacylglycerol in Q3 level and no association with C-reactive protein.

CONCLUSION

A negative association was observed between Taiwanese or vegi-fruit dietary patterns and CVD risk factors, while a positive association was found between meat-processed dietary pattern and CVD risk factors. The findings suggested that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits has a beneficial effect in the management of CVD risk factors.

Dietary patterns and changes in cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy Chinese women: a longitudinal study

Little is known of the relationships between dietary patterns and cardiovascular risk factors in China. We therefore designed a 3-year longitudinal study to evaluate the impacts of dietary patterns on changes in these factors among Chinese women. A total of 1,028 subjects who received health examination in 2011 and 2014 were recruited. Three major dietary patterns (“vegetable pattern”, “meat pattern”, and “animal offal-dessert-and-alcohol pattern”) were derived by principal component analysis based on validated food frequency questionnaires. Cardiovascular risk factors were standardized to create within-cohort z-scores and the changes in them were calculated as the differences between 2011 and 2014. Relationships between dietary patterns and changes in cardiovascular risk factors were assessed using general linear model. After adjustment for potential confounders, changes in total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose decreased across the tertiles of vegetable pattern (p for trend = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). While, changes in diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol increased across the tertiles of animal offal-dessert-and-alcohol pattern (p for trend = 0.02, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively). The findings suggest that vegetable pattern was beneficially related to cardiovascular risk factors, whereas animal offal-dessert-and-alcohol pattern was detrimental related to these factors among apparently healthy Chinese women.

Low nourishment of B-vitamins is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress in newly diagnosed cardiac patients

We are currently witnessing a dramatic change in lifestyle and food choices that is accompanied with an increase in the rate of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although studies have reported an association of CVD with hyperhomocysteinemia-mediated oxidative stress, the biochemical basis is not known. This case-control study was aimed to evaluate the nutritional and biochemical status of B-vitamins in relation to hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress in newly diagnosed cardiac patients. The retrospective dietary intake of the study subjects (cases and controls) was estimated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and fasting blood samples were drawn to assess their serum levels of B-vitamins (folate, vitamins B6 and B12), homocysteine (HCY), and oxidative stress indices such as glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrites and nitrates (NN). It was observed that the cases had a lower dietary intake of B-vitamins as compared to their matched control subjects as well as to the corresponding recommended dietary allowances. Biochemical analysis of cases, as compared to controls, indicated depletion of GSH, impairment of TAC, and an elevation in the serum levels of HCY, MDA, and NN. These results suggest that lower status (dietary intake and serum levels) of B-vitamins is involved in the etiology of hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress, the typical risk factors for CVD.

Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk in an Urban Mexican Adult Population

BACKGROUND

Dietary patterns may predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk more accurately than does consumption of specific nutrients or foods.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the association between Mexican adults' dietary patterns and development of a >10% risk of 10-y CVD (using the Framingham risk score) over 7 y of follow-up.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 1196 men and women aged 20-80 y with a 10-y predicted risk <10% and without a CVD diagnosis at baseline in 2004-2007. Data on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical history factors were collected with a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was evaluated by using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The relations between dietary patterns and predicted CVD were analyzed by using pooled logistic regression models.

RESULTS

With the use of factor analysis, we identified 3 major dietary patterns in participants' dietary data. The "prudent" pattern was characterized by high positive loadings for the consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. The "meat/fish" pattern showed positive loadings for the consumption of red meat, processed meat, eggs, fats, fish, and poultry. Finally, the "refined foods" pattern featured positive loadings for corn tortillas, refined grains, soft drinks, and alcohol. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lowest quintile of the prudent pattern, those in the highest quintile had a lower RR of 10-y CVD (RR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.79; P-trend = 0.006). In contrast, participants in the highest quintile of the refined-foods pattern had a greater risk of elevated 10-y CVD (RR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.46, 6.10; P-trend = 0.020) than did those in the lowest quintile. Finally, the meat/fish dietary pattern was not significantly associated with 10-y CVD.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the prudent pattern is associated with a reduced risk of 10-y CVD, whereas the refined-foods pattern may increase 10-y CVD in Mexican adults.

The CardioMetabolic Health Alliance: Working Toward a New Care Model for the Metabolic Syndrome

The Cardiometabolic Think Tank was convened on June 20, 2014, in Washington, DC, as a "call to action" activity focused on defining new patient care models and approaches to address contemporary issues of cardiometabolic risk and disease. Individual experts representing >20 professional organizations participated in this roundtable discussion. The Think Tank consensus was that the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex pathophysiological state comprised of a cluster of clinically measured and typically unmeasured risk factors, is progressive in its course, and is associated with serious and extensive comorbidity, but tends to be clinically under-recognized. The ideal patient care model for MetS must accurately identify those at risk before MetS develops and must recognize subtypes and stages of MetS to more effectively direct prevention and therapies. This new MetS care model introduces both affirmed and emerging concepts that will require consensus development, validation, and optimization in the future.

Dietary patterns are associated with excess weight and abdominal obesity in a cohort of young Brazilian adults

PURPOSE

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether dietary patterns are associated with excess weight and abdominal obesity among young adults (23-25 years).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2061 participants of a birth cohort from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, started in 1978-1979. Twenty-seven subjects with caloric intake outside ±3 standard deviation range were excluded, leaving 2034 individuals. Excess weight was defined as body mass index (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)), abdominal obesity as waist circumference (WC > 80 cm for women; >90 cm for men) and waist/hip ratio (WHR > 0.85 for women; >0.90 for men). Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment was used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle variables. Four dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis: healthy, traditional Brazilian, bar and energy dense.

RESULTS

In the adjusted analysis, the bar pattern was associated with a higher prevalence of excess weight (PR 1.46; 95 % CI 1.23-1.73) and abdominal obesity based on WHR (PR 2.19; 95 % CI 1.59-3.01). The energy-dense pattern was associated with a lower prevalence of excess weight (PR 0.73; 95 % CI 0.61-0.88). Men with greater adherence to the traditional Brazilian pattern showed a lower prevalence of excess weight (PR 0.65; 95 % CI 0.51-0.82), but no association was found for women. There was no association between the healthy pattern and excess weight/abdominal obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

In this sample, the bar pattern was associated with higher prevalences of excess weight and abdominal obesity, while the energy-dense (for both genders) and traditional Brazilian (only for men) patterns were associated with lower prevalences of excess weight.

Comparison in dietary patterns derived for the Canadian Newfoundland and Labrador population through two time-separated studies

Background

While a dietary pattern is often believed to be stable in a population, there is limited research assessing its stability over time. The objective of this study is to explore and compare major dietary patterns derived for the Canadian subpopulation residing in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), through two time-separated studies using an identical method.

Methods

In this study, we derived and compared the major dietary patterns derived from two independent studies in the NL adult population. The first study was based on the healthy controls from a large population-based case–control study (CCS) in 2005. The second was from a food-frequency questionnaire validation project (FFQVP) conducted in 2012. In both studies, participants were recruited in the same manner and dietary information was collected by an identical self-administered food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Exploratory common factor analysis was conducted to identify major dietary patterns. A comparison was conducted between the two study populations.

Results

Four major dietary patterns were identified: Meat, Vegetables/fruits, Fish, and Grains explaining 22 %, 20 %, 12 % and 9 % variance respectively, with a total variance of 63 %. Three major dietary patterns were derived for the controls of the CCS: Meat, Plant-based diet, and Fish explaining 24 %, 20 %, and 10 % variance respectively, with a total variance of 54 %. As the Plant-based diet pattern derived for the CCS was a combination of the Vegetables/fruits and Grains patterns derived for the FFQVP, no considerable difference in dietary patterns was found between the two studies.

Conclusion

A comparison between two time-separated studies suggests that dietary patterns of the NL adult population have remained reasonably stable over almost a decade.

A generic coding approach for the examination of meal patterns

BACKGROUND

Meal pattern analysis can be complex because of the large variability in meal consumption. The use of aggregated, generic meal data may address some of these issues.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to develop a meal coding system and use it to explore meal patterns.

DESIGN

Dietary data were used from the National Adult Nutrition Survey (2008-2010), which collected 4-d food diary information from 1500 healthy adults. Self-recorded meal types were listed for each food item. Common food group combinations were identified to generate a number of generic meals for each meal type: breakfast, light meals, main meals, snacks, and beverages. Mean nutritional compositions of the generic meals were determined and substituted into the data set to produce a generic meal data set. Statistical comparisons were performed against the original National Adult Nutrition Survey data. Principal component analysis was carried out by using these generic meals to identify meal patterns.

RESULTS

A total of 21,948 individual meals were reduced to 63 generic meals. Good agreement was seen for nutritional comparisons (original compared with generic data sets mean ± SD), such as fat (75.7 ± 29.4 and 71.7 ± 12.9 g, respectively, P = 0.243) and protein (83.3 ± 26.9 and 80.1 ± 13.4 g, respectively, P = 0.525). Similarly, Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement (<5% outside limits of agreement) for many nutrients, including protein, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat. Twelve meal types were identified from the principal component analysis ranging in meal-type inclusion/exclusion, varying in energy-dense meals, and differing in the constituents of the meals.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel meal coding system was developed; dietary intake data were recoded by using generic meal consumption data. Analysis revealed that the generic meal coding system may be appropriate when examining nutrient intakes in the population. Furthermore, such a coding system was shown to be suitable for use in determining meal-based dietary patterns.

Characterising the reproducibility and reliability of dietary patterns among Yup'ik Alaska Native people

FFQ data can be used to characterise dietary patterns for diet-disease association studies. In the present study, we evaluated three previously defined dietary patterns--'subsistence foods', market-based 'processed foods' and 'fruits and vegetables'--among a sample of Yup'ik people from Southwest Alaska. We tested the reproducibility and reliability of the dietary patterns, as well as the associations of these patterns with dietary biomarkers and participant characteristics. We analysed data from adult study participants who completed at least one FFQ with the Center for Alaska Native Health Research 9/2009-5/2013. To test the reproducibility of the dietary patterns, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of a hypothesised model using eighteen food items to measure the dietary patterns (n 272). To test the reliability of the dietary patterns, we used the CFA to measure composite reliability (n 272) and intra-class correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability (n 113). Finally, to test the associations, we used linear regression (n 637). All factor loadings, except one, in CFA indicated acceptable correlations between foods and dietary patterns (r>0·40), and model-fit criteria were >0·90. Composite and test-retest reliability of the dietary patterns were, respectively, 0·56 and 0·34 for 'subsistence foods', 0·73 and 0·66 for 'processed foods', and 0·72 and 0·54 for 'fruits and vegetables'. In the multi-predictor analysis, the dietary patterns were significantly associated with dietary biomarkers, community location, age, sex and self-reported lifestyle. This analysis confirmed the reproducibility and reliability of the dietary patterns in the present study population. These dietary patterns can be used for future research and development of dietary interventions in this underserved population.

Four major dietary patterns identified for a target-population of adults residing in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Background

Very limited nutritional epidemiological studies conducted to explore the unique dietary exposure in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). This study aims to identify and characterize major dietary patterns in the target-population from general adult NL residents and assess the associations with selected demographic factors.

Methods

A total of 192 participants, aged 35–70 years, completed and returned a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and participated in a telephone interview to collect demographic information. Dietary patterns were identified by common factor analysis. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to assess determinants of the different food consumption patterns. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated for food scores of each pattern, total energy, and energy-adjusted nutrient intakes.

Results

Factor analyses identified four dietary patterns, which were labeled as “Meat”, “Vegetable/fruit”, “Fish”, and “Grain” patterns. In combination, the four dietary patterns explained 63% of the variance in dietary habits of the study population. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated an increasing trend of factor scores for Meat and Grain pattern with age. Male participants were found to be more likely to choose the Meat and Fish patterns. Current smokers and those married/living together tend to choose the Grain pattern. Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed positive correlations between fat and cholesterol and the Meat pattern, fiber and the Vegetable/fruits pattern, protein and the Fish pattern, and carbohydrates and the Grain pattern.

Conclusion

This study derived four dietary patterns and obtained their significant associations with specific demographic characteristics in this population. It identified one dietary consumption pattern (Fish) not yet seen in other studied populations. These findings will update the current dietary-health information published in this province, and contribute to further research into the association between dietary practices and health.

Association of low-level arsenic exposure in drinking water with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and risk assessment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing an integrated assessment of non-cancer and cancer risk assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in association with iAs exposure has been examined in a number of studies and provides a basis for evaluating a reference dose (RfD) for assessing potential non-cancer health risks of arsenic exposure. In this systematic review of low-level iAs exposure (i.e., <100-150μg/L arsenic water concentration) and CVD in human populations, 13 cohort and case-control studies from the United States, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and China were identified and critically examined for evidence for derivation of a RfD. Eight cross-sectional and ecological studies from the United States were also examined for additional information. Prospective cohort data from Bangladesh provided the strongest evidence for determining the point of departure in establishing a candidate RfD based on a combined endpoint of mortality from "ischemic heart disease and other heart diseases." This study as well as the overall literature supported a no-observed-adverse-effect level of 100μg/L for arsenic in water, which was equivalent to an iAs dose of 0.009mg/kg-day (based on population-specific water consumption rates and dietary iAs intake). The study population was likely sensitive to arsenic toxicity because of nutritional deficiencies affecting arsenic methylation and one-carbon metabolism, as well as increasing CVD risk. Evidence is less clear on the interaction of CVD risk factors in the United States (e.g., diabetes, obesity, and hypertension) with arsenic at low doses. Potential uncertainty factors up to 3 resulted in a RfD for CVD in the range of 0.003-0.009mg/kg-day. Although caution should be exercised in extrapolating these results to the U.S. general population, these doses allow a margin of exposure that is 10-30 times the current RfD derived by EPA (based on skin lesions in Southwest Taiwan). These findings suggest that the current EPA RfD is protective of CVD.

Elevated risk of death and major cardiovascular events in subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes: findings from an administrative database

AIMS

To investigate the incidence of major cardiovascular complications and mortality in the first years of follow-up in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined incidence rates of hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons and death among new patients with diabetes using the administrative health database of the nine million inhabitants of Lombardy followed from 2002 to 2007. Age and sex-adjusted rates were calculated and hazard ratios (HR) were estimated with a matched population without diabetes of the same sex, age (± 1 year) and general practitioner. There were 158,426 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and 314,115 subjects without diabetes. Mean follow-up was 33.0 months (SD ± 17.5). 9.7% of patients with diabetes were hospitalized for cardiovascular events vs. 5.4% of subjects without diabetes; mortality rate was higher in patients with diabetes (7.7% vs. 4.4%). The estimated probability of hospitalization during the follow up was higher in patients with diabetes than in subjects without for coronary heart disease (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.4), cerebrovascular disease (HR 1.3.95% CI 1.2-1.3), heart failure (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.4) as was mortality (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.4-1.4). Younger patients with diabetes had a risk of death or hospital admission for cardio-cerebrovascular events similar to subjects without diabetes ten years older.

CONCLUSIONS

The elevated morbidity and mortality risks were clear since the onset of diabetes and rose over time. These data highlight the importance of prompt and comprehensive patients care in addition to anti-diabetic therapy in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Association between habitual dietary intake and lipoprotein subclass profile in healthy young adults

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Nutritional epidemiology is increasingly shifting its focus from studying single nutrients to the exploration of the whole diet utilizing dietary pattern analysis. We analyzed associations between habitual diet (including macronutrients, dietary patterns, biomarker of fish intake) and lipoprotein particle subclass profile in young adults.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Complete dietary data (food-frequency questionnaire) and lipoprotein subclass profile (via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) were available for 663 subjects from the population-based FinnTwin12 study (57% women, age: 21-25 y). The serum docosahexaenoic to total fatty acid ratio was used as a biomarker of habitual fish consumption. Factor analysis identified 5 dietary patterns: "Fruit and vegetables", "Meat", "Sweets and desserts", "Junk food" and "Fish". After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking status and alcohol intake, the "Junk food" pattern was positively related to serum triglycerides (r = 0.12, P = 0.002), a shift in the subclass distribution of VLDL toward larger particles (r = 0.12 for VLDL size, P < 0.001) and LDL toward smaller particles (r = -0.15 for LDL size, P < 0.001). In addition, higher scores on this pattern were positively correlated with concentrations of small, dense HDL (r = 0.16, P < 0.001). Habitual fish intake associated negatively with VLDL particle diameter ("Fish" pattern and biomarker) and positively with HDL particle diameter (biomarker).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that in young adults, higher habitual fish consumption is related to favorable subclass distributions of VLDL and HDL, while junk food intake is associated with unfavorable alterations in the distribution of all lipoprotein subclasses independent of adiposity and other lifestyle factors.

The role of dietary patterns' assessment in the predictive ability of cardiovascular disease risk estimation models: a review

Risk prediction scores have received much attention the past few years, especially in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although diet has been independently associated with CVD risk, its role in the accuracy of the developed scores has rarely been studied. Thus, in this review, the role of diet assessment on the performance of CVD risk scores and models was critically discussed. A computer-assisted literature search retrieved 15 relevant studies, but only two out of them evaluated the role of diet on the accuracy of the developed models; the inclusion of diet assessment improved significantly the accuracy of CVD risk models. The remaining studies suggested an independent, protective effect of healthy dietary habits on CVD risk, with an attributable risk varying from 9 to 37%. Inclusion of diet component in CVD risks scores, may increase the accuracy of the models, and better identify people at high risk.

Dietary Intake among American Indians with Metabolic Syndrome - Comparison to Dietary Recommendations: the Balance Study

BACKGROUND

American Indians have a very high prevalence of metabolic syndrome that increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Dietary habits are of central importance in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this article was to describe dietary intake among American Indians with metabolic syndrome and compare it to several dietary recommendations. A secondary objective was to identify certain barriers to dietary adherence experienced by this population.

METHODS

A total of 213 participants with metabolic syndrome were enrolled in the Balance Study, a randomized controlled trial with two intervention groups: Guided Group and Self-Managed Group. Dietary intake was assessed using the Block Food Frequency questionnaire. Dietary intakes were evaluated against the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

RESULTS

Intakes of saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium were higher and intakes of dietary fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E were lower than recommended. Additionally, intake of many food groups was noticeably low. Economic factors seem to be related to low adherence to dietary recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Results showed low adherence by the participants to dietary recommendations for key nutrients and food groups related to risk factors for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Economic factors are related to this low adherence. These findings illustrate a need to develop innovative, focused, and perhaps individualized health promotion strategies that can improve dietary habits of American Indians with metabolic syndrome.

Dietary patterns and odds of Type 2 diabetes in Beirut, Lebanon: a case-control study

Background

In Lebanon, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has a major public health impact through high disease prevalence, significant downstream pathophysiologic effects, and enormous financial liabilities. Diet is an important environmental factor in the development and prevention of T2D. Dietary patterns may exert greater effects on health than individual foods, nutrients, or food groups. The objective of this study is to examine the association between dietary patterns and the odds of T2D among Lebanese adults.

Methods

Fifty-eight recently diagnosed cases of T2D and 116 population-based age, sex, and place of residence matched control participants were interviewed. Data collection included a standard socio-demographic and lifestyle questionnaire. Dietary intake was evaluated by a semi-quantitative 97-item food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, waist circumference, and percent body fat were also obtained. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of extracted patterns with T2D. Pearson correlations between these patterns and obesity markers, energy, and nutrient intakes were also examined.

Results

Four dietary patterns were identified: Refined Grains & Desserts, Traditional Lebanese, Fast Food and Meat & Alcohol. While scores of the “Refined Grains & Desserts” had the highest correlations with energy (r = 0.74) and carbohydrates (r = 0.22), those of the “Fast Food” had the highest correlation with fat intake (r = 0.34). After adjustment for socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, scores of the Refined Grains & Desserts and Fast Food patterns were associated with higher odds of T2D (OR: 3.85, CI: 1.13-11.23 and OR: 2.80, CI: 1.14-5.59; respectively) and scores of the Traditional Lebanese pattern were inversely associated with the odds of T2D (OR: 0.46, CI: 0.22-0.97).

Conclusions

The findings of this study demonstrate direct associations of the Refined Grains & Desserts and Fast Food patterns with T2D and an inverse association between the Traditional Lebanese pattern and the disease among Lebanese adults. These results may guide the development of nutrition interventions for the prevention and management of T2D among Lebanese adults.