High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and diet in a healthy elderly population

Biometric outcomes of a geriatric health promotion programme

A geriatric health promotion programme was conducted to determine biometric changes in cardiovascular, nutritional and musculoskeletal status. Sixty-seven older adults participated in the study. The experimental group of 34 elderly subjects showed statistically significant increases in flexibility and high density lipoprotein with significant decreases in resting pulse rate, blood pressure, total cholesterol, weight and skinfold measures. The overall results of the wellness programme showed significant improvements in the physical health status of older adults.

Alcohol intake in a healthy elderly population

The relationship between amount of alcohol consumption and social, psychological, and cognitive status was examined in 270 healthy, independently living men and women over age 65. Forty-eight per cent of the sample recorded some alcohol intake during a three-day diet record, with 8 per cent drinking 30 or more grams of alcohol daily. Alcohol intake was positively associated with male gender, income, and amount of education and negatively associated with age. Alcohol intake was not associated with any changes in social or psychological status, but was positively associated with several measurements of cognitive status. These correlations were weak, however, and tended to disappear after controlling for income, education, gender, and age. Past alcohol intake was not associated with any indicators of present social, psychological, or cognitive functioning.

Plasma lipoproteins and platelet aggregation during alimentary lipemia. Decreased atherogenic pattern in the elderly

Ten healthy women in their tenth decade of life were compared with ten healthy women in their fourth decade of life regarding the response of plasma lipoproteins and platelet aggregation to one meal rich in saturated fats. In the elderly group, plasma cholesterol decreased in the postprandial state three hours after the meal in comparison to no significant changes in the younger group. This resulted from reduction in plasma lipoprotein cholesterol levels, except for the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which was enhanced. A similar pattern was found for plasma lipoprotein levels. The increase in plasma triglyceride concentration in the elderly women was less than in the younger women, as fewer changes in their plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoprotein) were observed. Platelet aggregation in response to collagen was reduced in the elderly women, whereas in the younger group, increased platelet aggregation in the postprandial state was found. Our study thus demonstrates a clear advantage of the elderly women in comparison to the younger ones in reducing atherosclerosis and thrombotic risks. The elderly group responded to the saturated fat-rich meal by minimal plasma triglyceride elevation, an increase in HDL cholesterol concentration, and reduced platelet aggregation.

Relationship between zinc intake, physical activity, and blood levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a healthy elderly population

We investigated the relationship between level of exercise, ingestion of zinc supplements, and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in 270 healthy men and women over age 60. After controlling for sex, alcohol intake, and body mass, there was a significant positive correlation between level of exercise and serum HDL cholesterol in the 180 subjects not taking supplemental zinc (r = 0.26, P = .005) but not for those subjects taking supplemental zinc (r = -0.18, P = .14). Multiple regression analysis showed a significant interaction of zinc intake and activity level on HDL cholesterol (P = .04). In 22 subjects who were ingesting greater than 15 mg of supplemental, elemental zinc daily, cessation of zinc supplements for 8 weeks was associated with a significant increase in HDL cholesterol levels (2.0 mg/dL; P = .04). The change in HDL after stopping zinc was positively correlated with the level of exercise of the subjects (r = .41, P = .05). Thus supplemental zinc ingestion appears to block the exercise-induced increase in serum HDL cholesterol in a healthy population.

The health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption: a review of the literature

A review of the literature on the positive benefits of light and moderate alcohol consumption suggests the following: Alcoholic beverages are food, containing approx. 7 calories per gram of ethanol. Beer contains small percentages of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and significant proportions of the recommended daily allowance of trace metals and minerals. Wine, while possessing significantly smaller amounts of vitamins and minerals than beer, has considerably more iron. Both beer and wine have a favorable potassium to sodium ratio. Coronary heart disease (CHD) seems to have a negative association with regular alcoholic beverage use. While some report a linear relationship, most studies agree that the relationship is U-shaped. Many studies have suggested that this inverse relationship is due to alcohol's effect of increasing levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), which acts in the removal of cholesterol from tissue. Other explanations for moderate alcohol's cardioprotective effect include: associated diet changes in moderate drinkers, the silicon content in wine and beer, decreased platelet aggregation and coagulation, and the ability to lessen stress and/or alter personality patterns associated with CHD risks. Dry non-sweet wines and diluted distilled spirits have been recommended in the treatment of diabetes. It has been suggested that alcohol may improve glucose tolerance and blood glucose response to ingested carbohydrates. Due to reported decreased HDL values in diabetics, alcohol has been suggested as useful for its HDL-increasing function.

The effects of exercise and a moderate hypercholesterolemic diet on plasma and hepatic lipoproteins in the rat

Exercise generally has been found to produce beneficial effects on plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles, but the mechanisms involved and possible dietary interactions have not been well defined. Weanling male Fischer 344 rats were assigned to three groups: normocholesterolemic diet sedentary (NS), hypercholesterolemic diet sedentary (HS), and hypercholesterolemic diet exercised (HE). Exercise consisted of treadmill running at 1.2 to 1.4 km/h at a 9% grade, six days weekly, for a 10-week experimental period. Lipoproteins from plasma and from a recirculating in situ liver perfusion system were then isolated and analyzed. The values of several parameters for HE tended to fall intermediate between HS and NS. Final total plasma cholesterol and liver cholesterol concentrations were significantly different among all three groups (HS greater than HE greater than NS). Plasma HDL-cholesterol and phospholipids and perfusate HDL-cholesterol production rate per gram liver were all significantly lower in HS v NS, with HE lying in between. Plasma HDL protein was lower in HS than in both other groups. Plasma total triglyceride levels were significantly lowered by exercise, but neither plasma nor perfusate VLDL triglyceride levels differed significantly among the three groups. Food intakes of HE and HS rats were similar, but HE rats had significantly lower final body weights. The results suggest that (1) exercise may ameliorate many of the changes in lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism induced by a diet containing lard and cholesterol, and (2) some of these changes may be mediated by changes in hepatic lipoprotein production.