Less sodium and more potassium to reduce cardiovascular risk

Daily Intake of Two or More Servings of Vegetables Is Associated with a Lower Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Older People

OBJECTIVES

We sought to examine the correlation between the recommended consumption of at least two servings (400 g) of vegetables per day and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in an elderly population.

METHODS

This observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted with 264 non-institutionalized people aged 65 to 79 years old. We adhered to the recommended guidelines for vegetable intake from the MEDAS-14 questionnaire, which has been validated for elderly populations at high cardiovascular risk. Diagnoses of MetS were made based on the criteria set forth by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

RESULTS

Among 264 individuals, who had a mean age of 71.9 (SD: 4.2) and comprised 39% men, the prevalence of MetS was 40.2%. A total of 17% of the participants adhered to the recommended vegetable consumption. Consuming the recommended amount of vegetables was correlated with a 19% reduction in the prevalence of MetS, to 24.4% from 43.4% among those with low vegetable consumption (p < 0.05). A main finding was that inadequate vegetable consumption was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of MetS (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.06-4.63; p = 0.035), considering potential influences by nutritional (consumption of fruit and nuts) and socio-demographic (sex, age, and level of education) covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

A beneficial inverse correlation was identified between the recommended vegetable intake and the prevalence of MetS. In contrast, inadequate vegetable consumption was revealed as an independent variable associated with the prevalence of MetS. Considering the very low adherence to the recommended vegetable intake we observed, encouraging increased vegetable consumption among older individuals, who have a high prevalence of MetS, is advisable.

Biofortification and Valorization of Celery byproducts Using Selenium and PGPB under Reduced Nitrogen Regimes

Due to climate change and exacerbated population growth, the search for new sustainable strategies that allow for greater food productivity and that provide greater nutritional quality has become imperative. One strategy for addressing this problem is the combined use of fertilization with a reduced dose of nitrogen and biostimulants. Celery processing produces a large amount of waste with its concomitant pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to address the valorization of its byproducts. Our results revealed reductions in the biomass, Na, P, Mn, B, sugars, and proteins in the byproducts and increased lipid peroxidation, Fe (all celery parts), and K (byproducts) when the N supplied was reduced. Plants inoculated with Azotobacter salinestris obtained a greater biomass, a higher accumulation of K (byproducts), a build-up of sugars and proteins, reduced concentrations of P, Cu, Mn, B, Fe (petioles), and Zn (byproducts), and reduced lipid peroxidation. The application of Se at 8 μM reinforced the beneficial effect obtained after inoculation with Azotobacter salinestris. In accordance with our results, edible celery parts are recommended as an essential ingredient in the daily diet. Furthermore, the valorization of celery byproducts with health-promoting purposes should be considered.

Vegetable and Fruit Intake Variety and Cardiovascular Health and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

INTRODUCTION

A multitude of evidence supports the consumption of a higher quantity of vegetables and fruits for their cardiovascular benefits. Nonetheless, the extent to which variety is associated with cardiovascular health remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (prospective cohort and cross-sectional studies) assessing the role of a variety of vegetable and fruit consumption in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane databases, and reference lists were searched through March 2023.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale).

DATA ANALYSIS

Data were pooled (fixed and random [DerSimonian and Laird] effects for <5 and ≥5 study comparisons, respectively), and heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q statistic and quantified (I2 statistic). The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the overall certainty of the evidence. Five cross-sectional (n = 45,761) and seven prospective studies (n = 253,422) met the eligibility criteria. Greater variety of vegetable and fruit consumption was prospectively related to decreased all-cause mortality (risk ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.82-0.97], seven study comparisons, n = 196,925), while no significant associations were observed with assessed cardiovascular-related mortality or morbidity. For all outcomes, the certainty of the evidence was graded as "low" or "very low" owing to inconsistency and/or imprecision.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study shows that greater variety in vegetable and fruit consumption may reduce all-cause mortality and highlights the need for additional studies with a higher degree of evidence to better understand its role in cardiovascular health.