Body Weight Reduction Results in Favorable Changes in Blood Pressure, Serum Lipids, and Blood Sugar in Middle-Aged Japanese Persons: A 5-Year Interval Observational Study of 26,824 Cases

Excessive Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages and Extremely High Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HALP) in the ELSA-Brasil Cohort Baseline

BACKGROUND

It has already been established that the consumption of alcoholic beverages increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in dose-response.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cross-sectional analysis was carried out with 6132 participants of both sexes aged between 35 and 74 years, who were active and retired workers from six Brazilian states. Heavy drinkers were categorized by sex: men > 210 g/week and women > 140 g/week; moderate drinkers: men ≤ 209 g/week and women ≤ 139 g/week. The HDL-C level was dichotomized into normal (40 mg/dL-82.9 mg/dL) and extremely high (≥83 mg/dL). We used binary logistic regression to assess associations between baseline alcohol intake and HDL-C, which were adjusted for sex, age, income, physical activity, kilocalories and body mass index (BMI), and we found an positive association between extremely high HDL-C and the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. These participants were mostly women with a high income, lower waist circumference, kilocalorie consumption and also a higher consumption in all categories of alcoholic beverages.

CONCLUSION

Excessive alcohol consumption was associated with a higher probability of extremely high HDL-C.

The Association between Nutritional Status and Length of Hospital Stay among Patients with Hypertension

Background: Nutritional status is related to the prognosis and length of hospital stay (LOS) of patients with hypertension (HT). This study aimed to assess how nutritional status and body mass index (BMI) affect LOS for patients with hypertension. Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of 586 medical records of patients who had been admitted to the Institute of Heart Diseases of the University Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland. Results: A total of 586 individuals were included in the analysis. Individuals who were at a nutritional risk represented less than 2% of the study population, but more than 60% were overweight or obese. The mean BMI was 28.4 kg/m² (SD: 5.16). LOS averaged 3.53 days (SD = 2.78). In the case of obese individuals, hospitalisation lasted for 3.4 ± 2.43 days, which was significantly longer than for patients of normal weight. For underweight patients, hospitalisation lasted for 5.14 ± 2.27 days, which was also significantly longer than for those in other BMI categories (p = 0.017). The independent predictors of shorter hospitalisations involved higher LDL concentration (parameter of regression: −0.015) and HDL concentration (parameter of regression: −0.04). Conclusions: The study revealed that with regard to the nutritional status of hypertensive patients, being either underweight or obese was associated with longer LOS. Additional factors that related to prolonged LOS were lower LDL and HDL levels and higher CRP concentrations.

Association of the FRMD5 rs2929282 polymorphism and serum lipid profiles in two Chinese ethnic groups

Little is known about the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of rs2929282 near the FERM domain containing 5 (FRMD5) and serum lipid profiles. The present study detected the association of the FRMD5 rs2929282 SNP and several environmental factors with serum lipid profiles in the Han and Jing populations. Genotyping of the FRMD5 rs2929282 SNP in 1065 subjects of Jing and 1061 participants of Han peoples was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, and then confirmed by direct sequencing. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the SNP were different between Han and Jing (P < 0.05). The frequency of the T allele was higher in Han than in Jing (8.2% vs. 6.1%). The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the FRMD5 rs2929282 SNP were significantly different between Han males and females (P < 0.05 for each), but not between Jing males and females. The frequency of the T allele was higher in Han females than in Han males (9.3% vs. 6.5%). The FRMD5 rs2929282 T allele carriers had lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, and ApoB levels, and higher triglyceride (TG) levels in Jing but not in Han than the T allele non-carriers. Subgroup analysis according to sex showed that the T allele carriers had higher serum TG levels in Jing females but not in males than the T allele non-carriers (P < 0.05). The T allele carriers had higher HDL-C levels in Han males but not in Han females, and lower HDL-C levels in Jing females but not in Jing males compared to the T allele non-carriers (P < 0.05). The T allele carriers had lower ApoA1 levels in Jing females but not in Jing males and lower ApoB levels in Jing males but not in Jing females than the T allele non-carriers (P < 0.05). Serum lipid traits were also associated with several environmental factors in the Han and Jing populations, and in males and females of the both ethnic groups. These findings indicated that there may be a racial/ethnic- and/or sex-specific association of the FRMD5 rs2929282 SNP and serum lipid levels.

Blood Pressure Lowering Effect of Cuban Policosanol is Accompanied by Improvement of Hepatic Inflammation, Lipoprotein Profile, and HDL Quality in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

We investigated the antihypertensive effect of policosanol on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). For this, we analyzed blood pressure, blood lipid, and lipoprotein properties in male SHR after consumption of Cuban policosanol (PCO). The experimental groups were as follows: normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) control, SHR group fed normal diet (ND), SHR group fed 20 mg of PCO, SHR group fed 100 mg of PCO, and SHR group fed 200 mg of PCO per kg of body weight. After eight weeks, the SHR control group showed gradual increases up to 21% in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with values at week 0. However, policosanol consumption had a dose-dependent reduction effect on SBP and also reduced DBP up to 17% in a dose-dependent manner. Heart rate (HR) bpm increased by six percent in the SHR control, whereas the 20 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg of policosanol groups showed a reduction of 36%, 28%, and 34% respectively. Although serum total cholesterol (TC) level of SHR was not affected by policosanol consumption (70⁻80 mg/dL), serum triglyceride (TG) level significantly decreased in the SHR + 200 mg of PCO group. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was also significantly elevated by policosanol consumption. The % HDL-C/TC ratio was elevated in the policosanol group up to 67⁻70%, whereas the SHR control group showed a ratio of 58%. Serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was reduced by policosanol in a dose-dependent manner. Although the serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT)/ glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were similar across all groups, policosanol consumption caused reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in hepatic tissue. The SHR control group showed a 2.1-fold higher serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level than the WKY group, whereas the CRP level decreased in the SHR + 200 mg of PCO group (up to 45%) than SHR control group. Aldosterone level was reduced in the policosanol group (up to 34%) in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. In conclusion, eight weeks of policosanol consumption in SHR resulted in remarkable reduction of blood pressure, serum aldosterone, and serum TG levels along with the elevation of HDL-C and improvement of hepatic inflammation.

Association of RBM5 rs2013208 SNP with serum lipid levels in two Chinese ethnic groups

The RNA binding motif protein 5 gene (RBM5) rs2013208 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in a previous genome-wide association study, but little is known about such association of the RBM5 rs2013208 SNP and serum lipid profiles in the Chinese populations. The present study was to detect the association of the RBM5 rs2013208 SNP and several environmental factors with serum lipid levels in the Jing and Han populations. Genotyping of the RBM5 rs2013208 SNP in 635 subjects of Jing and 648 participants of Han peoples was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, and then confirmed by direct sequencing. There were no significant differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the RBM5 rs2013208 SNP between the two ethnic groups or between males and females. The RBM5 rs2013208G allele carriers had lower serum HDL-C levels in both Jing and Han than the G allele non-carriers. The G allele carriers in Jing had higher serum total cholesterol (TC) levels and higher apolipoprotein (Apo) A1/ApoB ratio than the G allele non-carriers (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis according to sex showed that the G allele carriers had lower serum HDL-C levels in both Jing and Han females but not in males (P < 0.05). The G allele carriers had higher TC levels in Jing females but not in Jing males, and lower ApoA1/ApoB ratio in Jing males but not in Jing females. Serum lipid parameters were also correlated with several environmental factors in the Jing and Han populations, or in males and females in both ethnic groups. The association of the RBM5 rs2013208 SNP and serum lipid levels is different between the Jing and Han populations. These associations might have an ethnic- and/or sex-specificity.

Association of Decreased High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) With Obesity and Risk Estimates for Decreased HDL-C Attributable to Obesity: Preliminary Findings From a Hospital-Based Study in a City From Northeast India

BACKGROUND

Obesity is an important risk factor for decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, which predisposes to cardiovascular diseases. But, the relative contribution of obesity toward decreased HDL-C and the risk estimates of decreased HDL-C attributable to obesity are unavailable. Such measures will help in understanding the extent by which the burden of decreased HDL-C can be reduced by tackling obesity.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to ( a) determine the association between decreased HDL-C and obesity and ( b) estimate the attributable risk proportion (ARP) and population attributable risk proportion (PARP) for decreased HDL-C due to obesity.

METHODS

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured as indices of overweight (or generalized obesity) and central obesity, respectively in 190 subjects (95 cases with low HDL-C and 95 healthy controls with normal HDL-C) from Guwahati city. Crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated along with the risk estimates (ARP and PARP).

RESULTS

People with overweight or generlized obesity (adjusted OR = 4.90, 95% CI = 3.59-6.68), and people with central obesity (adjusted OR = 3.33, 95% CI = 2.39-4.64) had significantly greater odds of developing decreased HDL-C. Among the exposed, 79.8% of the decreased HDL-C cases could be attributed to overweight (or generalized obesity), while 72.8% cases could be attributed to central obesity. In the overall population, the corresponding figures were 57.1% and 36%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Decreased HDL-C is strongly associated with and largely attributable to obesity.