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Dietary intake of antioxidants and fats in the context of coronary heart disease prevention among elderly people.
Kolarzyk, E, Skop-Lewandowska, A, Jaworska, J, Ostachowska-Gąsior, A, Krzeszowska-Rosiek, T
Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM. 2018;25(1):131-136
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Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of mortality in developed countries and is rapidly becoming a dominant cause of all deaths worldwide. The most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease is diet. A diet which includes non-hydrogenated unsaturated fats as the predominant form of dietary fat, whole grains as the main form of carbohydrates, an abundance of fruits and vegetables and adequate omega-3 fatty acids, can offer significant protection against CHD. The primary aim of the study was to estimate a diet's antioxidant capacity and assess the hierarchy of contribution of particular food products to a Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI). The study included 143 men and women aged 65-80 who were independent and without any physical or mental disability. On average, the DAI of study participants was low, with fruit having the largest contribution. In comparison to results obtained in a previous report by the same authors, the study showed that the participants consumed too little antioxidant food, as well as grains and cereal-based products, fresh herbs and beverages. This study recommends that the elderly population should be advised to consume a well-balanced diet rich in antioxidants originating from fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrains to reduce the risk of CHD.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Some literature data indicate that the proper intake of exogenic antioxidants from food and the proper intake of fats can offer significant protection against coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVES The estimation of total antioxidant capacity of food intake on the basis of Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI), together with an assessment of the contribution of particular food products in DAI, and the evaluation of consumption of all dietary fats and frequency of consumption of products that are a source of fats among elderly people in Krakow, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS 143 persons (73 women and 70 men) aged 65-80 were studied. None of them was under specialist medical control, including cardiological control. DAI was investigated on the basis of the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) which included 145 food items. DAI was measured using the method by Benzi and expressed as FRAP (the ability to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, measured in mMol/l). The daily intake of fats was estimated using the 24-h nutritional recall. The frequency of fats consumption was estimated with the usage of FFQ. For statistical analysis, χ2 test was used. RESULTS The mean value of DAI of all studied persons was 34.27 + 11.72 mMol/l. The largest percentage of those studied had FRAP values in the range 25-35 mMol/l. The highest contribution in the total DAI value was found in fruit (36.2%), grains and cereal-based products (23.6%), and beverages (24.0%). The consumption of vegetables was on the fourth position (7.1%). The contribution of the remaining food products was low. The consumption of total fats (about 70g/24h) and saturated fatty acids (14% of energetic value) exceeded the recommendations. The participation of mono-and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diets was not in accordance with recommendations. The most frequently consumed fats were animal fats (sausages, butter) and cakes, but the consumption of vegetable oils, fish, nuts and seeds of oil plants was too low. CONCLUSIONS The majority of elderly people made mistakes in their nutrition. The enrichment in natural antioxidants of the diets of elderly people and the normalization of their fats consumption should become an important element of primary and secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases.
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Dietary carbohydrates: role of quality and quantity in chronic disease.
Ludwig, DS, Hu, FB, Tappy, L, Brand-Miller, J
BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2018;361:k2340
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Human populations have thrived on diets with widely varying carbohydrate content. Dietary carbohydrates comprise compounds that can be digested or metabolically transformed directly into glucose, or that undergo oxidation into pyruvate, including some sugar alcohols. This study is a review that examines the links between different types of carbohydrates and health, with special focus on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and early death. Evidence suggests that the type of carbohydrates may have a greater effect on health outcomes than total amount for the general population. A strong case can be made for consumption of high glycaemic load grains, potato products, and added sugars namely sugary drinks, being causally related to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. Whereas non-starchy vegetables, whole fruits, legumes, and whole kernel grains appear to protective. Authors conclude that the recent influx of rapidly digestible, high glycaemic index carbohydrates in developed nations has contributed to the epidemics of obesity and cardiometabolic disease.
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Association between plasma fatty acids and inflammatory markers in patients with and without insulin resistance and in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, a cross-sectional study.
Bersch-Ferreira, ÂC, Sampaio, GR, Gehringer, MO, Torres, EAFDS, Ross-Fernandes, MB, da Silva, JT, Torreglosa, CR, Kovacs, C, Alves, R, Magnoni, CD, et al
Nutrition journal. 2018;17(1):26
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It is known that people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have increased inflammation and raised levels of circulating inflammatory molecules. The presence of insulin resistance is thought to increase these levels, as are certain fatty acids coming from dietary fats. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to compare the levels of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with CVD with and without insulin resistance, and to evaluate the possible link between the blood levels of fatty acids and inflammatory biomarkers among these patients. The authors concluded that the CVD patients with insulin resistance had a higher concentration of some inflammatory molecules in the blood than those without insulin resistance. They also observed that saturated fatty acids were linked to higher levels of inflammatory molecules in the blood, while unsaturated fatty acids correlated with lower levels.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proinflammatory biomarkers levels are increased among patients with cardiovascular disease, and it is known that both the presence of insulin resistance and diet may influence those levels. However, these associations are not well studied among patients with established cardiovascular disease. Our objective is to compare inflammatory biomarker levels among cardiovascular disease secondary prevention patients with and without insulin resistance, and to evaluate if there is any association between plasma fatty acid levels and inflammatory biomarker levels among them. METHODS In this cross-sectional sub-study from the BALANCE Program Trial, we collected data from 359 patients with established cardiovascular disease. Plasma fatty acids and inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha) were measured. Biomarkers and plasma fatty acid levels of subjects across insulin resistant and not insulin resistant groups were compared, and general linear models were used to examine the association between plasma fatty acids and inflammatory biomarkers. RESULTS Subjects with insulin resistance had a higher concentration of hs-CRP (p = 0.002) and IL-6 (p = 0.002) than subjects without insulin resistance. Among subjects without insulin resistance there was a positive association between stearic fatty acid and IL-6 (p = 0.032), and a negative association between alpha-linolenic fatty acid and pro-inflammatory biomarkers (p < 0.05). Among those with insulin resistance there was a positive association between monounsaturated fatty acids and arachidonic fatty acid and adiponectin (p < 0.05), and a negative association between monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and pro-inflammatory biomarkers (p < 0.05), as well as a negative association between polyunsaturated fatty acids and adiponectin (p < 0.05). Our study has not found any association between hs-CRP and plasma fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS Subjects in secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease with insulin resistance have a higher concentration of hs-CRP and IL-6 than individuals without insulin resistance, and these inflammatory biomarkers are positively associated with saturated fatty acids and negatively associated with unsaturated fatty acids.