Adherence to a Mediterranean-like Diet as a Protective Factor Against COPD: A Nested Case-Control Study

A diet rich in nutrients has been suggested to have protective effects against the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since the traditional Mediterranean diet is high in nutrients, including antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, it is of interest to study as a protective factor against COPD. Our aim was therefore to study its associations with development of COPD using population-based prospective data from the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) cohort. Data on diet from 370 individuals, who later visited the Department of Medicine at the University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden, with a diagnosis of COPD, were compared to 1432 controls. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed by a modified version of the Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Cases were diagnosed with COPD 11.1 years (mean) (standard deviation [SD] 4.5 years) after first stating their dietary habits in the VIP at a mean age of 55.5 years (SD 6.6 years). Higher MDS was associated with a higher level of education and not living alone. After adjustment for co-habiting and education level, individuals with an intermediate MDS and those with the highest MDS had a lower odds of developing COPD (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–0.95; OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.37–0.86, respectively). These results remained also after adjustment for smoking intensity, i.e., numbers of cigarettes smoked per day (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–0.99; OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35–0.97), respectively). To conclude, adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet seems to be inversely associated with the development of COPD.</p

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) between hand grip, CoQ₁₀/cholesterol ratio, age and BMI in A) the basic study population (n = 334) and B) the validation population (n = 967), including 658 overweight/obese subjects.

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) between hand grip, CoQ10/cholesterol ratio, age and BMI in A) the basic study population (n = 334) and B) the validation population (n = 967), including 658 overweight/obese subjects.</p

Characterization of the basic study population (<i>n</i> = 334).

<p>Characterization of the basic study population (<i>n</i> = 334).</p

Coenzyme Q₁₀ Status as a Determinant of Muscular Strength in Two Independent Cohorts

<div><p>Aging is associated with sarcopenia, which is a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is involved in several important functions that are related to bioenergetics and protection against oxidative damage; however, the role of CoQ₁₀ as a determinant of muscular strength is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the determinants of muscular strength by examining hand grip force in relation to CoQ₁₀ status, gender, age and body mass index (BMI) in two independent cohorts (n = 334, n = 967). Furthermore, peak flow as a function of respiratory muscle force was assessed. Spearman’s correlation revealed a significant positive association between CoQ₁₀/cholesterol level and hand grip in the basic study population (p<0.01) as well as in the validation population (p<0.001). In the latter, we also found a negative correlation with the CoQ₁₀ redox state (p<0.01), which represents a lower percentage of the reduced form of CoQ₁₀ (ubiquinol) in subjects who exhibit a lower muscular strength. Furthermore, the age of the subjects showed a negative correlation with hand grip (p<0.001), whereas BMI was positively correlated with hand grip (p<0.01), although only in the normal weight subgroup (BMI <25 kg/m²). Analysis of the covariance (ANCOVA) with hand grip as the dependent variable revealed CoQ₁₀/cholesterol as a determinant of muscular strength and gender as the strongest effector of hand grip. In conclusion, our data suggest that both a low CoQ₁₀/cholesterol level and a low percentage of the reduced form of CoQ₁₀ could be an indicator of an increased risk of sarcopenia in humans due to their negative associations to upper body muscle strength, peak flow and muscle mass.</p></div

Scatterplots of correlations between hand grip and CoQ₁₀/cholesterol ratio, body mass index, age and CoQ10 redox in the validation population (n = 967).

<p>Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship (p<0.01) between hand grip and CoQ₁₀/cholesterol (A), normal BMI (<25 kg/m², B), age (C) and CoQ₁₀ redox (D). The correlations between hand grip and overweight (BMI 25–30 kg/m²) and obese subjects (BMI >30) were statistically not significant. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r), p-values and regression lines are given. CoQ₁₀: Coenzyme Q₁₀; CoQ₁₀ redox: % oxidized coenzyme Q₁₀ in total; BMI: body mass index.</p

Characterization of the validation population (<i>n</i> = 967), including 658 overweight/obese study subjects.

<p>Characterization of the validation population (<i>n</i> = 967), including 658 overweight/obese study subjects.</p

Scatterplots of correlations between hand grip and CoQ₁₀/cholesterol, body mass index, age, peak flow, creatine kinase and creatinine in the basic study population (n = 334).

<p>Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship (p<0.01) between hand grip and CoQ₁₀/cholesterol (A), BMI (B), peak flow (C), creatine kinase (E) and creatinine (F), whereas the correlation between hand grip and age (C) was statistically not significant. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r), p-values and regression lines are given. CoQ₁₀: Coenzyme Q₁₀; BMI: body mass index.</p