Determinants of Physical Aging among Healthy Postmenopausal Women and their Relation with Serum Hormone Levels

Aging is often viewed as an unalterable process of decline and loss associated with development of physical frailty and gradual loss in cognitive function towards the end of life. This view may, however, be too pessimistic. The perceived importance of increasing the number of healthy years with a better preservation of functional and mental capacity grows with the increasing number of older persons in our society. The fulfillment of this need requires the identification of modifiable factors related to aging and explaining differences between individuals. In this thesis, we adopted the definition of successful aging by Rowe and Kahn, which includes avoidance of disease and disability, maintenance of high physical and cognitive function, and sustained engagement in social and productive activities

Higher usual dietary intake of phytoestrogens is associated with lower aortic stiffness in postmenopausal women

Objective¿ Phytoestrogens have been postulated to protect against cardiovascular diseases, but few studies have focused on the effect of Western dietary phytoestrogen intake. Methods and Results¿ Four hundred three women with natural menopause either between 1987 and 1989 or between 1969 and 1979 were selected from the baseline data of the PROSPECT study (n=17 395). Isoflavone and lignan intake was calculated from a food-frequency questionnaire. Aortic stiffness was noninvasively assessed by pulse-wave velocity measurement of the aorta. Linear regression analysis was used. After adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, mean arterial pressure, follow-up time, energy intake, dietary fiber intake, glucose, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, increasing dietary isoflavone intake was associated with decreased aortic stiffness: -0.51 m/s (95% CI -1.00 to -0.03, fourth versus first quartile, P for trend=0.07). Increasing dietary intake of lignans was also associated with decreased aortic pulse-wave velocity: -0.42 m/s (95% CI -0.93 to 0.11, fourth versus first quartile, P for trend=0.06). Results were most pronounced in older women: for isoflavones, -0.94 m/s (95% CI -1.65 to -0.22, P for trend=0.02), and for lignans, -0.80 m/s (95% CI -1.85 to -0.05), fourth versus first quartile. Conclusions¿ The results of our study support the view that phytoestrogens have a protective effect on the risk of atherosclerosis and arterial degeneration through an effect on arterial walls, especially among older wome

Alcohol consumption in relation to aortic stiffness and aortic wave reflections: a cross-sectional study in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objective-Moderate alcohol consumption has been postulated to be cardioprotective. Such an effect might be reflected in large-artery properties, such as arterial stiffness and wave reflections. Methods and Results-Three hundred seventy-one healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 74 years were sampled from a population-based study. Alcohol intake was calculated from a standardized questionnaire. Applanation tonometry was applied to assess the augmentation index and aortic pulse-wave velocity. Those drinking 1 to 3, 4 to 9, 10 to 14, and 15 to 35 glasses of alcoholic beverages per week had a 0.044 (95% CI -0.47 to 0.56), -0.085 (95% CI -0.59 to 0.43), -0.869 (95% CI -1.44 to -0.29), and -0.225 (95% CI -0.98 to 0.53) m/s difference in mean pulse-wave velocity compared with nondrinkers, respectively, which indicates a J-shaped relationship. Adjustment for potential confounders of pulse-wave velocity or alcohol intake did not materially change the strength of the association. Adjustment for HDL further attenuated the relationship. The augmentation index was not related to alcohol consumption when adjustments were made for physiological determinants such as age, height, and ejection duration. Conclusions-Among postmenopausal women, alcohol consumption is inversely associated with pulse-wave velocity. This supports the presence of a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease with moderate alcohol consumption, which may be mediated in part by HDL cholesterol

Disadvantages of online support groups for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia and breast cancer disproved

INTRODUCTION: People in stressful circumstances, such as serious health conditions, often turn to support groups. With the increase in the availability and popularity of internet, the possibility has arisen to join support groups online. Various authors have raised attention for potential disadvantages of these groups, such as the lack of control of the quality of the information, criticism on health care services, delay of responses to questions, expression of negative emotions, reinforcement of negative emotions and negative remarks to other participants. However, data are scarce. PURPOSE: To explore to what extent potential disadvantages actually occur in online support groups. In addition, we examined characteristics of participants of online support groups, the topics that are discussed and the self-help mechanisms that are used. METHODS: A content analysis was performed on a random sample of 1500 messages from publicly available online support groups for patients with arthritis, fibromyalgia and breast cancer. The text of each posting was content coded by two raters. The levels of inter-rater reliability were acceptable (Cohen’s kappa ranged from .66 to 1.00). Postings that contained medical information were evaluated by an oncologist (WMS) and by a rheumatologist in training (CEIL). RESULTS: The online support groups were mainly used by female patients (91%). In total 42% of the postings contained “off topic” remarks. Frequently discussed health related topics were “restrictions in daily life” (26%) and “regular medication” (19%). The most common types of self-help mechanisms used in online support groups were sharing of personal experiences (51%), provision of information (44%) and empathy and support (30%). Only in a minor proportion of the postings, potential disadvantages were present. Most postings containing medical information were classified as conventional (79%). According to the medical specialists none of the postings contained information that was potentially dangerous to others. Only in 2% of postings health care services were criticized. The names of health care professionals were not found in any of the postings. Posted questions usually received an adequate response within a reasonable period of time. The expressions of negative emotions were limited (10%) and were seldom reinforced by other participants. Also negative remarks directed at other participants were not frequently found (1%). CONCLUSIONS: The various disadvantages of online support groups that were mentioned in literature could not be confirmed. Therefore, this study suggests that online support groups are a viable option for support

Coping with somatic illnesses in online support groups: Do the feared disadvantages actually occur?

People in stressful circumstances, such as serious health conditions, often turn to support groups. With the increase in the availability and popularity of the Internet, the possibility has arisen to join support groups online. Various authors have raised potential disadvantages of these groups, such as the lack of control of the quality of the information that is exchanged and the concern that the exchange within the group might include socially inappropriate remarks. In this study we explored to what extent these potential disadvantages actually occur. In addition, we explored who uses Dutch online support groups and what is exchanged by the participants. By means of “content analysis” we analyzed a random sample of 1500 messages from publicly available online support groups for patients with breast cancer, arthritis and fibromyalgia. It appeared that the online support groups under study were mainly used by female patients. A major part of the postings contained “off topic” remarks. Popular health related topics were “restrictions in daily life” and “regular medication”. Only in a minor proportion of the postings, potential disadvantages were present. Therefore this study suggests that online support groups are a viable option for support