Dietary meat fats and burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors, in the elderly: a report from the MEDIS study

Dietary fats have long been associated with human health, and especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some observational studies have shown that reduction in dietary fats, and particularly cholesterol is associated with lower cardiovascular risk; however, other prospective studies or randomized controlled trials of dietary fat reduction or modification have shown varying results on CVD morbidity and mortality. In this work we evaluated the relationships between dietary fats and a cluster of CVD risk factors (i.e., diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension), among elderly individuals without known CVD. In particular, dietary and clinical data from 1486 elderly (aged 65 to 100 years) men and women living in Cyprus, Mitilini, Samothraki, Cephalonia, Crete, Lemnos, Syros, Naxos, Corfu and Zakynthos islands, and participated in the MEDIS study, were analysed. Data analysis revealed that 18.5% of males and 33.3% of females had three or four cardiovascular disease risk factors; the major source of fat was olive oil (mean intake for men and women 50.0 ± 19.3 g/day and 46.0 ± 16.8 g/day, p < 0.001). In addition it was observed that a 5% increase in energy adjusted fat intake from meat was associated with a 21% increase in the likelihood of having one additional CVD risk factor (95%CI 6%-39%); no significant associations were observed regarding the other types of fat consumed by the elderly participants. These findings may state a hypothesis that the consumption of fat only from meat or its products seems to increase the burden of CVD risk factors among CVD-free, elderly people

Is parental longevity associated with the cardiovascular risk and the successful aging of their offspring? Results from the multinational MEDIS study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of parental longevity and parental cardiovascular disease (CVD) history in CVD risk and successful aging of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin and who participated in the MEDiterranean Islands (MEDIS) study. During 2005 to 2011, 2663 elders were voluntarily enrolled. A multidimensional successful aging index consisting of 10 components was used. Paternal and maternal longevity was defined as those older participants of whom both parents lived above the age of 90. The burden of CVD-related factors (CVD-RFs) was calculated as the total score of 4 major CVD-RFs (range 0-4). After adjustment, parental longevity was inversely associated with the burden of CVD-RFs ( P = .04). Moreover, parental longevity was positively associated with the older adults' successful aging score (β-coefficient [95% confidence interval]: .38 [0.06-0.71]). Parent's long living was revealed as an important factor for successful aging and for reduced CVD risk, suggesting that further research is needed in the genetic predisposition of longevity

The impact of the financial crisis on lifestyle health determinants among older adults living in the Mediterranean region : the multinational MEDIS study (2005-2015)

Objectives: By the end of the 2000s, the economic situation in many European countries started to deteriorate, generating financial uncertainty, social insecurity and worse health status. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the recent financial crisis has affected the lifestyle health determinants and behaviours of older adults living in the Mediterranean islands.Methods: From 2005 to 2015, a population-based, multi-stage convenience sampling method was used to voluntarily enrol 2749 older adults (50% men) from 20 Mediterranean islands and the rural area of the Mani peninsula. Lifestyle status was evaluated as the cumulative score of four components (range, 0 to 6), that is, smoking habits, diet quality (MedDietScore), depression status (Geriatric Depression Scale) and physical activity.Results: Older Mediterranean people enrolled in the study from 2009 onwards showed social isolation and increased smoking, were more prone to depressive symptoms, and adopted less healthy dietary habits, as compared to their counterparts participating earlier in the study (p<0.05), irrespective of age, gender, several clinical characteristics, or socioeconomic status of the participants (an almost 50% adjusted increase in the lifestyle score from before 2009 to after 2009, p<0.001).Conclusions: A shift towards less healthy behaviours was noticeable after the economic crisis had commenced. Public health interventions should focus on older adults, particularly of lower socioeconomic levels, in order to effectively reduce the burden of cardiometabolic disease at the population level.peer-reviewe

The association between sleeping time and metabolic syndrome features among older adults living in Mediterranean region. The MEDIS study.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) as a combination of features has been known to significantly increase Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk, whilst MetS presence is linked to lifestyle parameters including physical activity and dietary habits; recently, the potential impact of sleeping habits has also become an issue under consideration. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of sleep quantity in several MetS components. Methods: Design:Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: 26 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece. Participants: during 2005-2017, 3130 older (aged 65-100 years) Mediterranean residents were voluntarily enrolled. Measurements: Dietary habits (including MedDietScore assessment), physical activity status, socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle parameters (sleeping and smoking habits) and clinical profile aspects including Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) components (i.e., waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL and HDL-cholesterol) were derived through standard procedures. Results: The number of daily hours of sleep was independently associated with greater waist circumference (b coefficient per 1 hour=0.91, 95% Confidence Interval (CI); 0.34, 1.49), higher LDL-cholesterol levels (b per 1 hour=3.84, 95%CI; 0.63, 7.05) and lower diastolic blood pressure levels (b per 1 hour=-0.98, 95%CI; - 1.57, -0.39) after adjusting for participants’ age, gender, body mass index, daily walking time, level of adherence to Mediterranean diet and smoking status. No association was revealed between hours of sleep per day and fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Increased hours of sleep is an indicator of metabolic disorders among elderly inviduals, and further research is needed to identify the paths through which sleep quantity is linked to MetS features in different age-groups

Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition and Successful Ageing in Elderly Individuals: The Multinational MEDIS Study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The role of diet and inflammation in successful ageing is not transparent, and as such, is still being investigated. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the inflammatory potential of dietary habits in the successful ageing of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin and who participated in the MEDIS (MEDiterranean ISlands) study. METHODS: During 2005-2016, 3,128 older adults (aged 65-100 years) from 24 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece were enrolled in the study. A multidimensional successful ageing index consisting of 10 components was employed. A validated and reproducible Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to evaluate the dietary habits of the older adults. A nutrition anti-inflammatory (NAI) score based on the participants' specific dietary habits was assessed. RESULTS: Participants with high NAI scores (proinflammatory nutrition) had a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and lower levels of successful ageing. After adjusting for several confounders, the NAI score was associated with successful ageing (-0.03, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.006). Stratified analysis by gender and advanced age revealed heterogeneity in the NAI score, predicting successful ageing. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory potential of nutrition was reported as an important factor for successful ageing, suggesting that further research is needed on the role of anti- and proinflammatory dietary habits in healthy and successful ageing

A High Density SNP Array for the Domestic Horse and Extant Perissodactyla: Utility for Association Mapping, Genetic Diversity, and Phylogeny Studies

An equine SNP genotyping array was developed and evaluated on a panel of samples representing 14 domestic horse breeds and 18 evolutionarily related species. More than 54,000 polymorphic SNPs provided an average inter-SNP spacing of ∼43 kb. The mean minor allele frequency across domestic horse breeds was 0.23, and the number of polymorphic SNPs within breeds ranged from 43,287 to 52,085. Genome-wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) in most breeds declined rapidly over the first 50–100 kb and reached background levels within 1–2 Mb. The extent of LD and the level of inbreeding were highest in the Thoroughbred and lowest in the Mongolian and Quarter Horse. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analyses demonstrated the tight grouping of individuals within most breeds, close proximity of related breeds, and less tight grouping in admixed breeds. The close relationship between the Przewalski's Horse and the domestic horse was demonstrated by pair-wise genetic distance and MDS. Genotyping of other Perissodactyla (zebras, asses, tapirs, and rhinoceros) was variably successful, with call rates and the number of polymorphic loci varying across taxa. Parsimony analysis placed the modern horse as sister taxa to Equus przewalski. The utility of the SNP array in genome-wide association was confirmed by mapping the known recessive chestnut coat color locus (MC1R) and defining a conserved haplotype of ∼750 kb across all breeds. These results demonstrate the high quality of this SNP genotyping resource, its usefulness in diverse genome analyses of the horse, and potential use in related species

The impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation on subclinical inflammation, left ventricular function and the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure

Introduction. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3-PUFAs) seem to favourably affect cardiac haemodynamics and may benefit the clinical course of heart failure patients. The role of omega 3-PUFAs supplementation on the left and right ventricular function of patients with chronic compensated systolic heart failure, under optimal treatment, was studied.Methods. 205 consecutive patients with chronic compensated heart failure, due to ischemic (IHF) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)-NYHA classification I-III-, under optimal medical treatment, were enrolled. Participants were 1-to-1 randomized on 1000 mg omega 3-PUFAs supplementation or no supplementation, in a non-blinded fashion. Echocardiographic assessment and 24h holter ECG study was performed at first visit and 6 months after. Plasma BNP and serum creatinine levels were also measured. Adverse effects, CVD events and deaths were also monitored in 6 and 12 month reevaluation.Results. As compared with the control group, BNP levels in omega 3- PUFAs intervention group were 34.6% lower (p=0.001); end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricle dimensions were decreased by 2.5% (p=0.047) and 3.7% (p=0.01), maximum diameter of left atrium was decreased by 8.4% (p=0.004), left atrium ejection fraction was ameliorated by 6.03% (p=0.021) and as regards tissue Doppler parameters, TDI_Etv/Atv was decreased in omega 3-PUFAs intervention group by 6.3% (p=0.038).Moreover, improvement in diastolic indices was more prominent in subjectswith DCM as compared to IHF patients.Conclusion. Omega 3-PUFAs supplementation was associated with improved left diastolic function and decreased BNP levels in patients with chronic heart failure. These finding suggest a beneficial role of omega 3-PUFAs on the hemodynamic course of patients with systolic heart failure.Εισαγωγή: Τα Ω3 λιπαρά οξέα φαίνεται πως επιδρούν ευννοϊκά στα καρδιακά αιμοδυναμικά χαρακτηριστικά και μπορεί να ωφελούν την κλινική πορεία των ασθενών με καρδιακή ανεπάρκεια. Μελετήθηκε ο ρόλος της λήψης Ω3 στην λειτουργία της αριστερής και της δεξιάς κοιλίας των ασθενών με χρόνια αντιρροπούμενη καρδιακή ανεπάρκεια υπό βελτιστη αγωγή.Μέθοδοι: 205 διαδοχικοί ασθενείς με χρόνια αντιρροπούμενη καρδιακή ανεπάρκεια, οφειλόμενη είτε σε ισχαιμική μυοκαρδιοπάθεια, είτε σε διατατική μυοκαρδιοπάθεια, κλάσης Ι-ΙΙΙ κατά ΝΥΗΑ, υπό βέλτιστη φαρμακευτική αγωγή μπήκαν στην μελέτη. Ένας προς έναν τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε λήψη ή μη λήψη 1000mg Ω3-PUFA, με μη τυφλό τρόπο. Έγινε υπερηχοκαρδιογραφική μελέτη, 24h καταγραφή holter ρυθμού, και εργαστηριακός έλεγχος (ΒΝΡ,κρεατινίνη) κατά την πρώτη επίσκεψη, όπως και στην αξιολόγηση 6μήνου. Καταγράφηκαν ανεπιθύμητες ενέργειες και καρδιαγγειακά συμβάματα, στο 6μηνο και στο έτος παρακολούθησης.Αποτελέσματα: Σε σύγκριση με την ομάδα ελέγχου, τα επίπεδα του ΒΝΡ στην ομάδα που λάμβανε Ω3, ήταν κατά 34,6% χαμηλότερα (p=0,001), οι τελοδιαστολικές και τελοσυστολικές διαστάσεις της αριστερής κοιλίας μειώθηκαν κατά 2,5%(p=0,047) και 3,7%(p=0,01) αντίστοιχα,η μέγιστη διάμετρος του αριστερού κόλπου μειώθηκε κατά 8,4%(p=0,004),το κλάσμα εξώθησης του αριστερού κόλπου βελτιώθηκε κατά 6,03%(p=0,021) και σε ότι αφορά τις παραμέτρους ιστικού doppler το TDI_Etv/Atv μειώθηκε στην ομάδα λήψης Ω3 κατά 6,3% (p=0,038). Επιπλέον, η βελτίωση των διαστολικών δεικτών ήταν πιο εμφανής στους ασθενείς με διατατική καρδιακή ανεπάρκεια. Τέλος η λήψη Ω3 δεν σχετίστηκε με βελτίωση στα καρδιαγγειακά συμβάματα μεταξύ των ομάδων τυχαιοποίησης.Συμπέρασμα: Η λήψη Ω3 σχετίστηκε με βελτίωση της διαστολικής λειτουργίας της αρ.κοιλίας και μειωμένα επίπεδα ΒΝΡ σε ασθενείς με χρόνια καρδιακή ανεπάρκεια, υποδηλώνοντας την ευννοϊκή τους επίδραση στην αιμοδυναμική πορεία αυτών των ασθενών