Low maximal oxygen uptake is associated with elevated depressive symptoms in middle-aged men

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55399/1/Tolmunen T, Low maximal oxygen uptake, 2006.pd

Dietary fat quality and serum androgen concentrations in middle-aged men

Average testosterone concentrations in men have declined over the last few decades. The reasons for this are not fully known, but changes in dietary fat quality have been suggested to have a role. This study aimed to investigate the associations of different dietary fatty acids with serum androgen concentrations

Association between depressive symptoms and serum concentrations of homocysteine in men: a population study

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51506/1/Tolmunen T, Association Between Depressive Symptoms, 2004.pd

Work Time and the 11-Year Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Finnish Men

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62463/1/work time and 11-year progerssion of carotid atherosclerosis_2009.pd

Reduced low-frequency heart rate variability relates to greater intimal–medial thickness of the carotid wall in two samples

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55412/1/Gautier C, Reduced low-frequency heart rate variability, 2007.pd

Serum homocysteine, folate and risk of stroke: Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) Study

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51490/1/Virtanen JK, Serum Homocysteine, Folate and Risk of Stroke, 2005.pd

Methylmercury Exposure and Adverse Cardiovascular Effects in Faroese Whaling Men

Background: Methylmercury (MeHg), a worldwide contaminant found in fish and seafood, has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Objective: We examined 42 Faroese whaling men (30–70 years of age) to assess possible adverse effects within a wide range of MeHg exposures from consumption of pilot whale meat. Methods: We assessed exposure levels from mercury analysis of toenails and whole blood (obtained at the time of clinical examination), and a hair sample collected 7 years previously. Outcome measures included heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). We carried out multiple regression and structural equation model (SEM) analyses to determine the confounder-adjusted effect of mercury exposure. Taking into account correlations among related measures, we categorized exposure and outcomes in groups to derive latent exposure and response variables in SEMs. We used multiple regression analysis to compare the predictive validity of individual exposure biomarkers and the latent exposure variable on individual and latent outcomes. Results: The toenail mercury concentrations varied widely and had a geometric mean of 2.0 μg/g; hair concentrations averaged about 3-fold higher. Mercury exposure was significantly associated with increased BP and IMT. This effect was reflected by SEMs, but mercury in toenails tended to be the best effect predictor. Conclusions: The results support the notion that increased MeHg exposure promotes the development of cardiovascular disease

Functional COMT Val158Met Polymorphism, Risk of Acute Coronary Events and Serum Homocysteine: The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55410/1/Voutilainen S, Functional COMT Val158Met polymorphism, 2007.pd

Alcohol consumption and common carotid intima-media thickness: the USE-IMT study

Aims: Epidemiological evidence indicates a protective effect of light to moderate alcohol consumption compared to non-drinking and heavy drinking. Although several mechanisms have been suggested, the effect of alcohol on atherosclerotic changes in vessel walls is unclear. Therefore, we explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and common carotid intima media thickness, a marker of early atherosclerosis in the general population. Methods: Individual participant data from eight cohorts, involving 37,494 individuals from the USE-IMT collaboration were used. Multilevel age and sex adjusted linear regression models were applied to estimate mean differences in common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) with alcohol consumption. Results: The mean age was 57.9 years (SD 8.6) and the mean CIMT was 0.75 mm (SD 0.177). About, 40.5% reported no alcohol consumed, and among those who drank, mean consumption was 13.3 g per day (SD 16.4). Those consuming no alcohol or a very small amount (10 g per day, after adjusting for a range of confounding factors. Conclusion: In this large CIMT consortium, we did not find evidence to support a protective effect of alcohol on CIMT

Changes in LDL Fatty Acid Composition as a Response to Olive Oil Treatment Are Inversely Related to Lipid Oxidative Damage: The EUROLIVE Study

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the changes in the fatty acid composition of low density lipoproteins (LDL) after sustained consumption of olive oil at real-life doses (25 mL/day) and their relationship with lipid oxidative damage. Methods: A multi-center randomized, cross-over, clinical trial with 3 similar types of olive oils, but with differences in the phenolic content, was conducted on 200 healthy European subjects. Intervention periods were of 3 weeks separated by 2-week washout periods. The LDL fatty acid content was measured in samples drawn at baseline and after the last intervention period. Results: After olive oil ingestion oleic acid concentration in LDL increased (1.9%; p Ͻ 0.001) and those of linoleic (1.1%; p Ͻ 0.002) and arachidonic acid (0.5%; p Ͻ 0.001) decreased. Monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acid and oleic/linoleic acid ratios in LDL increased after olive oil consumption. An inverse relationship between the oleic/linoleic acid ratio and biomarkers of oxidative stress was observed. One unit increase in the oleic/linoleic acid ratio was associated with a decrease of 4.2 g/L in plasma isoprostanes. Conclusion: Consumption of olive oil at real-life doses improved the fatty acid profile in LDL, the changes being associated with a reduction of the oxidative damage to lipids