The Effect of Regular Intake of Dry-Cured Ham Rich in Bioactive Peptides on Inflammation, Platelet and Monocyte Activation Markers in Humans.

Background and aims: Dietary studies have shown that active biopeptides provide protective health benefits, although the mediating pathways are somewhat uncertain. To throw light on this situation, we studied the effects of consuming Spanish dry-cured ham on platelet function, monocyte activation markers and the inflammatory status of healthy humans with pre-hypertension. Methods: Thirty-eight healthy volunteers with systolic blood pressure of >125 mmHg were enrolled in a two-arm crossover randomized controlled trial. Participants received 80 g/day dry-cured pork ham of >11 months proteolysis or 100 g/day cooked ham (control product) for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week washout before "crossing over" to the other treatment for 4 more weeks. Soluble markers and cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. Platelet function was assessed by measuring P-selectin expression and PAC-1 binding after ADP (adenosine diphosphate) stimulation using whole blood flow cytometry. Monocyte markers of the pathological status (adhesion, inflammatory and scavenging receptors) were also measured by flow cytometry in the three monocyte subsets after the interventional period. Results: The mean differences between dry-cured ham and cooked ham followed by a time period adjustment for plasmatic P-selectin and interleukin 6 proteins slightly failed (p = 0.062 and p = 0.049, respectively), notably increased for MCP-1 levels (p = 0.023) while VCAM-1 was not affected. Platelet function also decreased after ADP stimulation. The expression of adhesion and scavenging markers (ICAM1R, CXCR4 and TLR4) in the three subsets of monocytes was significantly higher (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The regular consumption of biopeptides contained in the dry-cured ham but absent in cooked ham impaired platelet and monocyte activation and the levels of plasmatic P-selectin, MCP-1 and interleukin 6 in healthy subjects. This study strongly suggests the existence of a mechanism that links dietary biopeptides and beneficial health effects

Effects of dry-cured ham rich in bioactive peptides on cardiovascular health: A randomized controlled trial

Establishing health effects of bioactive compounds from dry-cured meat is an active area of clinical research. The present study aims to investigate whether consuming dry-cured ham with biopeptides, among other bioactive compounds, modifies blood pressure (BP) and improves other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in humans. This two-arm, cross-over, randomised controlled trial involved 38 healthy subjects with pre-hypertension. Participants received 80 g/day dry-cured pork ham or 100 g/day cooked ham (control product). A daily intake of 80 g dry-cured ham did not impair BP or 24 h sodium excretion. Total cholesterol, LDL and basal glucose levels dropped after dry-cured ham consumption (p = 0.00019, p = 0.021 and p = 0.014, respectively). Cooked ham did not affect any of the clinical and biochemical markers. Dry-cured ham components could exert a plethora of activities over the cardiovascular system including lipid and glucose metabolism. Additional studies are needed to confirm the effects of dry-cured meat biopeptides on diverse risk factors in pathological conditions.Ciencias de la AlimentaciónFarmaciaMedicin

Beneficial Impact of Pork Dry-Cured Ham Consumption on Blood Pressure and Cardiometabolic Markers in Individuals with Cardiovascular Risk.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that bioactive peptides reduce hypertension and affect certain metabolic pathways. METHODS: Fifty-four volunteers with stage 1 prehypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia and/or basal glucose >100 mg/dL were recruited and randomized to pork dry-cured ham (n = 35) or cooked ham (placebo group; n = 19) for 28 days. After a wash-out period, meat products were changed for 28 additional days. Bioactive peptides composition and enzyme inhibitory activities of both products were characterized. Treatment comparisons for the main effects were made using a two (treatment) × two (times) repeated measures minus the effect of cooked ham (placebo). RESULTS: 24 h mean systolic and diastolic pressures decreased up to 2.4 mmHg in the dry-cured ham period (treatment effect, p = 0.0382 y p = 0.0233, respectively) as well as the number of systolic pressure measures > 135 mmHg (treatment effect, p = 0.0070). Total cholesterol levels also decreased significantly after dry-cured ham intake (p = 0.049). No significant differences were observed between the two treatments for basal glucose, HOMA-IR index and insulin levels (p > 0.05). However, a significant rise of ghrelin levels was observed (treatment effect, p = 0.0350), while leptin plasma values slightly decreased (treatment effect, p = 0.0628). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested the beneficial effects of regular dry-cured ham consumption on the improvement of systolic/diastolic blood pressures and facilitated the maintenance of metabolic pathways, which may be beneficial in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Efectos del etanol sobre la estructura y función plaquetarias y la liberación de prostaciclina del endotelio vascular / José Abellán Alemán; dirigida por Jaime Merino Sánchez.

Tesis - Universidad de Murcia.MEDICINA ESPINARDO. DEPOSITO. MU-Tesis 58

Adherence to the “Mediterranean Diet” in Spain and Its Relationship with Cardiovascular Risk (DIMERICA Study)

Background: Nutritional studies focus on traditional cultural models and lifestyles in different countries. The aim of this study was to examine the adherence to the Mediterranean diet, life habits, and risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases among people living in different geographical regions in Spain. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in each region. The sampling scheme consisted of a random three-stage stratified sampling program according to geographic region, age, and gender. A total of 1732 subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their nutrient intake, dietary habits, and exercise. A diet score that assesses the adherence of participants to the Mediterranean diet (range 0–10) was also applied. Results: Southeastern Spain had the lowest score for adherence to the Mediterranean diet because of the low consumption of fish and plant products. A lower adherence score to the Mediterranean diet was strongly associated with the prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.018). Conclusions: A low level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet is accompanied by a high prevalence of hypertension and, therefore, a raised cardiovascular risk in the country. The adherence score could help identify individuals at greater cardiovascular risk

Reactividad cardiovascular ante el estrés en mujeres postmenopaúsicas: influencia del tratamiento hormonal sustitutivo / Mariano Leal Hernández ; directores José Abellán Alemán, Luis F. Carbonell Meseguer.

Tesis-Universidad de Murcia.MEDICINA ESPINARDO. DEPOSITO. MU-Tesis 543.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. ARCHIVO UNIVERSITARIO. T.M.-1629

Grado de conocimiento y control sobre la dislipemia entre los médicos de la región de Murcia (2004-2005)

Fundamento: Debido a que los consensos para el tratamiento y control de las dislipemias no siempre se siguen (incluyendo el cálculo del riesgo cardiovascular global), se realizó el presente estudio con el objetivo de analizar el nivel informativo y las pautas de actuación en la detección, evaluación y control de la dislipemia entre los médicos de atención primaria y especializada hospitalaria de la Región de Murcia. Métodos: Estudio observacional transversal que se realizó con 217 médicos de atención primaria (MAP) y 133 médicos de atención hospitalaria (MH), mediante un cuestionario formado por 14 ítems. Resultados: El 80,9% de los médicos decían seguir los consensos internacionales para el control de la dislipemia. El cálculo del riesgo cardiovascular se utilizó de forma ocasional por el 58%. El parámetro objetivo más utilizado para tratar las dislipemias fue el colesterol de LDL (89,7%), colesterol total (57,7), colesterol de HDL (55,7%) y triglicéridos (53,1%). El objetivo óptimo de colesterol de LDL en prevención primaria fue <130 mg/dl para el 66,6% de los médicos y en prevención secundaria fue <100 mg/dl para el 81,7%. Ante un paciente dislipémico bien controlado, el 76,6% de los profesionales mantendría el tratamiento y el 22,3% lo reduciría. Ante un paciente mal controlado, el 62,3% reforzarían el tratamiento higiénicodietético y el 66,9% el farmacológico. La estatina mejor valorada fue la atorvastatina. El 69,1% de los médicos valora la tolerancia a las estatinas mediante GOT, GPT y CPK. El 60,6% manifestó que el paciente cumplía bien su tratamiento. Conclusiones: No se observaron diferencias importantes en el conocimiento y actuación entre los médicos de atención primaria y especializada, siendo en ambos casos actual y adecuado