Genome-wide association study identifies six new loci influencing pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure.

Numerous genetic loci have been associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in Europeans. We now report genome-wide association studies of pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). In discovery (N = 74,064) and follow-up studies (N = 48,607), we identified at genome-wide significance (P = 2.7 × 10(-8) to P = 2.3 × 10(-13)) four new PP loci (at 4q12 near CHIC2, 7q22.3 near PIK3CG, 8q24.12 in NOV and 11q24.3 near ADAMTS8), two new MAP loci (3p21.31 in MAP4 and 10q25.3 near ADRB1) and one locus associated with both of these traits (2q24.3 near FIGN) that has also recently been associated with SBP in east Asians. For three of the new PP loci, the estimated effect for SBP was opposite of that for DBP, in contrast to the majority of common SBP- and DBP-associated variants, which show concordant effects on both traits. These findings suggest new genetic pathways underlying blood pressure variation, some of which may differentially influence SBP and DBP

Unsaturated fatty acid intakes during midlife are positively associated with later cognitive function in older adults with modulating effects of antioxidant supplementation

Background: Given the drastic demographic changes characterized as "population aging," the disease burden related to dementia is a major public health problem. The scientific literature documenting the link between mono-and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs, PUFAs) and cognitive function during aging is plentiful, but findings are inconsistent. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between intakes of unsaturated fatty acids at midlife and cognitive performance 13 y later in French adults, and to test for a modulating effect of antioxidant supplementation. Methods: Fatty acid intakes were estimated with the use of repeated 24-h records (1994-1996) among 3362 subjects (mean +/- SD age: 65.5 +/- 4.6 y) of the SU.VI.MAX (Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals) study, including an intervention phase (1994-2002) during which participants were randomly assigned to an "antioxidant supplementation" or placebo group. Cognitive performance was assessed at follow-up only (in 2007-2009) via a battery of 6 standardized neuropsychological tests. A global cognitive score was calculated as the sum of T-scores of the 6 tests. Multivariable-adjusted regression analyses were performed to provide regression coefficients and 95% CIs. Results: In multivariable models, total MUFAs, total PUFAs, and n-6 PUFAs (omega-6 PUFAs) were positively associated with overall cognitive functioning. n-3 PUFA (omega-3 PUFA) intakes showed positive associations among supplemented participants only (mean difference (Tertile3 versus Tertile1): 1.40; 95% CI: 0.30, 2.51; P-trend = 0.01, P-interaction = 0.01). A detrimental role of arachidonic acid for cognitive functioning was only detected in the placebo group (mean difference (Tertile3 versus Tertile1): -1.38; 95% CI: -2.57, -0.18; P-trend = 0.02, P-interaction = 0.07). Conclusion: Whereas higher total MUFA and n-6 PUFA intakes may be generally beneficial for maintaining cognitive health during aging, a higher consumption of n-3 fatty acids may only be beneficial among individuals with an adequate antioxidant status. These findings underline the importance of not only focusing on specific nutrients for dementia prevention, but also considering the complex interaction between consumed nutrients

Prospective association between consumption frequency of organic food and body weight change, risk of overweight or obesity: results from the NutriNet-Sante Study

A lower BMI has been reported among consumers of organic foods, but this relationship has never been examined in a prospective design study. Our aim was to prospectively investigate the association between frequency of organic food consumption and weight change. We analysed data from 62 224 participants of the NutriNet-Sante cohort (78 % women, mean age=45 years) with information on consumption frequency of organic foods, dietary intake and repeated anthropometric data. For sixteen products, participants reported their consumption frequency of labelled organic foods (never, occasionally, most of the time). An organic score (OS) with a maximum of thirty-two points was computed. The associations of the OS (modeled as quartiles (Q)) with change in BMI during follow-up (on average 31 years) and with the risk of overweight and obesity were estimated by ANCOVA and multivariable logistic regression. A lower BMI increase was observed across quartiles of the OS (mean difference Q4 v. Q1=-016 (95 % CI -032, -001). An increase in the OS was associated with a lower risk of overweight and obesity (among non-overweight and non-obese participants at inclusion): OR for Q4 v. Q1 were 077 (95 % CI 068, 086) and 069 (95 % CI 058, 082), respectively. Concerning obesity risk, the association was stronger among participants with higher adherence to nutritional guidelines. This study supports a strong protective role of consumption frequency of organic foods with regard to the risk of overweight and obesity that depends on overall dietary quality. Upon confirmation, these results may contribute to fine-tune nutritional guidelines by accounting for farming practices in food production

Adherence to dietary guidelines as a protective factor against chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms in the French SU.VI.MAX cohort

Several studies have suggested that a healthier overall diet was associated with a lower risk of depression, which is one of the main causes of disability worldwide. Our objective was to investigate the prospective association of adherence to dietary guidelines at midlife, measured by the French Programme National Nutrition Sante-Guide line Score (PNNS-GS), with chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms. The association between the PNNS-GS and chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms was evaluated among participants of the French Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux AntioXydants (SU. VI. MAX) cohort with available data on the PNNS-GS at baseline (1994-1996) and on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) in 1996-1997 and followup (2007-2009) (n = 3328). Chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms were defined by a CES-D score >= 16 at baseline and follow-up. Odds ratios (OR) and 95%-confidence intervals (95%-CI) were estimated across quartiles (Q) of the PNNS-GS, using logistic regressionmodels. In our study, 10.1% of the participants (n= 335) had chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms. After adjustment for potential confounders, the PNNS-GS was inversely associated with chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms: ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.42 (95%-CI: 0.29, 0.60). Modelling the PNNS-GS as a continuous variable yielded similar results: OR for a 1-point increment in the PNNS-GS: 0.86 (95%-CI: 0.80, 0.92). In conclusion, higher adherence to French dietary guidelines at midlife was associated with a lower rate of chronic or recurrent depressive symptoms, which suggests that these recommendations may be highly relevant, not only to avoid chronic diseases, but also for the overall well-being

Midlife dietary patterns and healthy aging among French adults: a prospective study

International audienc

Etude prospective des liens entre consommation de fibres et risque de cancer de la prostate

National audienc

Midlife dietary patterns and healthy aging among French adults: a prospective study

International audienc