Vitamins - Wrong Approaches

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Moser
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Vitamin Intake ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Randomized Intervention ◽  
Intervention Trials ◽  
Deficiency Diseases

Deficiencies of essential nutrients have been responsible for many epidemic outbreaks of deficiency diseases in the past. Large observational studies point at possible links between nutrition and chronic diseases. Low intake of antioxidant vitamins e. g. have been correlated to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases or cancer. The main results of these studies are indications that an intake below the recommendation could be one of the risk factors for chronic diseases. There was hardly any evidence that amounts above the RDA could be of additional benefit. Since observational studies cannot prove causality, the scientific community has been asking for placebo-controlled, randomized intervention trials (RCTs). Thus, the consequences of the epidemiological studies would have been to select volunteers whose baseline vitamin levels were below the recommended values. The hypothesis of the trial should be that correcting this risk factor up to RDA levels lowers the risk of a disease like CVD by 20 - 30 %. However, none of the RCTs of western countries was designed to correct a chronic marginal deficiency, but they rather tested whether an additional supplement on top of the recommended values would be beneficial in reducing a disease risk or its prognosis. It was, therefore, not surprising that the results were disappointing. As a matter of fact, the results confirmed the findings of the observational studies: chronic diseases are the product of several risk factors, among them most probably a chronic vitamin deficiency. Vitamin supplements could only correct the part of the overall risk that is due to the insufficient vitamin intake.

scholarly journals Vital exhaustion and sudden cardiac death in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Heart ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 423-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany M Bogle ◽  
Nona Sotoodehnia ◽  
Anna M Kucharska-Newton ◽  
Wayne D Rosamond
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sudden Cardiac Death ◽  
Cardiac Death ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia ◽  
Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽  
Vital Exhaustion ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Atherosclerosis Risk ◽  
Aric Study

ObjectiveVital exhaustion (VE), a construct defined as lack of energy, increased fatigue and irritability, and feelings of demoralisation, has been associated with cardiovascular events. We sought to examine the relation between VE and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.MethodsThe ARIC Study is a predominately biracial cohort of men and women, aged 45–64 at baseline, initiated in 1987 through random sampling in four US communities. VE was measured using the Maastricht questionnaire between 1990 and 1992 among 13 923 individuals. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the hazard of out-of-hospital SCD across tertiles of VE scores.ResultsThrough 2012, 457 SCD cases, defined as a sudden pulseless condition presumed due to a ventricular tachyarrhythmia in a previously stable individual, were identified in ARIC by physician record review. Adjusting for age, sex and race/centre, participants in the highest VE tertile had an increased risk of SCD (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.87), but these findings did not remain significant after adjustment for established cardiovascular disease risk factors (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.20).ConclusionsAmong participants of the ARIC study, VE was not associated with an increased risk for SCD after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors.

Abstract MP74: Long Term Risk-Factor Profiles for Chronic Kidney Disease in the Framingham Heart Study

Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gearoid M McMahon ◽  
Sarah R Preis ◽  
Shih-Jen Hwang ◽  
Caroline S Fox
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Framingham Heart Study ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Standard Deviation Increase ◽  
Heart Study ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an important public health issue and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk factors for CKD are well established, but most are typically assessed at or near the time of CKD diagnosis. Our hypothesis was that risk factors for CKD are present earlier in the course of the disease. We compared the prevalence of risk factors between CKD cases and controls at time points up to 30 years prior to CKD diagnosis. Methods: Participants were drawn from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≤60ml/min/1.73m2. Incident CKD cases occurring at examination cycles 6, 7, and 8 were age- and sex-matched 1:2 to controls. Risk factors including systolic blood pressure (SBP), hypertension, lipids, diabetes, smoking status, body mass index (BMI) and dipstick proteinuria were measured at the time of CKD diagnosis and 10, 20 and 30 years prior. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and time period, were constructed to compare risk factor profiles at each time point between cases and controls Results: During follow-up, 441 new cases of CKD were identified and these were matched to 882 controls (mean age 69.2 years, 52.4% women). Up to 30 years prior to CKD diagnosis, those who ultimately developed CKD were more likely to have hypertension (OR 1.74, CI 1.21-2.49), be obese (OR 1.74, CI 1.15-2.63) and have higher triglycerides (OR 1.43, CI 1.12-1.84, p=0.005 per 1 standard deviation increase). Each 10mmHg increase in SBP was associated with an OR of 1.22 for future CKD (95% CI 1.10-1.35) Additionally, cases were more likely to have diabetes (OR 2.90, CI 1.59-5.29) and be on antihypertensive therapy (OR 1.65, CI 1.14-2.40, p=0.009) up to 20 years prior to diagnosis. Increasing HDLc was associated with a lower risk of CKD (OR 0.84, CI 0.81-0.97 per 10mg/dl). Conclusions: As many as 30 years prior to diagnosis, risk factors for CKD are identifiable. In particular, modifiable risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia are present early in the course of the disease. These findings demonstrate the importance of early identification of risk factors in patients at risk of CKD through a life-course approach.

scholarly journals Etiology and Risk Factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A State-of-the-Art Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasco C. Romão ◽  
João Eurico Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Significant Burden ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Societal Level

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease. It is associated with significant burden at the patient and societal level. Extensive efforts have been devoted to identifying a potential cause for the development of RA. Epidemiological studies have thoroughly investigated the association of several factors with the risk and course of RA. Although a precise etiology remains elusive, the current understanding is that RA is a multifactorial disease, wherein complex interactions between host and environmental factors determine the overall risk of disease susceptibility, persistence and severity. Risk factors related to the host that have been associated with RA development may be divided into genetic; epigenetic; hormonal, reproductive and neuroendocrine; and comorbid host factors. In turn, environmental risk factors include smoking and other airborne exposures; microbiota and infectious agents; diet; and socioeconomic factors. In the present narrative review, aimed at clinicians and researchers in the field of RA, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of the current knowledge on this topic, focusing on recent progresses that have improved our comprehension of disease risk and development.

scholarly journals Occupational Exposure and Multiple Myeloma Risk: An Updated Review of Meta-Analyses

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 4179
Author(s):  
Rebecca Georgakopoulou ◽  
Oraianthi Fiste ◽  
Theodoros N. Sergentanis ◽  
Angeliki Andrikopoulou ◽  
Flora Zagouri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Methylene Chloride ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Hazard Surveillance ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Meta Analyses

The precise etiology of multiple myeloma remains elusive, but both genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to contribute to disease risk. Several occupational categories and toxic agents have been implicated as potentially causative, yet findings from the literature are inconsistent. The aim of this review was to summarize and critically comment on the accumulated epidemiological evidence, across published meta-analyses, about the association between occupational exposure and risk of multiple myeloma. Overall, results from eleven meta-epidemiological studies underscore a significantly increased risk for firefighters, hairdressers, and employees exposed to engine exhaust, whereas farming and methylene chloride exposure have been non-significantly correlated with the disease. Further epidemiological studies are of utmost importance whilst emphasis should be placed on occupational hazard surveillance, as such studies will obtain a more accurate picture of disease occurrence in working populations, and will enable both the implementation of preventive actions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

scholarly journals Effects of supplementation with carnosine and other histidine-containing dipeptides on chronic disease risk factors and outcomes: protocol for a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e020623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirthi Menon ◽  
Aya Mousa ◽  
Barbora de Courten
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionAgeing of populations globally, coupled with the obesity epidemic, has resulted in the rising prevalence of chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Prevention of risk factors that contribute to these diseases is key in managing the global burden of chronic diseases. Recent studies suggest that carnosine, a dipeptide with anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antiglycating properties may have a role in the prevention of chronic diseases; however, no previous reviews have examined the effects of carnosine and other histidine-containing peptides (HCDs) on chronic disease risk factors and outcomes. We aim to conduct a comprehensive systematic review to examine the effects of supplementation with carnosine and other HCDs on chronic disease risk factors and outcomes and to identify relevant knowledge gaps.Methods and analysisElectronic databases including Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, Embase and all Evidence-Based Medicine will be systematically searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs, comparing supplementation with carnosine and/or other HCDs versus placebo, usual care or other pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions. One reviewer will screen titles and abstracts for eligibility according to prespecified inclusion criteria, after which two independent reviewers will perform data extraction and quality appraisal. Meta-analyses, metaregression and subgroup analyses will be conducted where appropriate.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required as this review does not involve primary data collection. This review will generate level-one evidence regarding the effects of carnosine supplementation on chronic disease risk factors and outcomes and will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and at conference meetings to inform future research on the efficacy of carnosine supplementation for the prevention of chronic diseases.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017075354.

scholarly journals Association of Vitamin D Status with Chronic Disease Risk Factors and Cognitive Dysfunction in 50–70 Year Old Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Japneet Kaur ◽  
Steven Ferguson ◽  
Eduardo Freitas ◽  
Ryan Miller ◽  
Debra Bemben ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Serum Vitamin D ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk ◽  
Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has been primarily associated with skeletal disorders, however, since vitamin D receptors are found on multiple types of cells, there is also a link to increased chronic disease risk and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study was to examine whether deficient/insufficient vitamin D levels are associated with risk factors of chronic diseases and cognitive dysfunction in 50 to 70 year old adults. Participants completed the health status, three-day dietary record and vitamin D food frequency, sun exposure, and international physical activity questionnaires. Cognitive function of the participants was assessed using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics while body composition (percent body fat, android/gynoid ratio) was assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Applanation tonometry was used to obtain pressure wave forms at the radial artery to examine arterial stiffness and central pressures. A fasting blood draw was taken to measure vitamin D, blood lipid and glucose levels. Fifty percent of the participants (36/72) were vitamin D deficient/insufficient. Individuals in the low physical activity (PA) group had lower serum vitamin D concentration compared to those in the high PA group (p = 0.04). Moreover, serum vitamin D levels were negatively related to risk factors of chronic diseases; blood glucose (r = −0.38; p = 0.01), triglycerides (r = −0.27; p = 0.02), and android/gynoid ratio (r = −0.32; p = 0.01). Deficient/insufficient vitamin D levels are linked to the risk factors of chronic diseases in men and women aged 50 to 70 years.

scholarly journals On the Nature of Evidence and ‘Proving’ Causality: Smoking and Lung Cancer vs. Sun Exposure, Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Lucas ◽  
Rachael Rodney Harris
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sufficient Evidence

If environmental exposures are shown to cause an adverse health outcome, reducing exposure should reduce the disease risk. Links between exposures and outcomes are typically based on ‘associations’ derived from observational studies, and causality may not be clear. Randomized controlled trials to ‘prove’ causality are often not feasible or ethical. Here the history of evidence that tobacco smoking causes lung cancer—from observational studies—is compared to that of low sun exposure and/or low vitamin D status as causal risk factors for the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis (MS). Evidence derives from in vitro and animal studies, as well as ecological, case-control and cohort studies, in order of increasing strength. For smoking and lung cancer, the associations are strong, consistent, and biologically plausible—the evidence is coherent or ‘in harmony’. For low sun exposure/vitamin D as risk factors for MS, the evidence is weaker, with smaller effect sizes, but coherent across a range of sources of evidence, and biologically plausible. The association is less direct—smoking is directly toxic and carcinogenic to the lung, but sun exposure/vitamin D modulate the immune system, which in turn may reduce the risk of immune attack on self-proteins in the central nervous system. Opinion about whether there is sufficient evidence to conclude that low sun exposure/vitamin D increase the risk of multiple sclerosis, is divided. General public health advice to receive sufficient sun exposure to avoid vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) should also ensure any benefits for multiple sclerosis, but must be tempered against the risk of skin cancers.

scholarly journals Associations of Urine Biomarkers with Kidney Function Decline in HIV-Infected and Uninfected Men

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 401-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon B. Ascher ◽  
Rebecca Scherzer ◽  
Michelle M. Estrella ◽  
Michael G. Shlipak ◽  
Derek K. Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Function ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Procollagen Type ◽  
Urine Albumin ◽  
Urine Biomarkers ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Egfr Decline

Background: HIV-infected (HIV+) persons are at increased risk of chronic kidney disease, but serum creatinine does not detect early losses in kidney function. We hypothesized that urine biomarkers of kidney damage would be associated with subsequent changes in kidney function in a contemporary cohort of HIV+ and HIV-uninfected (HIV–) men. Methods: In the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, we measured baseline urine concentrations of 5 biomarkers from 2009 to 2011 in 860 HIV+ and 337 HIV– men: albumin, alpha-1-microglobulin (α1m), interleukin-18 (IL-18), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP). We evaluated associations of urine biomarker concentrations with annual changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using multivariable linear mixed models adjusted for demographics, traditional kidney disease risk factors, HIV-related risk factors, and baseline eGFR. Results: Over a median follow-up of 4.8 years, the average annual eGFR decline was 1.42 mL/min/1.73 m2/year in HIV+ men and 1.22 mL/min/1.73 m2/year in HIV– men. Among HIV+ men, the highest vs. lowest tertiles of albumin (–1.78 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, 95% CI –3.47 to –0.09) and α1m (–2.43 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, 95% CI –4.14 to –0.73) were each associated with faster annual eGFR declines after multivariable adjustment. Among HIV– men, the highest vs. lowest tertile of α1m (–2.49 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, 95% CI –4.48 to –0.50) was independently associated with faster annual eGFR decline. Urine IL-18, KIM-1, and PIIINP showed no independent associations with eGFR decline, regardless of HIV serostatus. Conclusions: Among HIV+ men, higher urine albumin and α1m are associated with subsequent declines in kidney function, independent of eGFR.

Lifestyle and sociodemographic risk factors for gastroschisis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (8) ◽  
pp. 756-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Baldacci ◽  
Michele Santoro ◽  
Alessio Coi ◽  
Lorena Mezzasalma ◽  
Fabrizio Bianchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Genetic Risk Factors ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Black Mothers ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sociodemographic Risk ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundGastroschisis is strongly associated with young maternal age. This association suggests the need for further investigations on non-genetic risk factors. Identifying these risk factors is a public health priority in order to develop prevention strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence and health consequences in offspring.ObjectiveTo systematically assess and quantitatively synthesise the available epidemiological studies to evaluate the association between non-genetic risk factors and gastroschisis.MethodsLiterature from PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus was searched for the period 1990–2018. Epidemiological studies reporting risk estimates between lifestyle and sociodemographic risk factors and gastroschisis were included. Two pairs of reviewers independently extracted information on study characteristics following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and MOOSE (Meta-analysis Of Oservational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. Relative risk (RR) estimates were calculated across the studies and meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model.ResultsWe identified 58 studies. Meta-analyses were conducted on 29 studies. Maternal smoking (RR 1.56, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.74), illicit drug use (RR 2.14, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.07) and alcohol consumption (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.70) were associated with an increased risk of gastroschisis. A decreased risk among black mothers compared with non-Hispanic white mothers (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.63) was found. For Hispanic mothers no association was observed.ConclusionsExposure to smoking, illicit drugs and alcohol during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of gastroschisis. A significantly decreased risk for black mothers was observed. Further epidemiological studies to assess the potential role of other environmental factors are strongly recommended.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018104284.

scholarly journals Family History–Wide Association Study to Identify Clinical and Environmental Risk Factors for Common Chronic Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (8) ◽  
pp. 1563-1568
Author(s):  
Danielle Rasooly ◽  
John P A Ioannidis ◽  
Muin J Khoury ◽  
Chirag J Patel
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Quantitative Traits ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Family History Of Diabetes ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of Disease ◽  
History Of

Abstract Family history is a strong risk factor for many common chronic diseases and summarizes shared environmental and genetic risk, but how this increased risk is mediated is unknown. We developed a “family history–wide association study” (FamWAS) to systematically and comprehensively test clinical and environmental quantitative traits (CEQTs) for their association with family history of disease. We implemented our method on 457 CEQTs for association with family history of diabetes, asthma, and coronary heart disease (CHD) in 42,940 adults spanning 8 waves of the 1999–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We conducted pooled analyses of the 8 survey waves and analyzed trait associations using survey-weighted logistic regression. We identified 172 (37.6% of total), 32 (7.0%), and 78 (17.1%) CEQTs associated with family history of diabetes, asthma, and CHD, respectively, in subcohorts of individuals without the respective disease. Twenty associated CEQTs were shared across family history of diabetes, asthma, and CHD, far more than expected by chance. FamWAS can examine traits not previously studied in association with family history and uncover trait overlap, highlighting a putative shared mechanism by which family history influences disease risk.

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