scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet Social Network Impact along 11 Years in the Major US Media Outlets: Thematic and Quantitative Analysis Using Twitter

Author(s):  
Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon ◽  
Cesar I. Fernandez-Lazaro ◽  
Maria Llavero-Valero ◽  
Melchor Alvarez-Mon ◽  
Samia Mora ◽  
...  

Background: Media outlets influence social attitudes toward health. Thus, it is important that they share contents which promote healthy habits. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. Analysis of tweets has become a tool for understanding perceptions on health issues. Methods: We investigated tweets posted between January 2009 and December 2019 by 25 major US media outlets about MedDiet and its components as well as the retweets and likes generated. In addition, we measured the sentiment analysis of these tweets and their dissemination. Results: In total, 1608 tweets, 123,363 likes and 48,946 retweets about MedDiet or its components were analyzed. Dairy (inversely weighted in MedDiet scores) accounted for 45.0% of the tweets (723/1608), followed by nuts 19.7% (317/1608). MedDiet, as an overall dietary pattern, generated only 9.8% (157/1608) of the total tweets, while olive oil generated the least number of tweets. Twitter users’ response was quantitatively related to the number of tweets posted by these US media outlets, except for tweets on olive oil and MedDiet. None of the MedDiet components analyzed was more likely to be liked or retweeted than the MedDiet itself. Conclusions: The US media outlets analyzed showed reduced interest in MedDiet as a whole, while Twitter users showed greater interest in the overall dietary pattern than in its particular components.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon ◽  
Cesar Fernandez Lazaro ◽  
Maria Llavero-Valero ◽  
Melchor Alvarez-Mon ◽  
Samia Mora ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Background: Media outlets influence social attitudes toward health habits. Analysis of tweets has become a tool for health research and dissemination of public health information. OBJECTIVE Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of tweets about Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the interest generated among Twitter users. METHODS Methods: We investigated tweets posted between January 2009 and December 2019 by 25 major US media outlets about MedDiet and its components as well as the retweets and likes generated. In addition, we measured the sentiment analysis of these tweets and their dissemination. RESULTS Results: In total, 1,608 tweets, 123,363 likes and 48,946 retweets about MedDiet or its components were analyzed. Dairy (usually negatively weighted in MedDiet scores) accounted for 723 tweets (45.0%), followed by nuts 317 (19.7%). MedDiet, as an overall dietary pattern, generated only 157 (9.8%) of the total tweets, while olive oil generated the least number of tweets (31 tweets or 1.9%). Twitter users’ response was quantitatively related to the number of tweets posted by these US media outlets, except for tweets on olive oil and MedDiet as a whole: none of the MedDiet components analyzed was more likely to be liked or retweeted than the MedDiet itself. Between 2009 and 2019, there was progressive increase in the number of tweets and retweets on MedDiet and its components. CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: The US media outlets analyzed showed reduced interest in MedDiet as a whole, while Twitter users showed greater interest in the overall dietary pattern than in its particular components.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Jimenez-Torres ◽  
Juan F. Alcalá-Diaz ◽  
Jose D. Torres-Peña ◽  
Francisco M. Gutierrez-Mariscal ◽  
Ana Leon-Acuña ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Lifestyle and diet affect cardiovascular risk, although there is currently no consensus about the best dietary model for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The CORDIOPREV study (Coronary Diet Intervention With Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Prevention) is an ongoing prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial in 1002 coronary heart disease patients, whose primary objective is to compare the effect of 2 healthy dietary patterns (low-fat rich in complex carbohydrates versus Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil) on the incidence of cardiovascular events. Here, we report the results of one secondary outcome of the CORDIOPREV study. Thus, to evaluate the efficacy of these diets in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Intima-media thickness of both common carotid arteries (IMT-CC) was ultrasonically assessed bilaterally. IMT-CC is a validated surrogate for the status and future cardiovascular disease risk. Methods: From the total participants, 939 completed IMT-CC evaluation at baseline and were randomized to follow a Mediterranean diet (35% fat, 22% monounsaturated fatty acids, <50% carbohydrates) or a low-fat diet (28% fat, 12% monounsaturated fatty acids, >55% carbohydrates) with IMT-CC measurements at 5 and 7 years. We also analyzed the carotid plaque number and height. Results: The Mediterranean diet decreased IMT-CC at 5 years (−0.027±0.008 mm; P <0.001), maintained at 7 years (−0.031±0.008 mm; P <0.001), compared to baseline. The low-fat diet did not modify IMT-CC. IMT-CC and carotid plaque max height were higher decreased after the Mediterranean diet, compared to the low-fat diet, throughout follow-up. Baseline IMT-CC had the strongest association with the changes in IMT-CC after the dietary intervention. Conclusions: Long-term consumption of a Mediterranean diet rich in extravirgin olive oil, if compared to a low-fat diet, was associated with decreased atherosclerosis progression, as shown by reduced IMT-CC and carotid plaque height. These findings reinforce the clinical benefits of the Mediterranean diet in the context of secondary cardiovascular prevention. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT00924937.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Susan Mohammadi Hosseinabadi ◽  
Javad Nasrollahzadeh

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular health-related effects of consuming ghee in the usual diet. Thirty healthy men and women were studied in a free-living outpatient regimen. The participants were instructed for the isocaloric inclusion of ghee or olive oil in their diets for 4 weeks using a randomized crossover design. At the end of run-in (baseline), 2-week wash-out, and interventions, fasting blood samples were drawn. In addition, 2-h postprandial blood samples were collected after ingestion of a meal containing olive oil or ghee at week 4 of each dietary intervention. Body weight was not different between the two interventions. Compared to the olive oil, the diet with ghee increased fasting plasma apolipoprotein-B (apo B) (0.09, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.17 g/L, p= 0.018) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) (0.53, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.05 mmol/L, p= 0.046) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not differ significantly between diet groups (0.29, 95% CI –0.05 to 0.63 mmol/L, p= 0.092), but had no significant effect on total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (0.75, 95% CI −0.24 to 1.74 mmol/L, p= 0.118). No significant difference was observed in fasting as well as 2-h postprandial plasma triacylglycerol, glucose, insulin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations. This study showed that ghee which is predominantly saturated fats had an increasing effect on plasma apo B and non-HDL-C compared to olive oil, adding further evidence to the existing recommendations to replace dietary fats high in SFA with dietary fats high in unsaturated fats to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M Crookes ◽  
Lisa M Bates ◽  
Amelia K Boehme ◽  
Earle C Chambers ◽  
Martha Daviglus ◽  
...  

Background: News reports and hate crime data suggest that anti-Hispanic/Latino immigrant sentiment was expressed by some sectors of the U.S. public during the 2016 Presidential campaign and election. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between this period and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors thought to be responsive to acute stress exposure among Hispanic/Latino adults in the US. Methods: Data were from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a prospective cohort study of Hispanic/Latino adults living in the US. The analytic sample was limited to non-pregnant adults, 35 to 74 years old, who participated in Visit 1 (2008-2011) and Visit 2 (2014-2017). The exposed were defined as participants who completed Visit 2 in 2016 and the unexposed were defined as participants who completed Visit 2 in 2014 or 2015. Cardiovascular disease risk factors included elevated depressive symptoms (CESD-10 score: 10+), current smoking, and at-risk levels of alcohol consumption (women: 7+ drinks/week; men: 14+ drinks/week). Current alcohol use (i.e., any current alcohol use) was also examined as a potential stress-related outcome. Predicted marginal risk ratio models were used to estimate incident Visit 2 outcomes as a function of exposure to the year 2016 among individuals who did not have those outcomes at Visit 1. Models were adjusted for age and insurance status at Visit 1. A priori interactions with nativity status, duration of residence in the US, and Hispanic/Latino background group were examined. Results: No statistically significant association between 2016 exposure and elevated depressive symptoms was observed in the main model, but additive interaction by Hispanic/Latino background group was observed ( p = 0.03) (Mexican and Central American background: RR adjusted : 1.28 (0.94, 1.76); Hispanics/Latinos of other background groups: RR adjusted : 0.85 (0.66, 1.09)). No association between 2016 exposure and incident smoking or incident at-risk alcohol consumption was observed and tests for interaction were not statistically significant. For incident current alcohol use, borderline trends in the main model suggested an association with the exposure (RR adjusted : 1.11 (0.99, 1.26)). Further, statistically significant additive interaction by nativity status was observed (Foreign-born: RR adjusted : 1.20 (1.06, 1.37); US/Puerto Rico-born: RR adjusted : 0.78 (0.55, 1.09)). Conclusions: Trends from study findings suggest an association between exposure to anti-Hispanic/Latino immigrant sentiment in 2016 and current alcohol use among foreign-born Hispanic/Latino adults. Given limitations of using time as a proxy for exposure to anti-Hispanic/Latino immigrant sentiment, future studies should explore more specific measurements of sentiment during this time and explore short and long-term effects of this sentiment.


2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reina Garcia-Closas ◽  
Antoni Berenguer ◽  
Carlos A González

AbstractObjectiveTo describe geographical differences and time trends in the supply of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet.DesignFood supply data collected from national food balance sheets for the period 1961–2001.SettingSelected Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.ResultsDifferences of almost 30-fold and five-fold were found in the supply of olive oil and fruits and vegetables, respectively, among the Mediterranean countries studied during the 1960s. A favourable increasing trend for the supply of fruit and vegetables was observed in most Mediterranean countries. However, an increase in the supply of meats and dairy products and a decrease in the supply of cereals and wine were observed in European Mediterranean countries from 1961 until 2001. Only in African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries were cereals the base of food supply. During the 1990s, Greece's food supply pattern was closest to the traditional Mediterranean diet, while Italy and Spain maintained a high availability of fruits, vegetables and olive oil, but were losing the other typical components. Among African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries, only Turkey presented a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern except with respect to olive oil, the supply of which was very low. France showed a Western dietary pattern, with a high supply of animal products and a low supply of olive oil.ConclusionsDietary supplies in the Mediterranean area were quite heterogeneous in the 1960s and have experienced a process of Westernization, especially in European Mediterranean countries.


Author(s):  
Michael D Hu ◽  
Kaitlyn G Lawrence ◽  
Mark R Bodkin ◽  
Richard K Kwok ◽  
Lawrence S Engel ◽  
...  

Abstract Socioeconomic status has been associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, few studies have examined this relationship among populations in the US Gulf Coast region. We assessed neighborhood deprivation in relation to obesity and diabetes in 9,626 residents participating in the Gulf Long-Term Follow-Up Study (2011–present) who completed a home visit (2011–2013) with height, weight, waist, and hip measurements. Obesity was categorized as body mass index of at least 30, and diabetes was defined by doctor’s diagnosis or prescription medication. Participant home addresses were linked to an established Area Deprivation Index and categorized into 4 levels (1 = least deprived). In adjusted, modified Poisson regression models, participants with greatest deprivation were more likely to have obesity compared with those with least deprivation (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.35), central obesity (aPR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.19), and diabetes (aPR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.14). Repeated analyses among a subgroup of participants (n = 3,016) whose hemoglobin A1C values were measured 3 years later indicated the association with diabetes (defined as diagnosis, medications, or hemoglobin A1C ≥ 6.5) was similar (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.86). Results suggest neighborhood deprivation is associated with obesity and diabetes in a US region with high baseline prevalence.


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