scholarly journals The unbearable heaviness of reductionism: the paradigm of the antiatherogenic diet

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 322
Author(s):  
Marco Bobbio ◽  
Antonio Bonaldi ◽  
Luigi Lusiani ◽  
Emma Kidd

Reducing a complex phenomenon into a simplified description may help us to understand general issues and to make limited decisions, but can hardly allow us to accurately predict the consequences of an intervention. The case of the antiatherogenic diet is discussed. Simplified approaches, aimed at correcting single components of a diet, privileging the lipid theory over more comprehensive ones, sustained by the illusion that removing one single substance (the lowering-cholesterol mantra) would defeat cardiovascular disease, have led us to faulty results, because the interactions among components and their interconnections are not negligible. The industry’s interest in shifting the diet of millions of people in well-defined and profitable directions (lowfat, but sugar-rich for tastefulness reasons, as an example), in advance of well founded scientific evidence about benefit, has been mostly relevant. Nowadays, it is well recognized that refined and sweetened foods, not fats, are the main cause of obesity and diabetes, and that the cardiovascular risk is more dependent on the quantity of food consumed rather than the type of food. In recent years the attention of the researchers has moved from qualitative dietary studies and unnatural regimes, to quantitative diets and more naturally balanced regimes, within the concept of globally health life styles, against any reductionism.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Pessôa da Silva ◽  
Sheila Coelho Ramalho Vasconcelos Morais ◽  
Cecília Maria Farias de Queiroz Frazão ◽  
Camila Takáo Lopes ◽  
Suzana de Oliveira Mangueira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the scientific evidence on the most frequent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in persons deprived of their liberty. Methods: An integrative literature review carried out in the CINAHL, Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, LILACS, CUIDEN, Web of Science and Virtual Health Library portal databases using the following keywords: cardiovascular diseases, risk factors, prisons, prisoners. Results: The final sample consisted of 17 primary articles published in English and Spanish. Overweight and obesity were the most cited cardiovascular risk factors besides diabetes, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, consumption of alcohol and other drugs, physical inactivity, metabolic syndrome, anxiety, depression and unhealthy heart diet. Conclusions: The most frequent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in persons deprived of their liberty were those classified as modifiable. In the prison setting, these factors are enhanced due to an environment with little modification of these opportunities.


Author(s):  
Pablo Villoslada-Blanco ◽  
Patricia Pérez-Matute ◽  
José A. Oteo

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with premature aging and the development of aging-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Gut microbiota (GM) disturbance is involved in these comorbidities and there is currently interest in strategies focused on modulating GM composition and/or functionality. Scientific evidence based on well-designed clinical trials is needed to support the use of prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, and fecal transplantation (FT) to modify the GM and reduce the incidence of CVD in HIV-infected patients. We reviewed the data obtained from three clinical trials focused on prebiotics, 25 trials using probiotics, six using symbiotics, and four using FT. None of the trials investigated whether these compounds could reduce CVD in HIV patients. The huge variability observed in the type of compound as well as the dose and duration of administration makes it difficult to adopt general recommendations and raise serious questions about their application in clinical practice.


2020 ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Yu. V. Zhernakova

A significant number of epidemiological studies have shown that hyperuricemia is highly associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. In this connection, increased attention is required to monitor serum uric acid levels in patients, not only from a rheumatological point of view, but also with regard to reducing cardiovascular and renal risks. This article is a review of studies on the association of hyperuricemia with cardiovascular risk and a new consensus for the management of patients with hyperuricemia and high cardiovascular risk, published in december 2019 by a group of experts of the Russian Medical Society for Arterial Hypertension, which, among other things, includes a management algorithm of this category of patients.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Asmar ◽  

The worldwide morbidity and mortality burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is overwhelming and caused by increasing life expectancy and an epidemic of risk factors, including hypertension. Therapeutic options targeting different areas of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) to disrupt pathophysiological processes along the cardiovascular continuum are available. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are first-line treatments for CVD and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are suitable alternatives. Both ACE inhibitors and ARBs prevent CVD by lowering blood pressure (BP). Additionally, several studies have demonstrated that RAAS blockade can reduce cardiovascular risk beyond what might be expected from BP lowering alone. However, the ARBs are not all equally effective. Telmisartan is a long-lasting ARB that effectively controls BP over the full 24-hour period. Recently, the Ongoing telmisartan alone and in combination with ramipril global endpoint trial (ONTARGET) study showed that telmisartan reduces cardiovascular events in high cardiovascular risk patients similarly to the gold standard ACE inhibitor ramipril beyond BP lowering alone, but with a better tolerability. Based on the results of the ONTARGET and Telmisartan randomized assessment study in ACE intolerant subjects with cardiovascular disease (TRANSCEND) studies, telmisartan is indicated for the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity. This article aims to review current guidelines for the management of CVD and consider key data from clinical trials and clinical practice evaluating the role of telmisartan in CVD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (43) ◽  
pp. 1709-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Móczár

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk assessment may help in the identification of symptom-free subjects with high cardiovascular risk. Aim: The author studied the correlation between SCORE and Reynolds risk assessment systems based on data from the cardiovascular risk screening program carried out in subjects without cardiovascular disease. Method: Data obtained from 4462 subjects (1977 men and 2485 women; mean age, 47,4 years) were analysed. The comparison was based on risk categories of the SCORE system. Results: There was a strong correlation between the two scoring systems in the low risk population (under <2% SCORE risk the Spearman rho = 1, p < 0.001). A weak correlation was found in the medium risk group (between 3–4% the Spearman rho = 0.59–0.49, p < 0.001 and between 10–14% the Spearman rho = 0.42, ns.) and a stronger correlation in the high risk group (>15% the Spearmen rho = 0.8, p = 0.017). When correlations were analysed in gender and age categories, the weakest correlation was detected in medium risk women over 40 years of age. In cases when the differences between the two scoring systems were significant, the hsCRP levels were significantly higher (4.1 vs. 5.67 mg/L, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Introduction of hsCRP into cardiovascular risk assessments can refine the risk status of symptom-free subjects, especially among intermediate risk middle-age women (two-step risk assessment). Orv. Hetil., 154 (43), 1709–1712.


Author(s):  
Noora Wael Rasheed ◽  
Ooroba Jameel Taresh

       Some studies indicated a relationship between increased serum levels of osteoprotegerin with arterial calcification and as a result, it leads to the risk of cardiovascular disease. In our study group we selected patients with osteoporosis, with similar age and body mass index for the assessment of the relationship between cardiovascular disease and osteoprotegerin serum level. We took into account the analysis of correlation and association between the presence of distinct patterns of atherosclerosis and associated diseases like high blood pressure,  diabetes mellitus, low HDL cholesterol, increased LDL cholesterol, increased triglycerides and was the case of presence of any type of dyslipidemia, in case of pre-existent treatment. Objective of study was the assessment of osteoprotegerin value as predictive marker for cardiovascular and metabolic risk in osteoporotic patients. Our results showed significant correlations of parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin and biochemical markers of bone with glucose metabolism and lipid were found in our research, maintaining crosstalk between calcium and biochemical markers of bone and cardiovascular risk. The serum level of Osteoprotegerin has been shown to have a large predictive value for the metabolic syndrome as a cardiovascular risk standard in patients with osteoporosis. The osteoprotegerin serum levels were increased in the patients with metabolic syndrome as a protective response facing the atherosclerotic lesions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charalampos Papagoras ◽  
Paraskevi V. Voulgari ◽  
Alexandros A. Drosos

The spondyloarthritides are a group of chronic systemic inflammatory joint diseases, the main types being ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Evidence accumulating during the last decades suggests that patients with AS or PsA carry an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular death. This risk appears to be mediated by systemic inflammation over and above classical cardiovascular risk factors. The excess cardiovascular risk in those patients has been formally acknowledged by scientific organizations, which have called physicians’ attention to the matter. The application by Rheumatologists of new effective anti-rheumatic treatments and treat-to-target strategies seems to benefit patients from a cardiovascular point of view, as well. However, more data are needed in order to verify whether anti-rheumatic treatments do have an effect on cardiovascular risk and whether there are differences among them in this regard. Most importantly, a higher level of awareness of the cardiovascular risk is needed among patients and healthcare providers, better tools to recognize at-risk patients and, ultimately, commitment to address in parallel both the musculoskeletal and the cardiovascular aspect of the disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Belinda Linden

Belinda Linden presents a quarterly overview of recently published guidance of relevance to cardiovascular nursing. A guideline on reducing cardiovascular risk through primary prevention in adults is reviewed in this update.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renate M. Hoogeveen ◽  
Simone L. Verweij ◽  
Yannick Kaiser ◽  
Jeffrey Kroon ◽  
Hein J. Verberne ◽  
...  

AbstractIndividuals with chronic kidney disease are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. This risk may partially be explained by a chronic inflammatory state in these patients, reflected by increased arterial wall and cellular inflammation. Statin treatment decreases cardiovascular risk and arterial inflammation in non-CKD subjects. In patients with declining kidney function, cardiovascular benefit resulting from statin therapy is attenuated, possibly due to persisting inflammation. In the current study, we assessed the effect of statin treatment on arterial wall and cellular inflammation. Fourteen patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3 or 4, defined by an estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate between 15 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, without cardiovascular disease were included in a single center, open label study to assess the effect of atorvastatin 40 mg once daily for 12 weeks (NTR6896). At baseline and at 12 weeks of treatment, we assessed arterial wall inflammation by 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron-emission tomography computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and the phenotype of circulating monocytes were assessed. Treatment with atorvastatin resulted in a 46% reduction in LDL-cholesterol, but this was not accompanied by an attenuation in arterial wall inflammation in the aorta or carotid arteries, nor with changes in chemokine receptor expression of circulating monocytes. Statin treatment does not abolish arterial wall or cellular inflammation in subjects with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease. These results imply that CKD-associated inflammatory activity is mediated by factors beyond LDL-cholesterol and specific anti-inflammatory interventions might be necessary to further dampen the inflammatory driven CV risk in these subjects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 144.1-144
Author(s):  
R. Mazzucchelli ◽  
S. Rodriguez-Martin ◽  
A. García-Vadillo ◽  
M. Gil ◽  
A. Rodríguez-Miguel ◽  
...  

Background:There is some evidence from epidemiological studies suggesting that CS and glucosamine could play a role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention (1-4).Studies to date have included prevalent users, therefore a bias that overestimates protection cannot be excluded.Objectives:To test the hypothesis that chondroitin sulphate (CS) or glucosamine reduce the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods:Case-control study nested in a primary cohort composed of patients aged 40 to 99 years, with at least one year of follow-up in the BIFAP database during the 2002-2015 study period. From this cohort of patients, we identified incident cases of AMI and randomly selected five controls per case, matched by exact age, gender, and index date. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI)) were calculated through a conditional logistic regression. Only new users of CS or glucosamine were considered.Results:A total of 23,585 incident cases of AMI and 117,405 controls were included. The mean age was 67.0 (SD 13.4) years and 71.75% were male, in both groups. 558 (2.37%) cases and 3,082 (2.62%) controls used or had used CS. The current use of CS was associated with a lower risk of AMI (AOR 0.57; 95%CI: 0.46–0.72) and disappeared after discontinuation (recent and past users). The reduced risk among current users was observed in both short-term (<365 days AOR 0.58; 95%CI: 0.45-0.75) and long-term users (>364 days AOR 0.56; 95%CI 0.36-0.87), in both sexes (men, AOR=0.52; 95%CI:0.38-0.70; women, AOR=0.65; 95%CI: 0.46-0.91), in individuals over or under 70 years of age (AOR=0.54; 95%CI:0.38-0.77, and AOR=0.61; 95%CI:0.45-0.82, respectively) and in individuals at intermediate (AOR=0.65; 95%CI:0.48-0.91) and high cardiovascular risk (AOR=0.48;95%CI:0.27-0.83), but not in those at low risk (AOR=1.11; 95%CI:0.48-2.56). In contrast, the current use of glucosamine was not associated with either increased or decreased risk of AMI (AOR= 0.86; CI95% 0.66-1.08)Conclusion:Our results support a cardioprotective effect of CS, while no effect was observed with glucosamine. The highest protection was found among subgroups at higher cardiovascular risk.References:[1]Ma H, Li X, Sun D, Zhou T, Ley SH, Gustat J, et al. Association of habitual glucosamine use with risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective study in UK Biobank. BMJ. 2019;365(Journal Article):l1628.[2]de Abajo FJ, Gil MJ, Garcia Poza P, Bryant V, Oliva B, Timoner J, et al. Risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction associated with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, non-narcotic analgesics and other drugs used in osteoarthritis: a nested case-control study. PharmacoepidemiolDrug Saf. 2014;23(11):1128–38.[3]Li Z-H, Gao X, Chung VC, Zhong W-F, Fu Q, Lv Y-B, et al. Associations of regular glucosamine use with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a large prospective cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Apr 6;annrheumdis-2020-217176.[4]King DE, Xiang J. Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Mortality in a US NHANES Cohort. J Am Board Fam Med. 2020 Dec;33(6):842–7.Disclosure of Interests:Ramón Mazzucchelli Speakers bureau: UCB, Lilly, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Roche, Amgen, Sara Rodriguez-Martin: None declared, Alberto García-Vadillo: None declared, Miguel Gil: None declared, Antonio Rodríguez-Miguel: None declared, Diana Barreira-Hernández: None declared, Alberto García-Lledó: None declared, Francisco de Abajo: None declared


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