Mediterranean Diet Reduces Atherosclerosis Progression in Coronary Heart Disease: An Analysis of the CORDIOPREV Randomized Controlled Trial.

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 plaquemax 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.

Long-term dietary adherence and changes in dietary intake in coronary patients after intervention with a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet: the CORDIOPREV randomized trial.

PURPOSE: Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern positively influences clinical outcomes in cardiovascular prevention, but long-term adherence is difficult to maintain. We evaluated 5-year changes in dietary habits, adherence achieved, and its maintenance in a cohort of coronary patients from the CORDIOPREV study. METHODS: 1002 coronary patients were randomized to a Mediterranean diet (n = 502) or a low-fat diet (n = 500) and received individual-group-telephone visits and personalized dietary advice. A validated food-frequency questionnaire, a 14-point Mediterranean diet adherence screener, and a 9-point low-fat diet adherence score were used. Dietary adherence was categorized into Low, Medium, and High Adherence. Changes in nutrient intake, food consumption, and adherence were analyzed on a yearly basis. The maintenance of long-term dietary adherence was evaluated using data after the first year and fifth year. RESULTS: From baseline to 5 years, significant increases were observed in overall dietary adherence (Mediterranean diet from 8.9 to 11.4; low-fat diet from 3.9 to 7.1) and in the percentage of patients considered High Adherence (Mediterranean diet from 41 to 89%; low-fat diet from 4 to 67%). When we evaluated the maintenance of adherence, patients considered Low and Medium Adherence at 1 year increased their adherence at the 5 years with both diets and patients considered High Adherence maintained their adherence with a Mediterranean diet, but decreased their adherence with a low-fat diet. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive dietary intervention results in an overall long-term improvement and maintenance of adherence to the Mediterranean and low-fat diets. In our population, the Mediterranean diet group achieved a high level of adherence in the short term which was maintained in the long term.

Age-dependent effect of metabolic phenotypes on carotid atherosclerotic disease in coronary heart disease patients (CORDIOPREV study).

BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with a high risk for cardiovascular disease. The relation of obesity and risk of cardiovascular events appears to be more closely linked to certain clinical or metabolic phenotypes than to obesity itself. Our aim was to establish whether aging influenced the metabolic phenotypes regarding to cardiovascular risk, evaluated by changes in the intima media thickness-common carotid (IMT-CC), in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1002 CHD patients were studied at entry from the CORDIOPREV study. We performed carotid ultrasound assessment to obtain their IMT-CC values. Carotid atherosclerosis was considered to exist if IMT-CC > 0.7 mm. RESULTS: Age determined a higher IMT-CC, regardless metabolic phenotype (all p < 0.05). Metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) aged< 60 showed a lesser prevalence for carotid atherosclerotic disease than metabolically sick non-obese (MSNO) and obese (MSO), while MHNO aged≥60 only showed less prevalence for the disease than the MSO. Carotid atherosclerosis associated with age, sex, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), hypertension and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). However, in patients aged< 60, it associated with sex and IFG and in the age ≥ 60 group, with hypertension and hsCRP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CHD patients aged≥60 are less metabolic flexible compared to patients aged< 60. Thus, MHO patients aged≥60 show the same risk of suffering carotid atherosclerosis as those with metabolic disease, while MHO patients aged< 60 show lower risk than MSO. This fact indicates the need to focus on therapeutic strategies in order to modify those parameters related to obesity and metabolic inflexibility in patients with CHD before entering old age.

Apolipoprotein E genetic variants interact with Mediterranean diet to modulate postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in coronary heart disease patients: CORDIOPREV study.

BACKGROUND: We try to explore whether long-term consumption of two healthy dietary patterns (low-fat [LF] diet or Mediterranean diet [MedDiet]) interacts with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: rs439401, rs440446 and rs7412) modulating postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (ppHTG) in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected patients from the CORDIOPREV study with genotyping and who underwent an oral fat load test (FLT) at baseline and after 3 years follow-up (n = 506). After 3 years of follow-up, we found a gene-diet interaction between the APOE rs439401 SNP and MedDiet. Specifically, T-allele carriers in the MedDiet group showed a more significant decrease in postprandial triglycerides (TG: P = 0.03) and large triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) TG (large TRLs TG; P = 0.01) compared with CC subjects. Consistently, the area under the curve of TG (AUC-TG; P-interaction = 0.03) and AUC-large TRLs TG (P-interaction = 0.02) were significantly lower in T-allele carriers compared with CC subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term consumption of a MedDiet modulates ppHTG through APOE genetic variants in CHD patients. This gene-diet interaction may contribute to a more precise dietary advice in CHD patients.

High density lipoprotein subfractions and extent of coronary atherosclerotic lesions: From the cordioprev study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The extent of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD) is associated with its prognosis, thus discovering potential biomarkers related to worse outcomes could prove valuable. The present work aims to investigate whether lipoprotein subfractions are associated with angiographic CHD severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients from the CORDIOPREV study exhibiting coronary lesions in angiography were classified into two groups (single-vessel coronary disease (SVD) or multivessel coronary disease (MVD)). High-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy determined lipoprotein subfractions concentration and composition. RESULTS: SVD patients showed a higher concentration of medium and small HDL particles compared with MVD patients. For medium HDL, total lipids, phospholipids, total cholesterol, cholesteryl esters and free cholesterol reflected HDL particle concentration, whereas, for small HDL, total lipids, phospholipids, and free cholesterol mirrored lipoprotein particle concentration. Among traditional cardiovascular risk factors, age, hypertension and T2D were independently associated with angiography severity. In multivariate logistic regression models, medium and small HDL particles remained inversely associated with angiography severity (OR 0.77 (95% CI: 0.64-0.91); OR 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67-0.91), respectively) after adjusting with covariates. CONCLUSION: In CHD patients mostly on statin treatment, angiography severity is inversely related to small and medium HDL subclasses concentration measured by NMR. These particles are also independent predictors of the presence of MVD, and its use increased the prediction of this entity over traditional risk factors.

Effect of the Mediterranean diet and probiotic supplementation in the management of mild cognitive impairment: Rationale, methods, and baseline characteristics.

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can progress to Alzheimer's disease (AD). When MCI is not properly controlled, the speed of deterioration can dramatically increase. Reduction of oxidative stress/inflammation and the modulation of the gut-brain axis could be new potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of AD. Consumption of specific nutrients, diets and probiotic supplementation have been evaluated for neurodegenerative disorders. We focus on a detailed description of the study methods and baseline characteristics of a clinical trial aiming to evaluate the efficacy of a combined nutritional intervention, i.e., a Mediterranean diet with probiotics, on cognitive capacity in a population with MCI. Methods: In this randomized, latin-square crossover, double-blind, and controlled dietary intervention trial (clinicaltrials.gov NCT05029765), 47 MCI patients were randomized to consume three dietary interventions for 24-weeks each: (1) A Mediterranean diet supplemented with probiotics (109 colony-forming units of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum); (2) A Mediterranean diet + placebo; and (3) A Healthy diet according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Participants will be evaluated before and after each of the three intervention periods (each 24-weeks, with a total of 72-weeks) for adherence to the assigned diet, blood tests, cognitive performance, gut microbiota analysis and functional neuroimaging studies. Results: Fifty patients, ≥60 years-old and diagnosed with MCI, underwent randomization. A total of 47 patients completed follow-up dietary interventions (57.4% males), with a good glycemic control (HbA1c 5.8 ± 0.1%, fasting glucose and insulin 99.7 ± 3.3 mg/dL and 10.4 ± 0.9 mU/L, respectively), elevated systolic blood pressure (136.9 ± 2.1 mmHg) and increased degree of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, 8.8 ± 0.9 mg/dL). Baseline adherence to the Mediterranean diet was medium (7.5 ± 0.3 points on the score that ranged from 0 to 14 points). Conclusion: The results of this clinical study would provide more evidence on the need for dietary therapeutic strategies, for clinical and individual practice, in the management of MCI patients to reduce the risk of AD development. Targeting lifestyle modifications in high-risk populations could prevent substantial cases of cognitive decline. Clinical trial registration: [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05029765].

Associations Between the Modified Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Elderly Population.

Background: Helping consumers to improve the nutritional quality of their diet is a key public health action to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The modified version of the Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index (FSAm-NPS DI) underpinning the Nutri-Score front-of-pack label has been used in public health strategies to address the deleterious consequences of poor diets. This study aimed to assess the association between the FSAm-NPS DI and some CVD risk factors including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, plasma glucose levels, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up using a 143-item validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary indices based on FSAm-NPS applied at an individual level were computed to characterize the diet quality of 5,921 participants aged 55-75 years with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome from the PREDIMED-plus cohort. Associations between the FSAm-NPS DI and CVD risk factors were assessed using linear regression models. Results: Compared to participants with a higher nutritional quality of diet (measured by a lower FSAm-NPS DI at baseline or a decrease in FSAm-NPS DI after 1 year), those participants with a lower nutritional quality of diet (higher FSAm-NPS DI or an increase in score) showed a significant increase in the levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference (ß coefficient [95% confidence interval]; P for trend) (1.67 [0.43, 2.90]; <0.001; 6.27 [2.46, 10.09]; <0.001; 0.56 [0.08, 1.05]; 0.001; 0.51 [0.41, 0.60]; <0.001; 1.19 [0.89, 1.50]; <0.001, respectively). No significant associations in relation to changes in HDL and LDL-cholesterol nor with systolic blood pressure were shown. Conclusion: This prospective cohort study suggests that the consumption of food items with a higher FSAm-NPS DI is associated with increased levels of several major risk factors for CVD including adiposity, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure. However, results must be cautiously interpreted because no significant prospective associations were identified for critical CVD risk factors, such as HDL and LDL-cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure.

A set of miRNAs predicts T2DM remission in patients with coronary heart disease: from the CORDIOPREV study.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of genes associated with the development of diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the use of miRNAs to predict T2DM remission has been poorly studied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether circulating miRNAs could be used to predict the probability of T2DM remission in patients with coronary heart disease. We included the newly diagnosed T2DM (n = 190) of the 1,002 patients from the CORDIOPREV study. Seventy-three patients reverted from T2DM after 5 years of dietary intervention with a low-fat or Mediterranean diet. Plasma levels of 56 miRNAs were measured by OpenArray. Generalized linear model, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), Cox regression, and pathway analyses were performed. ROC analysis based on clinical variables showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.66. After a linear regression analysis, seven miRNAs were identified as the most important variables in the group's differentiation. The addition of these miRNAs to clinical variables showed an AUC of 0.79. Cox regression analysis using a T2DM remission score including miRNAs showed that high-score patients have a higher probability of T2DM remission (hazard ratio [HR]low versus high, 4.44). Finally, 26 genes involved in 10 pathways were related to the miRNAs. We have identified miRNAs (hsa-let-7b, hsa-miR-101, hsa-miR-130b-3p, hsa-miR-27a, hsa-miR-30a-5p, hsa-miR-375, and hsa-miR-486) that contribute to the prediction of T2DM remission in patients with coronary heart disease.

Owning a Pet Is Associated with Changes in the Composition of Gut Microbiota and Could Influence the Risk of Metabolic Disorders in Humans.

Pet ownership positively influences clinical outcomes in cardiovascular prevention. Additionally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been previously linked to microbiota dysbiosis. We evaluated the influence of owning a pet and its relationship with the intestinal microbiota. We analyzed the gut microbiota from 162 coronary patients from the CORDIOPREV study (NCT00924937) according to whether they owned pets (n = 83) or not (n = 79). The pet-owner group was further divided according to whether they owned dogs only (n = 28) or not (n = 55). A 7-item pet-owners test score was used. Patients who owned pets had less risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) (OR = 0.462) and obesity (OR = 0.519) and were younger (p < 0.001) than patients who did not own pets. Additionally, patients who owned dogs had less risk of MetS (OR = 0.378) and obesity (OR = 0.418) and were younger (p < 0.001) than patients who did not own pets. A preponderance of the genera Serratia and Coprococcus was found in the group of owners, while the genera Ruminococcus, an unknown genus of Enterobacteriaceae and Anaerotruncus were preponderant in the group of non-owners. In patients who owned dogs, Methanobrevibacter and two more genera, Coprococcus and Oscillospira, were more common. Our study suggests that the prevalence of MetS and obesity in CVD patients is lower in pet owners, and that pet ownership could be a protective factor against MetS through the shaping of the gut microbiota. Thus, owning a pet could be considered as a protective factor against cardiometabolic diseases.

Postprandial Lipemia Modulates Pancreatic Alpha-Cell Function in the Prediction of Type 2 Diabetes Development: The CORDIOPREV Study.

Diabetes (T2DM) is a major global health issue, and developing new approaches to its prevention is of paramount importance. We hypothesized that abnormalities in lipid metabolism are involved in alpha-cell deregulation. We therefore studied the metabolic factors underlying alpha-cell dysfunction in T2DM progression after a dietary intervention (Mediterranean and low-fat). Additionally, we evaluated whether postprandial glucagon levels may be considered as a predictive factor of T2DM in cardiovascular patients. Non-T2DM participants from the CORDIOPREV study were categorized by tertiles of the area under the curve (AUC) for triacylglycerols and also by tertiles of AUC for glucagon. Our results showed that patients with higher triacylglycerols levels presented elevated postprandial glucagon (P = 0.009). Moreover, we observed higher risk of T2DM (hazard ratio: 2.65; 95% confidence interval: 1.56-4.53) in subjects with elevated glucagon. In conclusion, high postprandial lipemia may induce alpha-cell dysfunction in cardiovascular patients. Our results also showed that postprandial glucagon levels could be used to predict T2DM development.

A Diet-Dependent Microbiota Profile Associated with Incident Type 2 Diabetes: From the CORDIOPREV Study.

SCOPE: The differences between the baseline gut microbiota of patients who developed type 2 diabetes (T2D) consuming a low-fat (LF) or a Mediterranean (Med) diet are explored and risk scores are developed to predict the individual risk of developing T2D associated with the consumption of LF or Med diet. METHODS AND RESULTS: All the patients from the CORDIOPREV study without T2D at baseline (n = 462) whose fecal sample are available, are included. Gut microbiota is analyzed by 16S sequencing and the risk of T2D after a median follow-up of 60 months assessed by Cox analysis. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis shows a different baseline gut microbiota in patients who developed T2D consuming LF and Med diets. A higher abundance of Paraprevotella, and lower Gammaproteobacteria and B. uniformis are associated with T2D risk when an LF diet is consumed. In contrast, higher abundances of Saccharibacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Prevotella are associated with T2D risk when a Med diet is consumed. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that different interactions between the microbiome and dietary patterns may partially determine the risk of T2D development, which may be used for selecting personalized dietary models to prevent T2D.

Lifestyle factors modulate postprandial hypertriglyceridemia: From the CORDIOPREV study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recent evidence suggests that postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (PPT) is associated with the incidence of CVD. Several non-modifiable factors (genetics, age, gender) and lifestyle factors (physical activity, smoking, regular alcohol) have shown their ability to modulate PPT. We evaluate the influence of regular alcohol intake, physical activity and smoking habit modulating PPT in the CORDIOPREV study (NCT00924937). METHODS: 1002 patients were subject to an oral fat load test meal and serial blood samples were drawn at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h during postprandial state. A PPT concentration above 2.5 mmol/L (220 mg/dL) at any time point has been established as a detrimental response. Alcohol consumption was defined as non-drinkers, moderate and severe intake; regular physical activity exceeding than or lower than 1000 MET/week; smoking habit was classified in current, never, recent ex-smokers and long-term ex-smokers. RESULTS: The prevalence of undesirable PPT response was 68% in current, 58% in recent ex-smokers, 49% in long-term ex-smokers and 48% in never smokers (p < 0.001). Current and recent ex-smokers displayed higher PPT response as well as a greater area under the curve (AUC) and higher incremental (iAUC) of triglycerides (TG) compared with long-term ex-smokers and never smokers (p < 0.05), without differences among these subgroups. No differences were observed in the magnitude of PPT according to regular physical activity or alcohol intake habits. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is an independent risk factor modulating the magnitude of PPT. However, after tobacco cessation, ex-smokers show a progressive decrease on their PPT to reach levels similar to those of never smokers.

Sex Differences in the Gut Microbiota as Potential Determinants of Gender Predisposition to Disease.

SCOPE: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota is involved in metabolic syndrome (MetS) development, which has a different incidence between men (M) and women (W). The differences in gut microbiota in MetS patients are explored according to gender, and whether consuming two healthy diets, Mediterranean (MED) and low-fat (LF), may, over time, differentially shape the gut microbiota dysbiosis according to gender is evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the women from the CORDIOPREV study whose feces samples were available and a similar number of men, matched by the main metabolic variables (N = 246, 123 women and 123 men), and categorized according to the presence or not of MetS are included. Gut microbiota is analyzed at baseline and after 3 years of dietary intervention. RESULTS: Higher abundance of Collinsella, Alistipes, Anaerotruncus, and Phascolarctobacterium genera is observed in MetS-W than in MetS-M, whereas the abundance of Faecalibacterium and Prevotella genera is higher in MetS-M than in MetS-W. Moreover, higher levels of Desulfovibrio, Roseburia, and Holdemania are observed in men than in women after the consumption of the LF diet. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the potential involvement of differences in gut microbiota in the unequal incidence of metabolic diseases between genders, and a sex-dependent effect on shaping the gut microbiota according to diet.

Beneficial effect of CETP gene polymorphism in combination with a Mediterranean diet influencing lipid metabolism in metabolic syndrome patients: CORDIOPREV study.

The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene has been implicated in high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) metabolism. However, little is known about the impact of this gene on metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients and its interaction with diet. Here, we evaluate whether the consumption of a Mediterranean diet, compared with a Low-fat diet, interacts with the rs3764261 SNP at the CETP locus to modify lipid metabolism in MetS patients. Plasma lipid concentrations and rs3764261 genotypes were determined in 424 MetS subjects participating in the CORDIOPREV clinical trial (NCT00924937). Gene-diet interactions were analyzed after a year of dietary intervention (Mediterranean diet (35% fat, 22% MUFA) vs Low-fat diet (28% fat, 12% MUFA)). We found significant gene-diet interactions between rs3764261 SNP and the dietary pattern for HDL-C (P = 0.006) and triglyceride concentrations (P = 0.040). Specifically, after 12 months of Mediterranean diet intervention, subjects who were carriers of the minor T allele (TT + TG) displayed higher plasma HDL-C concentrations (P = 0.021) and lower triglycerides (P = 0.020) compared with those who were homozygous for the major allele (GG). In contrast, in the Low-fat intervention group, no significant differences were found between CETP genotypes after 12 months of dietary treatment. Our data support the notion that the consumption of a Mediterranean diet may play a contributing role in triggering lipid metabolism by interacting with the rs3764261 SNP at CETP gene locus in MetS patients. Due to the complex nature of gene-environment interactions, dietary adjustment in MetS patients may require a personalized approach.

Quantitative evaluation of capillaroscopic microvascular changes in patients with established coronary heart disease. / Evaluación cuantitativa de los cambios microvasculares capilaroscópicos en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica establecida.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Microcirculation disturbances have been associated to most of the cardiovascular risk factors as well as to multiple inflammatory diseases. However, whether these abnormalities are specifically augmented in patients with coronary heart disease is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate if there is a relationship between the presence of coronary heart disease and the existence of functional and structural capillary abnormalities evaluated in the cutaneous microcirculation by videocapillaroscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two matched samples of 30 participants with and without coronary heart disease but with similar clinical and anthropometric characteristics were evaluated by videocapillaroscopy at the dorsal skin of the third finger of the non-dominant hand. We calculated basal capillary density as well as capillary density after a period of arterial and venous occlusion in order to evaluate functionality and maximum capillary density. We also measured capillary recruitment. RESULTS: Microvascular capillary density at rest was significantly lower in patients suffering from coronary heart disease than in controls. This fact was also found after dynamic tests (arterial and venous occlusion), suggesting functional impairments. Capillary recruitment of the samples was not different in our sample. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, patients with coronary heart disease exhibit functional and structural microvascular disturbances. Although this is a very preliminary study, these findings open the door for further studying the microvascular functionality in coronary patients and how it relates to the response to treatment and/or the prognosis of the disease.

Telomerase RNA Component Genetic Variants Interact With the Mediterranean Diet Modifying the Inflammatory Status and its Relationship With Aging: CORDIOPREV Study.

Background: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) attrition has been associated with age-related diseases. Telomerase RNA Component (TERC) genetic variants have been associated with LTL; whereas fatty acids (FAs) can interact with genetic factors and influence in aging. We explore whether variability at the TERC gene locus interacts with FA profile and two healthy diets (low-fat diet vs Mediterranean diet [MedDiet]) modulating LTL, glucose metabolism, and inflammation status in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Methods: Inflammation status (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], glucose metabolism-glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]), LTL, FAs, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TERC gene (rs12696304, rs16847897, and rs3772190) were determined in 1,002 patients from the CORDIOPREV study (NCT00924937). Results: We report an interaction of the TERC rs12696304 SNP with monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) affecting LTL (p interaction = .01) and hsCRP (p interaction = .03). Among individuals with MUFA levels above the median, CC individuals showed higher LTL and lower hsCRP than G-allele carriers. Moreover, MedDiet interacted with TERC rs12696304 SNP (p interaction = .03). Specifically, CC individuals displayed a greater decrease in hsCRP than G-allele carriers. These results were not adjusted for multiple statistical testing and p less than .05 was considered significant. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the TERC rs12696304 SNP interacts with MUFA improving inflammation status and telomere attrition related with CHD. Moreover, the MedDiet intervention improves the inflammatory profile in CC individuals compared with the G-allele carriers. These interactions could provide a right strategy for personalized nutrition in CHD patients.

Document of recommendations of the SEA 2018. Lifestyle in cardiovascular prevention. / Documento de recomendaciones de la SEA 2018. El estilo de vida en la prevención cardiovascular.

Lifestyle is a complex concept that includes aspects external to ourselves that can modulate and influence our health. The knowledge of the relationship between lifestyle and cardiovascular risk does not attain the level of evidence achieved with clinical trials with drugs, because clinical studies are scarce and mainly of observational nature, albeit based on large cohorts. Nutritional epidemiology has the added difficulty of being based mostly on subjective dietary recall methods to ascertain nutrient and food intake over time, with the additional problems of incomplete data collection, variable measurements of adherence due to seasonal and geographical differences in food composition, and the changing eating behavior that human beings have over time. The purpose of this document is to carry out an updated and hierarchical review of the relationship between lifestyle and cardiovascular disease based on current evidence, paying attention to three aspects that are of great pathogenic importance and are directly modifiable: physical activity, tobacco consumption, and diet. With this, we intend to update the knowledge on this relationship, construct evidence-based recommendations, and provide a simple tool for clinical practice especially directed to health professionals involved in the care of people at cardiovascular risk, defining simple and easy strategies for individuals who receive advice for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Mediterranean diet improves endothelial function in patients with diabetes and prediabetes: A report from the CORDIOPREV study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) plays a key role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Likewise, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major CVD risk factor. Therefore, our objective was to explore whether long-term consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) rich in olive oil or a low-fat diet (LF diet) was associated with an improvement in ED and whether the potential benefits were similar in patients with or without T2D in the CORDIOPREV clinical trial (NCT00924937). METHODS: Endothelial function was measured in 805 participants who had completed follow-up ultrasound image studies, using ultrasonography of brachial artery to calculate flow mediated vasodilatation (FMD) before and after 1.5 years of intervention with a MedDiet [35% of calories from fat (22% monounsaturated) and 50% from carbohydrates] and LF diet [28% fat (12% monounsaturated) and 55% of calories from carbohydrates]. We categorized participants as patients with T2D, prediabetes, and without T2D according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. RESULTS: MedDiet increased FMD in patients with T2D [5.2 ± 0.4 at 1.5 years vs. 3.8 ± 0.4 at baseline; p=0.04] and prediabetes [4.9 ± 0.4 vs. 3.8 ± 0.4; p=0.04] and induced an improvement in FMD compared to LF diet in patients with diabetes [5.2 ± 0.4 (MedDiet) vs.3.7 ± 0.4 (LF diet); p=0.01]; whereas both diets maintained FMD stable in patients without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual consumption of a MedDiet rich in extra virgin olive oil improves endothelial function in patients with prediabetes and diabetes. This takes great importance given that diet must be the cornerstone of treatment of patients with diabetes at high cardiovascular risk.

Lipoprotein (a) Management: Lifestyle and Hormones.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the first cause of mortality in developed countries. Moreover, far from diminishing, the cardiovascular risk factors leading towards the development of CVD are on the rise. Therefore, the preventive and therapeutic management which is currently in place is clearly not enough to stop this pandemic. In this context, a major resurgence in interest in lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] has occurred in light of its association with CVD. This series aims to review the basic and clinical aspects of Lp(a) biology. Specifically, the present review considers the current situation regarding the influence of lifestyle, hormones and other physiological or pathological conditions on Lp(a) plasma concentrations which might mitigate the harmful effects of this lipoprotein.