[Cured ham and incidence of cardiovascular events, arterial hypertension or weight gain]. / Consumo de jamón curado e incidencia de episodios cardiovasculares, hipertensión arterial o ganancia de peso.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cured ham is a characteristic food of Spanish Mediterranean diet. However, no prospective epidemiologic study assessing its effects on human health is available. Our aim was to assess the association between the consumption of cured ham and cardiovascular disease, hypertension or weight gain. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In a prospective and dynamic epidemiologic cohort composed exclusively of university graduates (the SUN Project, n=13,293), we analyzed the incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and average yearly weight gain after a maximum follow-up of 6 years. Cox (proportional hazards) regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios (relative risks [RR]) after adjusting for potential confounding. RESULTS: No association was found between higher levels of consumption of cured ham (>4 servings/week) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (RR=1.02; [95%CI]: 0.44-2.39), in analyses adjusted for age, sex, total energy intake and mediterranean dietary pattern, compared to the consumption of less than one serving a week. When we repeated this comparison for the incidence of hypertension, and adjusting for age, sex, total energy intake and mediterranean dietary pattern the RR was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.55-1.01). In the comparison of average yearly weight gain between these extreme categories of cured ham consumption (<1 versus > or =4 servings/week) a non-significant difference of 0.039 kg (95%IC: -0.036 to 0.113) was found after adjusting for sex, age, total energy intake, mediterranean dietary pattern, smoking, physical activity, and baseline body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this cohort study do not support any association between the consumption of cured ham and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension or weight gain.

Consumo de jamón curado e incidencia de episodios cardiovasculares, hipertensión arterial o ganancia de peso / Cured ham and incidence of cardiovascular events arterial hypertension or weight gain

Fundamento y objetivo: El jamón curado es uno de los alimentos característicos de la dieta mediterránea española. Sin embargo, no existe ningún estudio epidemiológico prospectivo que haya valorado sus efectos sobre la salud humana. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la asociación entre el consumo de jamón curado y la incidencia de hipertensión arterial, enfermedad cardiovascular o ganancia de peso. Sujetos y método: En una cohorte epidemiológica prospectiva y dinámica de 13.293 graduados universitarios (proyecto SUN) se analizó la incidencia de la enfermedad cardiovascular, la hipertensión arterial y la ganancia de peso durante un seguimiento máximo de 6 años. Se ajustaron modelos de regresión de Cox para estimar el hazard ratio (riesgos relativos [RR]) tras ajustar por posibles factores de confusión. Resultados: El consumo de jamón en los niveles más altos (>4 raciones/semana) no presentaba asociación con la incidencia de episodios cardiovasculares (RR=1,02; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 0,44–2,39), tras ajustar por edad, sexo, ingesta energética total y patrón dietético mediterráneo, en comparación con los consumos inferiores a una vez por semana. Al repetir esta comparación para la hipertensión, y tras ajustar por edad, sexo, ingesta energética total y patrón de dieta mediterránea, se encontró un RR de 0,74 (IC del 95%: 0,55–1,01). En la comparación del cambio de peso medio anual entre estas categorías extremas de consumo (<1 frente a ⩾4 raciones) se encontró una diferencia no significativa de 0,039kg (IC del 95%: -0,036a 0,113) en la ganancia media de peso al año tras ajustar por sexo, edad, ingesta energética total, patrón de dieta mediterránea, tabaco, actividad física e índice de masa corporal inicial. Conclusiones: Los resultados de esta cohorte no proporcionan evidencia de que el consumo de jamón curado se asocie a un mayor riesgo cardiovascular, de hipertensión arterial o de ganancia de peso (AU)

Background and objective: Cured ham is a characteristic food of Spanish Mediterranean diet. However, no prospective epidemiologic study assessing its effects on human health is available. Our aim was to assess the association between the consumption of cured ham and cardiovascular disease, hypertension or weight gain. Subjects and Method: In a prospective and dynamic epidemiologic cohort composed exclusively of university graduates (the SUN Project, n=13,293), we analyzed the incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and average yearly weight gain after a maximum follow-up of 6 years. Cox (proportional hazards) regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios (relative risks [RR]) after adjusting for potential confounding. Results: No association was found between higher levels of consumption of cured ham (>4 servings/week) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (RR=1.02; [95%CI]: 0.44–2.39), in analyses adjusted for age, sex, total energy intake and mediterranean dietary pattern, compared to the consumption of less than one serving a week. When we repeated this comparison for the incidence of hypertension, and adjusting for age, sex, total energy intake and mediterranean dietary pattern the RR was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.55–1.01). In the comparison of average yearly weight gain between these extreme categories of cured ham consumption (<1 versus >=4 servings/week) a non-significant difference of 0.039kg (95%IC: −0.036 to 0.113) was found after adjusting for sex, age, total energy intake, mediterranean dietary pattern, smoking, physical activity, and baseline body mass index. Conclusions: The results of this cohort study do not support any association between the consumption of cured ham and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension or weight gain (AU)

La bioética desde una perspectiva social: European Biopolitics Conference / No disponible

En marzo de 2006 se celebró en Berlín el congreso europeo sobre biopolítica bajo el lema "Connecting civil society-implementing basic values". La organización corrió a cargo de la fundación Heinrich Böll y el Institut Mensch, Ethik und Wissenschaft. El objetivo del congreso era ofrecer un foro de discusión sobre aspectos éticos y sociales derivados de la biotecnología y la genética aplicados al ser humano. En esta crónica resumo algunos aspectos que revelan el interés y la importancia internacional de esta reunión

The European congress on biopolitics entitled "Connecting civil society- implementing basic values" was held in March 2006 in Berlin. It was organized by the Heinrich Böll foundation and the Institut Mensch, Ethik und Wissenschaft. The main of the Congress was to provide a forum for discussion on the ethical and social aspects derived from biotechnology and genetics on human beings. This work summarises some of the aspects that reveal the international interest and relevance of this meeting

[Bioethics from a social perspective: European Biopolitics Conference]. / La bioética desde una perspectiva social: European Biopolitics Conference.

The European Congress on biopolitics entitled "Connecting civil society implementing basic values" was held in March 2006 in Berlin. It was organised by the Heinrich Böll foundation and the Institut Mensch, Ethik und Wissenschaft. The aim of the Congress was to provide a forum for discussion on the ethical and social aspects derived from biotechnology and genetics on human beings. This work summarises some of the aspects that reveal the international interest and relevance of this meeting.