Dietary intake, plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins, and oxidative stress in relation to coronary artery disease in elderly subjects.

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the urban population of India is similar to that in developed countries; Indian immigrants in industrialized countries have the highest prevalence of CAD. This is a cross-sectional survey within a random sample of a single urban setting in India. The relation between risk of CAD and plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene was examined in 72 of 595 elderly subjects (12.1%) with CAD (aged 50 to 84 years). Plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene were significantly related to risk of CAD. Smoking (n = 145) and diabetes (n = 70) were the confounding factors. Lipid peroxides were higher in patients with CAD and diabetes, and in those who smoked. The inverse relation between CAD and low plasma vitamin C was substantially reduced after adjustment for smoking and diabetes. Vitamin A and E levels remained independently and inversely related to the risk of CAD after adjustment for age, smoking, diabetes, blood pressure, blood lipoproteins, and relative weight and body mass index. The adjusted odds ratios for CAD between the lowest and highest quintiles of vitamin E levels were 2.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11 to 5.31), vitamin C, 2.21 (95% CI 1.12 to 3.15), and beta-carotene, 1.72 (95% CI 0.88 to 3.62). The fatty acid composition of the diet, blood lipid levels, central obesity (waist-hip ratio), smoking habits, blood pressure, and plasma insulin levels do not appear to account for high rates of CAD among elderly Indians.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidemiologic study of diet and coronary risk factors in relation to central obesity and insulin levels in rural and urban populations of north India.

In a population survey of 162 rural and 152 urban subjects aged 26-65 years at Moradabad, the findings are compared with existing data on Indian immigrants to Britain and United States. In comparison with rural subjects, urban subjects had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (8.6 vs. 3.0%) and diabetes (7.9 vs 2.5%), higher blood pressures, total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and postprandial 2-h blood glucose and plasma insulin similar to observations made in UK in immigrants compared to Europeans. Fasting plasma insulin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in urban subjects were comparable with rural subjects. Mean body weights were significantly higher in urban women, but not in men, than in rural subjects. However the body mass index (22.9 +/- 4.2 vs. 21.6 +/- 2.4 kg/m2) and waist-hip girth ratio (0.89 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.86 +/- 0.07) were significantly higher in urban men compared to rural men without such differences in women. Underlying these differences in risk factors, urban subjects had three times better socioeconomic status than rural subjects and were eating higher total and saturated fat, cholesterol and refined carbohydrates and lower total and complex carbohydrates compared to rural men and women. Energy expenditure during routine and spare time physical activity was significantly higher in rural compared to urban subjects. Those patients who had risk factors, showed lesser physical activity and had greater adverse factors in the diet compared to subjects without risk factors. Body mass index and waist-hip girth ratio in patients with risk factors were significantly higher than in subjects without risk factors. The findings suggest that decreased consumption of total and saturated fat and increased physical activity may be useful for prevention of coronary artery disease among urbans as well as in immigrants.

Epidemiologic study of central obesity, insulin resistance and associated disturbances in the urban population of North India.

Central obesity in association with insulin resistance is a strong predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) in South Asians; however the prevalence of central obesity and insulin resistance in Indians are unknown. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, physical activity and prevalence of risk factors and CAD were obtained in 152 adults between 26-65 years of age (80 males, 72 females) selected by random sampling from urban population of Moradabad. The overall prevalence of central obesity was 539 per 1000 adults including 56.2% in males and 51.3% in females. The prevalence of glucose intolerance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and CAD were significantly higher in the higher quintiles of WHR above 0.88 compared to lower quintiles. Fasting and postprandial glucose, plasma insulin and triglycerides as well s total cholesterol and blood pressure were significantly higher in each of the upper quintile of WHR with increase in WHR compared to lowest quintile of WHR below 0.81. These findings indicate the existence of a modest degree of insulin resistance with a modest tendency to central obesity in the urban population of North India. The prevalence of CAD was significantly (p < 0.01) higher among subjects with central obesity than in non-obese subjects (21.5 vs 3.2%). Underlying these findings, the prevalence of central obesity was significantly greater among sedentary and mild activity group compared to moderate and heavy activity group and per day energy expenditure during activity in the upper quintiles with WHR > 0.88 was significantly less compared to energy expenditure in lower quintiles of WHR. Similarly dietary fat intake in the upper quintiles of WHR was also significantly higher than in the lower quintiles of WHR. These findings suggest that populations with higher prevalence of central obesity and CAD may be benefited with an aim to decrease central obesity.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of L-carnitine in suspected acute myocardial infarction.

In a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, the effects of the administration of oral L-carnitine (2 g/day) for 28 days were compared in the management of 51 (carnitine group) and 50 (placebo group) patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. At study entry, the extent of cardiac disease, cardiac enzymes and lipid peroxides were comparable between the groups, although both groups showed an increase in cardiac enzymes and lipid peroxides. At the end of the 28-day treatment period, the mean infarct size assessed by cardiac enzymes showed a significant reduction in the carnitine group compared to placebo. Electrocardiographic assessment of infarct size revealed that the QRS-score was significantly less in the carnitine group compared to placebo (7.4 +/- 1.2 vs 10.7 +/- 2.0), while serum aspartate transaminase and lipid peroxides showed significant reduction in the carnitine group. Lactate dehydrogenase measured on the sixth or seventh day following infarction showed a smaller rise in the carnitine group compared to placebo. Angina pectoris (17.6 vs 36.0%), New York Heart Association class III and IV heart failure plus left ventricular enlargement (23.4 vs 36.0%) and total arrhythmias (13.7 vs 28.0%) were significantly less in the carnitine group compared to placebo. Total cardiac events including cardiac deaths and nonfatal infarction were 15.6% in the carnitine group vs 26.0% in the placebo group. It is possible that L-carnitine supplementation in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction may be protective against cardiac necrosis and complications during the first 28 days.