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Background:Accurate assessment of fat intake is essential to examine relationships between diet and disease risk. However, estimating individual intakes of fat quantity by dietary assessment is difficult., Objective:We assessed the association of plasma phospholipid fatty acid levels with dietary intake of fatty acids in the INTERMAP/INTERLIPID study, conducted with a standardized protocol., Methods:The study participants were 1339 men and women ages 40-59 years from five Japanese populations one from Hawaii; four from Japan. Fatty acid intake was estimated from four standardized 24-hour dietary recalls. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. We illustrated the relationship between intake and circulating fatty acid levels using Spearman's rank-correlation coefficients, mean, and median values., Results:Spearman's rank-correlation coefficients between intake (g/d) and circulating fatty acid levels (µg/ml) were -0.03 to 0.21 for saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids and -0.04 to 0.32 for trans fatty acids. The coefficients for essential n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were moderate to high, especially for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 0.60; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 0.41; and EPA+DHA, 0.51. The circulating levels and intake of marine-derived n-3 fatty acids showed a linear association, at least for the intake of EPA+DHA up to 2.1 g/d., Conclusion:We observed high correlation between intake and circulating levels of marine-derived n-3 fatty acids in participants from Japanese and Japanese-American populations with high and low fish intake. Plasma phospholipid marine-derived n-3 fatty acid measurements are a simple and reliable biomarker for assessing dietary intake.

Depression is associated with inflammation, but the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. We examined adiposity and smoking as potential pathways through which childhood depression may lead to an elevated inflammatory status among young adults.The sample included 294 subjects with histories of depression (probands), 270 never-depressed siblings of probands (high-risk siblings), and 169 controls. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were assessed in serum samples. An adiposity score was computed from body mass index and waist circumference. Smoking behavior was evaluated during an interview. Mixed-effects models were used to test whether adiposity and smoking mediate the relationship between depression and inflammation.Probands (p = .004), but not siblings (p = .071), had higher levels of sICAM-1 compared to controls. However, depression history and risk status had no direct effects on CRP (ps .13) or IL-6 (ps .16). Importantly, adiposity indirectly mediated the effect of group (probands vs. controls; siblings vs. controls) on all three inflammatory markers. Smoking indirectly mediated the effect of group (probands vs. controls; siblings vs. controls) on sICAM-1 only.Among young adults, the adverse inflammatory consequences of depression history are significant for sICAM-1. Adiposity and smoking are pathways through which depression can indirectly impact several inflammatory markers, suggesting possible preventive interventions to improve the immunologic and cardiovascular health of depression-prone individuals.

Background: Preterm delivery (PTD) and poor fetal growth are major contributors to neonatal mortality and morbidity that can extend from birth onward. Although overt maternal nutrient deficiencies ...

Background High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) elevations are associated with incident cardiovascular disease events in primary prevention samples. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Methods We studied 458 men without known cardiovascular disease who participated in the cardiovascular disease substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and had cardiac CT angiography. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to examine the cross-sectional associations between coronary artery stenosis, coronary artery plaque, indexed left ventricular mass (LVMi), and the outcome of hs-cTnI. We also evaluated the associations between HIV serostatus or use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and hs-cTnI. Results The mean age was 54 years, 54% were white, and 61% were HIV infected. In multivariable-adjusted logistic models, comparing the highest quartile of LVMi with the lowest quartile, the odds ratio (OR) of hs-cTnI ≥75th percentile was 2.59 (95% CI, 1.20-5.75). There was no significant association between coronary stenosis severity or plaque type and hs-cTnI in linear models; however, in logistic regression models, coronary artery stenosis ≥70% (8% of sample) was marginally associated with a higher likelihood (OR, 2.75 [95% CI, 1.03, 7.27]) of having hs-cTnI ≥75th percentile. There were no associations between HIV serostatus or HAART use and hs-cTnI in either linear or logistic models. Conclusion Among primary prevention men with or at risk for HIV, hs-cTnI concentrations were strongly associated with LVMi but were not associated with HIV infection or treatment status or with coronary plaque type or stenosis until the extremes of severity (≥70% stenosis).

Haptoglobin's (Hp) main role is to bind free hemoglobin (Hb), reducing its oxidative potential. The Hp–Hb complex formed is cleared from the circulation by macrophage receptor CD163. In diabetes, impaired Hp 2-2–Hb CD163 clearance and abnormal glomerular permeability allow the large Hp 2-2–Hb complex to cross the barrier, where its redox active iron leads to cellular toxicity. Although Hp 2-2 predicts renal function decline, whether renal iron deposition differs by Hp is unknown. We used renal quantitative T2* magnetic resonance imaging to estimate iron level in the cortex and medullar of type 1 diabetes (T1D) adults [15 Hp 1-1 and 15 Hp 2-2 carriers of similar age (53 years), duration (45 years), and gender]. Total kidney iron level was estimated as the sum of the cortex and medullar iron. Albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin to creatinine ratio >30 mg/g in two of three samples. Total kidney iron did not differ by gender or Hp but was higher in those with albuminuria (p = 0.05), an associa...

Carotid plaque has emerged as a marker of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Comparison of carotid plaque burden between different race/ethnic groups may provide a relative estimate of their future CHD risk.We conducted a population-based study among apparently healthy middle-aged men aged 40-49 years (ERA JUMP study (n = 924)) and recruited 310 Whites in Pittsburgh, US, 313 Japanese in Otsu, Japan, and 301 Koreans in Ansan, South Korea. The number of carotid plaque and CHD risk factors was assessed using a standardized protocol across all centers. The burden of carotid plaque was compared between race/ethnic groups after adjustment for age and BMI, and after multivariable adjustment for other CHD risk factors using marginalized zero-inflated Poisson regression models. Cross-sectional associations of risk factors with plaque were examined.Whites (22.8%) had more than four-fold higher prevalence (p 0.01) of carotid plaque than Japanese men (4.8%) while the prevalence among Koreans was 10.6%. These differences remained significant after adjustment for age, BMI as well as other risk factors - incidence density ratio (95% confidence interval) for plaque was 0.13 (0.07, 0.24) for Japanese and 0.32 (0.18, 0.58) for Koreans as compared to Whites. Age, hypertension and diabetes were the only risk factors significantly associated with presence of carotid plaque in the overall population.Whites have significantly higher carotid plaque burden than men in Japan and Korea. Lower carotid plaque burden among Japanese and Koreans is independent of traditional CVD risk factors.

Data presented in this article are supplementary data to our primary article ‘Association of Alcohol Consumption and Aortic Calcification in Healthy Men Aged 40–49 Years for the ERA JUMP Study’ [1]. In this article, we have presented supplementary tables showing the independent association of alcohol consumption with coronary artery calcification using Tobit conditional regression and ordinal logistic regression. Keywords: Alcohol, Coronary, Atherosclerosis, Calcification, Men

Objectives The literature on childhood-onset depression and future compromised vascular function is suggestive but limited. The objective of this study was to determine if arterial stiffness, a predictor of future cardiovascular disease (CVD), measured in young adulthood, is associated with childhood-onset depression. Methods Cardiometabolic risk factors and pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, were cross-sectionally assessed in young adults with a history of childhood-onset depression (clinical diagnosis of major depressive episode or dysthymic disorder; N = 294 probands; initially recruited via child mental health facilities across Hungary; mean age of first depressive episode = 10.4 years), their never-depressed full biological siblings (N = 269), and never-depressed controls (N = 169). The mean ages of probands, siblings, and controls at the PWV visit were 25.6, 25.0, and 21.7 years, respectively, and 8.8% of the probands were in a current depressive episode. Results Controlling for age, sex, age*sex, education, and family clusters, PWV (m/s) did not statistically differ across the groups (probands = 7.01; siblings = 6.98; controls = 6.81). However, after adjusting for key covariates, there were several across-group differences in CVD risk factors: compared to controls, probands and siblings had higher diastolic blood pressure and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, probands had higher triglycerides, and siblings had higher body mass index (all p Conclusion We found limited evidence of an association between a history of childhood-onset depression and young adulthood arterial stiffness. However, our findings of elevated cardiovascular risk factors in those with childhood-onset depression suggest that pediatric depression may predispose to increased CVD risk later in life and warrants further investigation.

Equol, a metabolite of the dietary isoflavone daidzein, is produced by the action of gut bacteria in some individuals who are termed as equol-producers. It is proposed to have stronger atheroprotective properties than dietary isoflavones. We examined a cross-sectional association of dietary isoflavones and equol-producer status with coronary artery calcification (CAC), a biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis, among men in Japan. A population-based sample of 272 Japanese men aged 40–49 years recruited from 2004 to 2007 was examined for serum isoflavones, serum equol, CAC and other factors. Equol-producers were classified as individuals having a serum level of equol >83 nm. The presence of CAC was defined as a coronary Ca score ≥10 Agatston units. The associations of dietary isoflavones and equol-producers with CAC were analysed using multiple logistic regression. The median of dietary isoflavones, equol and CAC were 512·7 (interquartile range (IQR) 194·1, 1170·0), 9·1 (IQR 0·10, 33·1) and 0·0 (IQR 0·0, 1·0) nm, respectively. Prevalence of CAC and equol-producers was 9·6 and 16·0 %, respectively. Dietary isoflavones were not significantly associated with CAC. After multivariable adjustment, the OR for the presence of CAC in equol-producers compared with equol non-producers was 0·10 (95 % CI 0·01, 0·90, P

Objective:A few studies have examined the longitudinal association of blood pressure (BP) with arterial stiffness progression, and the results were inconsistent. The objective of this study was to investigate the roles of initial BP and its longitudinal change on the progression of arterial stiffnes

Arterial stiffness is established as an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective was to prospectively evaluate association of aortic calcification burden with progression of arterial stiffness in population-based samples of healthy middle-aged men from ERA JUMP cohort (Electron-Beam Computed Tomography and Risk Factor Assessment in Japanese and US Men in the Post-World War II Birth Cohort). Men (n=635) aged 40 to 49 years (207 white American, 45 black American, 142 Japanese American, and 241 Japanese in Japan) were examined at baseline and 4 to 7 years later. Aortic calcification was evaluated from level of aortic arch to iliac bifurcation. Arterial stiffness progression was measured as annual change in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Multivariable-adjusted general linear models were applied to investigate associations of longitudinal change in aortic calcification with arterial stiffness progression in participants overall, as well as in subgroups without or with prevalent aortic calcification at baseline. Annual change in aortic calcification was positively and significantly associated with arterial stiffness progression. In participants with annual changes in aortic calcium score of ≤0, 1 to 10, 11 to 100, and >100, the adjusted means (SD) for the annual change in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were 3.8 (2.2), 7.2 (2.2), 12.2 (1.8), and 15.6 (2.6) cm/s, respectively ( P for trend

ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study examined whether contrasting distributions of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-measured lipoproteins contribute to differences in the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis measured using coronary artery calcium (CAC) between the two groups of middle-aged males: the US-residing Caucasian (US-White) and Japan-residing Japanese (Japanese).MethodsIn a population-based study of 570 randomly selected asymptomatic men aged 40–49 years (270 US-White and 300 Japanese), we examined the relationship between race/ethnicity, NMR-measured lipoproteins and CAC (measured by Electron Beam CT and quantified using the Agatston method) using multivariable robust Poisson regression adjusting for traditional and novel risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD).ResultsThe US-White compared with the Japanese had significantly different NMR-measured lipoprotein particle distributions. The US-White had a significantly higher prevalence of CAC≥10 (CAC-prevalence) compared with the Japanese adjusting for CHD risk factors (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.10; 95% CI=1.24 to 3.48), and this difference was partially attenuated (~18%) with further adjustment for lipoprotein levels (PR=1.73; 95% CI=1.02 to 3.08). There was no reclassification improvement with further addition of lipoproteins particle concentrations/size to a model that already included traditionally measured lipids (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides), cardiovascular risk factors, and inflammatory markers (net reclassification improvement index=−2% to 3%).ConclusionsVariations in the distribution of NMR-measured lipoprotein particles partially accounted for the difference in the CAC-prevalence between middle-aged US-White and Japanese men.

AIMS: The haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 genotype has been shown to increase the risk of coronary artery disease, kidney dysfunction and mortality from cardiovascular and renal causes in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Similar associations, however, have not been observed in those without diabetes. As cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a cardiovascular disease risk factor, we assessed the presence of an association between the Hp 2-2 genotype and CAN. METHODS: The study included 216 individuals with childhood-onset T1D and 200 individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) of similar age and gender distribution to their counterparts with T1D. CAN was assessed using an electrocardiogram as an abnormal, age-specific, heart rate response to deep breathing. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the Hp 2-2 genotype and CAN. RESULTS: Compared with NGT, participants with T1D had a similar proportion of Hp 2-2 carriers (41.5% vs. 32.0%, p=0.05) but a greater CAN prevalence (28.2% vs. 5.0%, p

Background and aim Few studies have examined the association of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFAs) with the measures of atherosclerosis in the general population. This study aimed to examine the relationship of total LCn-3PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with aortic calcification. Methods and results In a multiethnic population-based cross-sectional study of 998 asymptomatic men aged 40–49 years (300 US-White, 101 US-Black, 287 Japanese American, and 310 Japanese in Japan), we examined the relationship of serum LCn-3PUFAs to aortic calcification (measured by electron-beam computed tomography and quantified using the Agatston method) using Tobit regression and ordinal logistic regression after adjusting for potential confounders. Overall 56.5% participants had an aortic calcification score (AoCaS) > 0. The means (SD) of total LCn-3PUFAs, EPA, and DHA were 5.8% (3.3%), 1.4% (1.3%), and 3.7% (2.1%), respectively. In multivariable-adjusted Tobit regression, a 1-SD increase in total LCn-3PUFAs, EPA, and DHA was associated with 29% (95% CI = 0.51, 1.00), 9% (95% CI = 0.68, 1.23), and 35% (95% CI = 0.46, 0.91) lower AoCaS, respectively. Results were similar in ordinal logistic regression analysis. There was no significant interaction between race/ethnicity and total LCn–3PUFAs, EPA or DHA on aortic calcification. Conclusions This study showed the significant inverse association of LCn-3PUFAs with aortic calcification independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors among men in the general population. This association appeared to be driven by DHA but not EPA.

AIMS We aimed to assess whether the association of the haptoglobin 2 allele with coronary artery disease is modified by glycaemic control in a prospective cohort study of individuals with childhood-onset Type 1 diabetes. METHODS Coronary artery disease events (death from coronary artery disease, confirmed myocardial infarction, stenosis ≥50%, revascularization) were assessed between 1986 and 2013 among 480 individuals with Type 1 diabetes (baseline age 28 years; diabetes duration 19 years). Better glycaemic control was defined as an updated mean HbA1c during follow-up of

The haptoglobin (Hp) 2 allele directly predicts coronary artery disease in type 1 diabetes, potentially due to its decreased antioxidative/anti-inflammatory properties. We measured the concentrations of oxidative/inflammatory biomarkers (urinary 15-isoprostane F2t [IsoP], α- and γ-tocopherol, tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], white blood cell [WBC] count, fibrinogen, and adiponectin) thrice during 20 years of follow-up among 454 individuals with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (mean baseline age, 28 years and diabetes duration, 19 years). Differences in biomarkers by Hp were assessed both at baseline (i.e., the first time point of measurements) and over time (with mixed models). No differences by Hp were observed at baseline with the exception of a significant trend toward higher IsoP concentrations with the number of Hp 2 alleles (p=0.01). In multivariable mixed models, the concentrations of IsoP (β=0.05, p=0.01) and WBC count (β=0.20, p=0.06) overtime increased incrementally with the number of Hp 2 alleles. No other biomarker assessed related to Hp. Reported elevated IsoP and WBC count concentrations over time among Hp 2 allele carriers lead to the hypothesis that the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory capacity of the Hp 2 is inferior to that of the Hp 1 allele in type 1 diabetes. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 23, 1439–1444.

OBJECTIVE Cross-sectional studies suggest that lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) may be associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. However, prospective studies examining LBP are lacking. This prospective study investigated the association between LBP and metabolic abnormalities in 580 African ancestry men (mean age, 59.1 ± 10.5 years). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We measured fasting serum LBP at baseline. Changes in adiposity and glucose homeostasis as well as case subjects with new type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were assessed at a follow-up visit ˜6 years later. Baseline LBP values were tested across quartiles for linear trend with metabolic measures. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds of new cases of IFG or diabetes per 1-SD greater baseline LBP. RESULTS LBP was significantly associated with baseline BMI, waist circumference, whole-body and trunk fat, skeletal muscle density, fasting serum insulin, and HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) (all P < 0.01). Greater baseline LBP was significantly associated with longitudinal increases in the percentage of trunk fat (P = 0.025) and HOMA-IR (P = 0.034), but only borderline so with a decrease in skeletal muscle density (P = 0.057). In men with normal glucose, baseline LBP was associated with increased odds of having IFG at follow-up after adjustment for age, baseline trunk fat, and lifestyle factors (odds ratio per 1-SD LBP: 1.51; 95% CI 1.02–2.21). This association was attenuated after additional adjustment for change in trunk fat (P = 0.067). CONCLUSIONS LBP may be a marker of prediabetes. Some of this association appears to be mediated through increased central and ectopic skeletal muscle adiposity.

We tested if serum lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol levels are associated with longitudinal measures of bone mineral density (BMD) in 1289 African ancestry men. After 6 years of mean follow-up, men with clinically optimal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or triglycerides at baseline experienced the greatest BMD loss, independent of potential confounding factors (all p

Poor renal function is associated with increased rates of bone loss and osteoporotic fractures in Caucasian men. The importance of kidney function for skeletal health in African ancestry men, who are a population segment with a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease as well as high peak bone mass, is not well known. We examined the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and rates of bone loss in a large population cohort of otherwise healthy Afro-Caribbean men aged 40 years and older. Dual X-ray absorptiometry of the proximal femur and quantitative computed tomography of the proximal radius and tibia were obtained approximately 6 years apart. We calculated eGFR from serum creatinine that was measured in fasting samples in 1451 men. Impaired kidney function (IKF, eGFR

Haptoglobin (Hp) genotype 2-2 increases cardiovascular diabetes complications. In type 2 diabetes, α-tocopherol was shown to lower cardiovascular risk in Hp 2-2, potentially through HDL function improvements. Similar type 1 diabetes data are lacking. We conducted a randomized crossover pilot of α-tocopherol supplementation on HDL function [i.e., cholesterol efflux (CE) and HDL-associated lipid peroxides (LP)] and lipoprotein subfractions in type 1 diabetes. Hp genotype was assessed in members of two Allegheny County, PA, type 1 diabetes registries and the CACTI cohort; 30 were randomly selected within Hp genotype, and 28 Hp 1-1, 31 Hp 2-1 and 30 Hp 2-2 were allocated to daily α-tocopherol or placebo for 8 weeks with a 4-week washout. Baseline CE decreased with the number of Hp 2 alleles (p-trend = 0.003). There were no differences in LP or lipoprotein subfractions. In intention-to-treat analysis stratified by Hp, α-tocopherol increased CE in Hp 2-2 (β = 0.79, p = 0.03) and LP in Hp 1 allele carriers (β Hp 1-1 = 0.18, p = 0.05; β Hp 2-1 = 0.21, p = 0.07); reduced HDL particle size (β = −0.07, p = 0.03) in Hp 1-1 carriers; increased LDL particle concentration in Hp 1-1; and decreased it in Hp 2-2 carriers. However, no significant interactions were observed by Hp. In this type 1 diabetes study, HDL function worsened with the number of Hp 2 alleles. α-Tocopherol improved HDL function in Hp 2-2 carriers and appeared to adversely affect lipid peroxides and lipoprotein subfractions among Hp 1 allele carriers. As no significant interactions were observed, findings require replication in larger studies.

Objective To describe associations between maternal lipids and birthweight and to determine whether pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) modifies these associations. Design Cohort study. Setting Multiple communities in Michigan, USA. Population Participants were a sub-cohort of women from the multi-community Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) study (1998–2004). Methods Maternal total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDLc), and low-density lipoprotein (LDLc) cholesterol, and triglycerides were assessed at 16–27 weeks' gestation. Women were classified as having normal (

The nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) (nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group H, member 4, or NR1H4) is highly expressed in the liver and intestine. Previous reports have suggested beneficial functions of FXR in the homeostasis of bile acids, lipids, and glucose, as well as in promoting liver regeneration and inhibiting carcinogenesis. To investigate the effect of chronic FXR activation in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that conditionally and tissue specifically express the activated form of FXR in the liver and intestine. Unexpectedly, the transgenic mice showed several intriguing phenotypes, including partial neonatal lethality, growth retardation, and spontaneous liver toxicity. The transgenic mice also displayed heightened sensitivity to a high-cholesterol diet-induced hepatotoxicity but resistance to the gallstone formation. The phenotypes were transgene specific, because they were abolished upon treatment with doxycycline to silence the transgene expression. The perinatal toxicity, which can be rescued by a maternal vitamin supplement, may have resulted from vitamin deficiency due to low biliary bile acid output as a consequence of inhibition of bile acid formation. Our results also suggested that the fibroblast growth factor-inducible immediate-early response protein 14 (Fn14), a member of the proinflammatory TNF family, is a FXR-responsive gene. However, the contribution of Fn14 induction in the perinatal toxic phenotype of the transgenic mice remains to be defined. Because FXR is being explored as a therapeutic target, our results suggested that a chronic activation of this nuclear receptor may have an unintended side effect especially during the perinatal stage.

Background We hypothesized that higher concentrations of LDL particles (LDL-P) and leptin, and lower concentrations of HDL particles (HDL-P), and total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, would predict incident coronary heart disease (CHD) among severely obese postmenopausal women. Methods In a case–cohort study nested in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, we sampled 677 of the 1852 white or black women with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2 and no prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD), including all 124 cases of incident CHD over mean 5.0 year follow-up. Biomarkers were assayed on stored blood samples. Results In multivariable-adjusted weighted Cox models, higher baseline levels of total and small LDL-P, and lower levels of total and medium HDL-P, and smaller mean HDL-P size were significantly associated with incident CHD. In contrast, large HDL-P levels were inversely associated with CHD only for women without diabetes, and higher total and HMW adiponectin levels and lower leptin levels were associated with CHD only for women with diabetes. Higher total LDL-P and lower HDL-P were associated with CHD risk independently of confounders including CV risk factors and other lipoprotein measures, with adjusted HR (95% CIs) of 1.55 (1.28, 1.88) and 0.70 (0.57, 0.85), respectively, and similar results for medium HDL-P. Conclusions Higher CHD risk among severely obese postmenopausal women is strongly associated with modifiable concentrations of LDL-P and HDL-P, independent of diabetes, smoking, hypertension, physical activity, BMI and waist circumference. General significance Severely obese postmenopausal women should be considered high risk candidates for lipid lowering therapy., Highlights • CHD risk is ~ 2-fold higher for severely obese postmenopausal women (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). • Baseline risk factors were measured among 677 severely obese postmenopausal women. • 5-year CHD risk related to higher LDL particles, lower total, medium HDL particles. • Paradoxical or no relations of adiponectin (total, HMW) and leptin with CHD risk • Clinical implications: Statins reduce LDL particles and increase HDL particles.

Aim: To examine whether the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen are associated with biomarkers of atherosclerosis [carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and coronary artery calcification (CAC)] in the general male population, including Asians.Methods: Population-based samples of 310 Japanese, 293 Japanese-American and 297 white men 40-49 years of age without clinical cardiovascular disease underwent measurement of IMT, CAC and the CRP and fibrinogen levels as well as other conventional risk factors using standardized methods. Statistical associations between the variables were evaluated using multiple linear or logistic regression models.Results: The Japanese group had significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis than the Japanese-American and white groups (P-values all ＜0.001). The mean level of CRP was 0.66 vs. 1.11 and 1.47 mg/L, while that of fibrinogen was 255.0 vs. 313.0 and 291.5 mg/dl, respectively. In addition, the mean carotid IMT was 0.61 vs. 0.73 and 0.68 mm, while the mean prevalence of CAC was 11.6% vs. 32.1% and 26.3%, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) showed significant positive associations with both the CRP and fibrinogen levels. Although CRP showed a significant positive association with IMT in the Japanese men, this association became non-significant following adjustment for traditional risk factors or BMI. In all three populations, CRP was not found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of CAC. Similarly, fibrinogen did not exhibit a significant association with either IMT or the prevalence of CAC.Conclusions: The associations between inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis may merely reflect the strong associations between BMI and the levels of inflammatory markers and incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in both Eastern and Western populations.

Background and aims Several studies have reported a significant inverse association of light to moderate alcohol consumption with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, studies assessing the relationship between alcohol consumption and atherosclerosis have reported inconsistent results. The current study was conducted to determine the relationship between alcohol consumption and aortic calcification. Methods We addressed the research question using data from the population-based ERA-JUMP Study, comprising of 1006 healthy men aged 40–49 years, without clinical cardiovascular diseases, from four race/ethnicities: 301 Whites, 103 African American, 292 Japanese American, and 310 Japanese in Japan. Aortic calcification was assessed by electron-beam computed tomography and quantified using the Agatston method. Alcohol consumption was categorized into four groups: 0 (non-drinkers), ≤1 (light drinkers), >1 to ≤3 (moderate drinkers) and >3 drinks per day (heavy drinkers) (1 drink = 12.5 g of ethanol). Tobit conditional regression and ordinal logistic regression were used to investigate the association of alcohol consumption with aortic calcification after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and potential confounders. Results The study participants consisted of 25.6% nondrinkers, 35.3% light drinkers, 23.5% moderate drinkers, and 15.6% heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers [Tobit ratio (95% CI) = 2.34 (1.10, 4.97); odds ratio (95% CI) = 1.67 (1.11, 2.52)] had significantly higher expected aortic calcification score compared to nondrinkers, after adjusting for socio-demographic and confounding variables. There was no significant interaction between alcohol consumption and race/ethnicity on aortic calcification. Conclusions Our findings suggest that heavy alcohol consumption may be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Background/Objectives Higher volumes of ectopic cardiovascular fat (ECF) are associated with greater risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Identifying factors that are associated with ECF volumes may lead to new preventive efforts to reduce risk of CHD. Significant racial/ethnic differences exist for overall and central adiposity measures which are known to be associated with ECF volumes. Whether racial/ethnic differences also exist for ECF volumes and their associations with these adiposity measures remain unclear. Subjects/Methods Body-mass index (BMI), CT-measured ECF volumes (epicardial, pericardial and their summation), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were examined in a community-based sample of 1,199 middle-aged men (24.2% Caucasians, 7.0% African-Americans, 23.6% Japanese-Americans, 22.0% Japanese, 23.2% Koreans). Results Significant racial/ethnic differences existed in ECF volumes and their relationships with BMI and VAT. ECF volumes were highest among Japanese-Americans and lowest among African-Americans. The associations of BMI and VAT with ECF differed by racial/ethnic groups. Compared to Caucasians, for each 1-unit increase in BMI, African-Americans had lower whereas Koreans had higher increases in ECF volumes (P-values

We considered that accumulation of nonesterified (free) fatty acids (NEFAs) in the first trimester of pregnancy would mark women at excess risk of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and examined the interplay between NEFAs, lipids, and other markers to explore pathways to sPTB. In a case-control study nested in the Pregnancy Exposures and Preeclampsia Prevention Study (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1997–2001), we assayed NEFA levels in nonfasting serum collected at a mean gestational week of 9.4 (range, 4–20 weeks) in 115 women with sPTB (

Objective To determine the short-term efficacy of oral glucosamine supplementation by evaluating structural lesions in the knee joints, as assessed using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods This study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Recruitment was performed via mass mailings and an arthritis registry in southwestern Pennsylvania. In total, 201 participants with mild-to-moderate pain in one or both knees, as defined by a Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score ≥25 and ≤100, were enrolled. Of these subjects, 69.2% had a Kellgren/Lawrence grade ≥2 in at least 1 knee. Participants received 24 weeks of treatment with 1,500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride in beverage form or a placebo beverage. The primary outcome was decreased worsening of cartilage damage on 3T MRI of both knees, assessed according to a validated scoring system, the Whole-Organ MRI Score (WORMS). Secondary outcomes included change in bone marrow lesion (BML) scores in all knees and change in excretion of urinary C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II). Results The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the likelihood of decreased cartilage damage over 24 weeks in any WORMS-scored subregion of the knee in the glucosamine treatment group compared to the control group was 0.938 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.528, 1.666). Compared to subjects treated with glucosamine, control subjects showed more improvement in BMLs (adjusted OR 0.537, 95% CI 0.291, 0.990) but no difference in worsening BMLs (adjusted OR 0.691, 95% CI 0.410, 1.166) over 24 weeks. There was no indication that treatment with glucosamine decreased the excretion of urinary CTX-II (β = −0.10, 95% CI −0.21, 0.002). Conclusion The results of this short-term study provide no evidence of structural benefits (i.e., improvements in MRI morphologic features or urinary CTX-II excretion) from glucosamine supplementation in individuals with chronic knee pain.

Background Atherosclerosis causing renal artery stenosis (RAS) is one of the most common secondary causes of hypertension in adults, but is rare in children.

To determine whether serum concentrations of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs) contribute to the difference in the incidence rate of coronary artery calcification (CAC) between Japanese men in Japan and white men in the USA.In a population based, prospective cohort study, 214 Japanese men and 152 white men aged 40-49 years at baseline (2002-2006) with coronary calcium score (CCS)=0 were re-examined for CAC in 2007-2010. Among these, 175 Japanese men and 113 white men participated in the follow-up exam. Incident cases were defined as participants with CCS≥10 at follow-up. A relative risk regression analysis was used to model the incidence rate ratio between the Japanese and white men. The incidence rate ratio was first adjusted for potential confounders at baseline and then further adjusted for serum LCn3PUFAs at baseline.Mean (SD) serum percentage of LCn3PUFA was100% higher in Japanese men than in white men (9.08 (2.49) vs 3.84 (1.79), respectively, p0.01). Japanese men had a significantly lower incidence rate of CAC compared to white men (0.9 vs 2.9/100 person-years, respectively, p0.01). The incidence rate ratio of CAC taking follow-up time into account between Japanese and white men was 0.321 (95% CI 0.150 to 0.690; p0.01). After adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes, and other potential confounders, the ratio remained significant (0.262, 95% CI 0.094 to 0.731; p=0.01). After further adjusting for LCn3PUFAs, however, the ratio was attenuated and became non-significant (0.376, 95% CI 0.090 to 1.572; p=0.18).LCn3PUFAs significantly contributed to the difference in the incidence of CAC between Japanese and white men.

Mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in women in Japan is one of the lowest in developed countries. In an attempt to shed some light on possible reasons of lower CHD in women in Japan compared with the United States, we extensively reviewed and analyzed existing national data and recent literature.We searched recent epidemiological studies that reported incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and examined risk factors for CHD in women in Japan. Then, we compared trends in risk factors between women currently aged 50-69 years in Japan and the United States, using national statistics and other available resources.Recent epidemiological studies have clearly shown that AMI incidence in women in Japan is lower than that reported from other countries, and that lipids, blood pressure (BP), diabetes, smoking, and early menopause are independent risk factors. Comparing trends in risk factors between women in Japan and the United States, current levels of serum total cholesterol are higher in women in Japan and levels have been similar at least since 1990. Levels of BP have been higher in in Japan for the past 3 decades. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been similar in Japanese and white women currently aged 60-69 for the past 2 decades. In contrast, rates of cigarette smoking, although low in women in both countries, have been lower in women in Japan.Differences in risk factors and their trends are unlikely to explain the difference in CHD rates in women in Japan and the United States. Determining the currently unknown factors responsible for low CHD mortality in women in Japan may lead to new strategy for CHD prevention.

The study objective was to compare the effect of a standard calorie- and fat-restricted diet (STD-D) and a calorie- and fat-restricted lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet (LOV-D) on total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin levels after 6 months of behavioral intervention.This study is an ancillary study to a randomized clinical trial.Subjects included 143 overweight/obese adults (STD-D = 79; LOV-D = 64).Both groups received the same standard behavioral intervention; the only difference was that LOV-D participants were instructed to eliminate meat, poultry, and fish from their diet.Weight, dietary intake with the 3-day food diary, and total and HMW adiponectin levels were measured.Both groups significantly increased total (STD-D +7.2 ± 17.8%; LOV-D +9.4 ± 21.8%) and HMW adiponectin levels (STD-D +18.5 ± 32.9%; LOV-D +15.8 ± 34.5%; ps0.05) with no significant differences between the groups. We found significant associations between weight loss and increases in total (β (SE) = -.071(.27); p = 0.003) and HMW adiponectin (β (SE) = -1.37(.47); p = 0.001) levels independent of the diet type. Weight loss at the higher quartile was associated with improvements of adiponectin levels (p0.05).Weight loss was associated with increased total and HMW adiponectin levels regardless of the diet type. Enhancing weight loss may be a means to improve adiponectin levels.

Bone mineral density (BMD) has been inversely associated with subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in population studies, but the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. To test if there is a genetic basis underlying this association, we determined the phenotypic and genetic correlations between BMD and carotid artery ultrasound measures in families. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography were used to measure BMD in 461 individuals with African ancestry belonging to seven large, multigenerational families (mean family size 66; 3414 total relative pairs). Carotid artery ultrasound was used to measure adventitial diameter (AD) and intima-media thickness (IMT). Phenotypic and genetic correlations between BMD and carotid measures were determined using pedigree-based maximum likelihood methods. We adjusted for potential confounding factors, including age, sex, body weight, height, menopausal status, smoking, alcohol intake, walking for exercise, diabetes, hypertension, serum lipid and lipoprotein levels, inflammation markers, and kidney function. We found statistically significant phenotypic (ρ = −0.19) and genetic (ρG = −0.70) correlations (p

Aortic stiffness is being recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality independent of blood pressure (BP), age, and other CVD risk factors.1 Aortic stiffness can be measured noninvasively by carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), which is considered the gold standard method. In fact, the European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology added cfPWV as a factor to assess future CVD risk in recently published guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension.2 A recent meta-analysis reported that supplementation of marine n-3 fatty acids (FAs) improved aortic stiffness.3 The randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the meta-analysis4–12 and 1 more recent RCT13 have several characteristics. First, subjects in these RCTs were individuals with type 2 diabetes,5,9 metabolic syndrome,10 hyperlipidemia,11,12 or individuals who were obese or overweight.4,6–8 Thus, the result may not be extrapolated to the general population. Second, although the differential effect of 2 major marine n-3 FAs: eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA; 22:6 n-3), on CVD risk factors is a current research topic,14 only 1 RCT11 reported the effect of each of DHA and EPA on aortic stiffness separately. Third, although cfPWV is regarded as the gold standard to evaluate aortic stiffness, these RCTs, except for one study,13 used other methods. Finally, most of these RCTs examined the effect of >1 gram of fish oil on aortic stiffness,4–7,9–11,15 as compared with

The prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in Japanese men is lower than in white and Japanese-American men. It is unclear if aortic calcification (AC) strongly linked to smoking is also lower in Japanese men who have many times higher smoking prevalence compared to US men.We conducted a population-based study of 903 randomly-selected men aged 40-49 years: 310 Japanese men in Kusatsu, Japan, 301 white men in Allegheny County, US, and 292 Japanese men in Hawaii, US (2002-2006). The presence of AC was assessed by electron-beam tomography. AC was defined as Agatston aortic calcium scores (AoCaS)0 and ≥ 100.Japanese (35.8%) had significantly less AoCaS0 compared to both white (68.8%, p0.001) and Japanese-American (62.3%, p0.001) but similar AoCaS ≥ 100 (19.4%, 18.3%, 22.6%, respectively, p=0.392). The pack-years of smoking, which was highest in Japanese, was the most important single associate of AC in all populations. Additionally age, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides in Japanese; body-mass index (BMI) in white; and BMI, LDL-C, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid medications in Japanese-American were independent associates of AC. The risk of AC using either cut points adjusted for pack-years of smoking and additional risk factors was lower in Japanese compared to both white and Japanese-American. AC and CAC had moderately positive and significant correlations in Japanese (r=0.26), white (r=0.39), and Japanese-American (r=0.45).The prevalence of AC defined both0 and ≥ 100 was significantly lower in Japanese than in white and Japanese-American men after adjusting for cigarette smoking and additional risk factors.

Aims:Conflicting evidence exists regarding whether obesity is independently associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a measure of coronary atherosclerosis. We examined an independent association of obesity with prevalent CAC among samples of multi-ethnic groups whose background populations have varying levels of obesity and coronary heart disease (CHD)., Methods and results:We analysed a population-based sample of 1212 men, aged 40-49 years free of clinical cardiovascular disease recruited in 2002-06; 310 Japanese in Japan (JJ), 294 Koreans in South Korea (KN), 300 Japanese Americans (JA), and 308 Whites in the USA (UW). We defined prevalent CAC as an Agatston score of ≥10. Prevalent CAC was calculated by tertile of the body mass index (BMI) in each ethnic group and was plotted against the corresponding median of tertile BMI. Additionally, logistic regression was conducted to examine whether an association of the BMI was independent of conventional risk factors. The median BMI and crude prevalence of CAC for JJ, KN, JA, and UW were 23.4, 24.4, 27.4, and 27.1 (kg/m2); 12, 11, 32, and 26 (%), respectively. Despite the absolute difference in levels of BMI and CAC across groups, higher BMI was generally associated with higher prevalent CAC in each group. After adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, lipids, and diabetes mellitus, the BMI was positively and independently associated with prevalent CAC in JJ, KN, UW, but not in JA., Conclusion:In this multi-ethnic study, obesity was independently associated with subclinical stage of coronary atherosclerosis among men aged 40-49 years regardless of the BMI level.

Objective: When compared with other ethnic groups, African ancestry individuals have lower triglycerides and higher High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, although the mechanisms for these differences remain unclear. A comprehensive array of factors potentially related to fasting serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in African ancestry men was evaluated. Design and Methods: Men (1,821) underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measures of total body fat and quantitative computed tomography assessments of calf skeletal muscle adiposity [subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tissue (AT), and muscle density as a measure of intra-muscular AT]. Results: Multivariable linear regression analysis identified age (−), total body fat (+), subcutaneous AT (−), fasting glucose (+), fasting insulin (+), diastolic blood pressure (+), and non-African ancestry (+) as independent correlates of triglycerides (all P < 0.05). Total body fat (+), intra-muscular AT (−), and diastolic blood pressure (+) were independent correlates of Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (all P < 0.001). Age (+), waist circumference (−), fasting insulin (−), physical activity (+), and alcohol intake (+) were independent correlates of HDL-C (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: A novel relationship between skeletal muscle adiposity and serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in African ancestry men, independent of total and central adiposity was illuminated. In African ancestry populations, genetic factors are likely a significant determinant of triglycerides levels.

Recent data suggest excess circulating aldosterone promotes cardiometabolic decline. Weight loss may lower aldosterone levels, but little longitudinal data is available in normotensive adults. We aimed to determine whether, independent of changes in sodium excretion, reductions in serum aldosterone are associated with favorable changes in obesity-related factors in normotensive overweight/obese young adults. We studied 285 overweight/obese young adult participants (body mass index ≥ 25 and

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an established biomarker of coronary atherosclerosis and predicts future cardiovascular (CV) events. Basic science shows that marine omega-3 fatty acids (OM3) have anti-atherogenic properties yet previous studies in Western countries reported that dietary intake of OM3 had no significant association with CAC. Dietary intake of OM3 in Japan is >10x higher than in the US. We hypothesize that blood levels of OM3 in Japanese have a significant inverse association with CAC. Methods: A population-based sample of 982 men in Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan without CV disease was examined for blood levels of OM3, CV risk factors, and CAC. CAC was assessed by electron-beam tomography and quantified using the Agatston method. OM3 was measured by gas-liquid chromatography. We analyzed the association of OM3 with CAC scores at 67th and 80th percentiles adjusting for CV risk factors using quantile regression as the distribution of CAC scores is highly skewed. Results: Mean (SD) age of the participants was 58.7 (10.9). Rates (%) of hypertension, diabetes, current smoker were 47.3, 16.3, and 38.4, respectively. Mean (SD) LDL-C and OM3 was 127.8 (33.6) mg/dL and 10.2 (3.2) %, respectively. CAC scores were 0, 2, 19, 83, and 476 at 33th, 50th, 67th, 80th, and 95th percentiles, respectively. Blood levels of OM3 had significant inverse associations with CAC both at 67th and 80th percentiles after adjusting for CV risk factors (Table). Conclusions: This cross sectional study of Japanese whose blood levels of OM3 are 2-fold higher compared to the US shows that OM3 had a significant inverse association with atherosclerosis, suggesting that high blood levels of OM3 may have anti-atherogenic properties.

Recent studies suggest that the ability to produce equol, a metabolite of the soya isoflavone daidzein, is beneficial to coronary health. Equol, generated by bacterial action on isoflavones in the human gut, is biologically more potent than dietary sources of isoflavones. Not all humans are equol producers. We investigated whether equol-producing status is favourably associated with risk factors for CHD following an intervention by dietary soya isoflavones. We systematically reviewed randomised controlled trials (RCT) that evaluated the effect of soya isoflavones on risk factors for CHD and that reported equol-producing status. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid Medline and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials published up to April 2015 and hand-searched bibliographies to identify the RCT. Characteristics of participants and outcomes measurements were extracted and qualitatively analysed. From a total of 1671 studies, we identified forty-two articles that satisfied our search criteria. The effects of equol on risk factors for CHD were mainly based on secondary analyses in these studies, thus with inadequate statistical power. Although fourteen out of the forty-two studies found that equol production after a soya isoflavone intervention significantly improved a range of risk factors including cholesterol and other lipids, inflammation and blood pressure variables, these results need further verification by sufficiently powered studies. The other twenty-eight studies primarily reported null results. RCT of equol, which has recently become available as a dietary supplement, on CHD and its risk factors are awaited.

Although a significant positive association of vitamin D deficiency with coronary heart disease has been demonstrated in cross-sectional as well as prospective studies, only a few studies have examined the association of vitamin D deficiency with subclinical atherosclerosis. We examined whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, as measured by coronary artery calcification (CAC) in asymptomatic adults.In a population-based cross-sectional study, 195 men aged 40 to 49 years without cardiovascular disease were randomly selected (98 Caucasian and 97 Japanese American men). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was utilized to measure serum vitamin D. CAC was examined by electron beam computed tomography using standardized protocols and read centrally at the University of Pittsburgh using Agatston's methods. To investigate an association between vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]20 ng/mL) and CAC (defined as Agatston score ≥ 10), we utilized multivariable logistic regression models.Prevalence of CAC and vitamin D deficiency was 27.2% and 10.3%, respectively. Participants with CAC were significantly older, had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), and had higher rates of smoking. Those with CAC were 3.31 times likely to be vitamin D deficient, after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors (odds ratio [OR] = 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-9.77).In this population-based study of healthy middle-aged men, vitamin D deficiency had a significant positive association with the presence of CAC.

In the 1990’s Iceland and Japan were known as countries with high fish consumption whereas coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Iceland was high and that in Japan was low among developed countries. We described recent data fish consumption and CHD mortality from publicly available data. We also measured CHD risk factors and serum levels of marine-derived n-3 and other fatty acids from population-based samples of 1,324 men in Iceland, Japan, South Korea, and the US. CHD mortality in men in Iceland was almost 3 times as high as that in Japan and South Korea. Generally a profile of CHD risk factors in Icelanders compared to Japanese was more favorable. Serum marine-derived n-3 fatty acids in Iceland were significantly lower than in Japan and South Korea but significantly higher than in the US.

Breast milk fatty acid (FA) composition varies greatly among individual women, including in percentages of the long-chain polyunsaturated FAs (LCPUFA) 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid, AA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), which are important for infant neurological development. It has been suggested that owing to wide variation in milk LCPUFA and low DHA in Western diets, standards of milk FA composition should be derived from populations consuming traditional diets. We collected breast milk samples from Tsimane women at varying lactational stages (6-82 weeks). The Tsimane are an indigenous, natural fertility, subsistence-level population living in Amazonia Bolivia. Tsimane samples were matched by lactational stage to samples from a US milk bank, and analysed concurrently for FA composition by gas-liquid chromatography. We compared milk FA composi- tion between Tsimane (n = 35) and US (n = 35) mothers, focusing on differences in LCPUFA percentages that may be due to population-typical dietary patterns. Per total FAs, the percentages of AA, DHA, total n-3 and total n-6 LCPUFA were significantly higher among Tsimane mothers. Mean percentages of 18:2n-6 (linoleic acid) and trans FAs were significantly higher among US mothers. Tsimane mothers' higher milk n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA percentages may be due to their regular consumption of wild game and freshwater fish, as well as comparatively lower intakes of processed foods and oils that may interfere with LCPUFA synthesis.

Cholesterol metabolism is believed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oxysterol metabolites of cholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC, a brain-derived oxysterol) and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC, a peripherally derived oxysterol) cross the blood brain barrier and have been associated with AD. We investigated whether oxysterols were associated with markers of cerebrovascular disease prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. Oxysterols were quantified in 105 participants (average age: 80 ± 4 years) from the Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study who remained cognitively normal at blood draw in 2002, had MRI in 1992 and 1998, and annual cognitive assessment for incident AD and mild cognitive impairment made by consensus conference between 1998 and 2010. Higher plasma levels of 24-OHC were associated with age, gender, the presence of high grade white matter hyperintensities, and brain infarcts on prior MRI. Participants with higher plasma 24-OHC and a greater ratio of 24-OHC/27-OHC were also more likely to develop incident cognitive impairment over 8 years of follow-up. Higher levels of 24-OHC suggest increased cholesterol metabolism occurring in the brains of participants with cerebrovascular disease prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. Measurement of oxysterols may provide information about cholesterol metabolism and brain disease over the cognitive impairment process.

Objective. This study examined associations between maternal lipid levels at mid-pregnancy and preterm delivery, medically indicated or spontaneous. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting. Women were recruited from 52 clinics in five Michigan, USA communities (1998–2004). Population. Pregnant women were enrolled at 15–27 weeks’ gestation and followed to delivery (n=3019). Methods. A single blood sample was obtained at study enrollment. Blood lipids, i.e. total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein (LDLc) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG), were measured on a sub-cohort (n=1309). Main outcome measures. There were 221 spontaneous, 100 medically indicated preterm deliveries and 988 term deliveries. Polytomous logistic regression models examined relationships among cholesterol levels (Low

ObjectiveMajor depressive disorder (MDD) during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Maternal nutritional status may be a modifiable risk factor for antenatal depression. We evaluated the association between patterns in mid-pregnancy nutritional biomarkers and MDD.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.SubjectsWomen who enrolled at ≤20 weeks’ gestation and had a diagnosis of MDD made with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) at 20-, 30- and 36-week study visits. A total of 135 women contributed 345 person-visits. Non-fasting blood drawn at enrolment was assayed for red cell essential fatty acids, plasma folate, homocysteine and ascorbic acid; serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, retinol, vitamin E, carotenoids, ferritin and soluble transferrin receptors. Nutritional biomarkers were entered into principal components analysis.ResultsThree factors emerged: Factor 1, Essential Fatty Acids; Factor 2, Micronutrients; and Factor 3, Carotenoids. MDD was prevalent in 21·5 % of women. In longitudinal multivariable logistic models, there was no association between the Essential Fatty Acids or Micronutrients pattern and MDD either before or after adjustment for employment, education or pre-pregnancy BMI. In unadjusted analysis, women with factor scores for Carotenoids in the middle and upper tertiles were 60 % less likely than women in the bottom tertile to have MDD during pregnancy, but after adjustment for confounders the associations were no longer statistically significant.ConclusionsWhile meaningful patterns were derived using nutritional biomarkers, significant associations with MDD were not observed in multivariable adjusted analyses. Larger, more diverse samples are needed to understand nutrition–depression relationships during pregnancy.

Background Numerous studies reported beneficial effects of marine n-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors. However, the association of marine n-3 FAs with plasma fibrinogen, a risk factor for CVD, remains uncertain. Methods In a population-based, cross-sectional study of 795 men aged 40-49 without CVD (262 whites in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, US, 302 Japanese in Kusatsu, Japan, and 229 Japanese Americans in Honolulu, Hawaii, US), we examined the association of marine n-3 FAs with plasma fibrinogen. Serum FAs were measured by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Marine n-3 FAs were defined as the sum of docosahexaenoic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic acids. Plasma fibrinogen was measured by an automated clot-rate assay. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association. Results White, Japanese, and Japanese American men had mean marine n-3 FAs levels of 3.47%, 8.78%, and 4.46%, respectively. Japanese men had a significant inverse association of marine n-3 FAs with fibrinogen (standardized regression coefficient of -0.11, p=0.049), after adjusting for age, body-mass index, and current smoking. The significant inverse association remained after further adjusting for diabetes, C-reactive protein, triglycerides and other variables. White or Japanese American men did not show a significant association. Conclusion We observed the significant inverse association of marine n-3 FAs with fibrinogen in Japanese, but not in whites or Japanese Americans. The observation suggests that marine n-3 FAs at very high levels, as seen in the Japanese, may decrease plasma fibrinogen levels.

Background Recent data suggest that highly elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) may not always protect against cardiovascular disease. To what degree this is true in type 1 diabetes is unknown, although cardiovascular risk is increased despite elevated mean HDL-C. Objective To reassess the association between HDL-C and its subfractions with coronary artery disease (CAD) in childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. Methods Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications study participants free of CAD at baseline (301 men, 298 women; mean age, 27.1 and diabetes duration, 18.9 years) were studied. CAD was defined as angina, ischemic electrocardiogram changes, confirmed myocardial infarction, angiographic stenosis ≥50%, revascularization, or CAD death. Cholesterol in the HDL fraction and HDL3 cholesterol subfraction was measured enzymatically after precipitation with heparin/manganese and dextran sulfate, respectively. Results During 18 years of follow-up, 29.5% of men and 25.5% of women developed CAD. Although a linear decrease in incidence was observed with increasing HDL-C concentration in men, incidence increased in women at less than 47 mg/dL and greater than 80 mg/dL. These patterns largely reflected the HDL3 cholesterol-CAD association. After multivariable adjustment, the linear, inverse, HDL-C/CAD association persisted in men (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94–0.99); in women, the U-shaped relationship lost significance. HDL3 cholesterol remained multivariably associated with CAD in both men (linear association, P = .03) and women (HR 2.31 (95% CI 1.31–4.08) and HR 1.80 (95% CI 1.01–3.23) for the lowest and highest versus the middle quintiles, respectively). Conclusion The increased CAD risk in women for an HDL-C >80 mg/dL in type 1 diabetes merits further study. Gender specificity could not be determined as only two men had HDL-C >80 mg/dL.