Insulin resistance is central for the aetiology of the metabolic syndrome cluster of disease: blood lipid disorders, hypertension, propensity for thrombus formation, abdominal obesity and Type II (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus [1]. Although genetic predisposition is a factor, the prevalence of obesity and diabetes is increasing rapidly in both developed and developing countries [2] arguing that lifestyle factors such as dietary and physical activity patterns, which are amenable to change, modulate insulin action and hence disease development.Experimental and clinical data suggest that the amount and quality of fat in the diet could be important for the development of insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders [3]. A high proportion of Diabetologia (2001) AbstractAims/hypothesis. The amount and quality of fat in the diet could be of importance for development of insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders. Our aim was to determine whether a change in dietary fat quality alone could alter insulin action in humans. Methods. The KANWU study included 162 healthy

Our data suggest that in elderly men with or without prevalent cardiovascular disease, the simultaneous addition of several biomarkers of cardiovascular and renal abnormalities substantially improves the risk stratification for death from cardiovascular causes beyond that of a model that is based only on established risk factors.

Background-Diseases with elevated levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) such as primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism are associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and death. However, data on the prospective association between circulating PTH levels and cardiovascular mortality in the community are lacking.

Objective To examine how change in level of physical activity after middle age influences mortality and to compare it with the effect of smoking cessation.

Background:The fatty acid composition of the diet is known to be partially reflected by the fatty acid composition of serum lipids. Objective: We examined whether pentadecanoic acid (15:0) in serum lipids can be used as a marker for intake of milk fat, the major dietary source of 15:0. We also investigated the relations between intake of milk fat and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Design: Sixty-two 70-y-old men completed 7-d dietary records. The intake of milk products was studied in relation to the proportions of 15:0 in serum cholesterol esters and phospholipids, as well as to the clinical characteristics of these men, by using Spearman's rank correlation. Results: The proportions of 15:0 in serum cholesterol esters were positively related to butter intake (r = 0.36, P = 0.004) and to the total amount of fat from milk products (r = 0.46, P < 0.0001); 15:0 in phospholipids was related to the amount of fat from milk and cream (r = 0.34, P = 0.008) and to the total amount of fat from milk products (r = 0.34, P = 0.008). Inverse associations were found between intake of milk products and body mass index, waist circumference, LDL-HDL ratio, HDL triacylglycerols, and fasting plasma glucose, whereas relations to HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I tended to be positive. Conclusions:The results suggest that 15:0 in serum can be used as a marker for intake of milk fat. The explanation for the inverse associations between the intake of milk products and certain cardiovascular risk factors is not known. 1999;69:22-9. Am J Clin Nutr

No abstract

Background: Vitamin D status is known to be important for bone health but may also affect the development of several chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which are 2 major causes of death. Objective: We aimed to examine how vitamin D status relates to overall and cause-specific mortality.

Glomerular filtration rate is an independent determinant of plasma tHcy and tCys concentrations, and GFR is rate limiting for renal clearance of both homocysteine and cysteine in diabetic patients without overt nephropathy. Declining GFR explains the age-related increase in plasma tHcy, and hyperfiltration explains the lower than normal mean plasma tHcy and tCys concentrations in populations of diabetic patients.