No abstract

No abstract

Background Microbiota-derived uremic toxins have been associated with inflammation that could corroborate with endothelial dysfunction (ED) and increase cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of the prebiotic fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in nondialysis CKD patients. Methods In a double-blind controlled trial, 46 nondiabetic CKD patients were randomized to receive 12 g/day of FOS or placebo (maltodextrin) for 3 months. Total p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate by high-performance liquid chromatography, urinary trimethylamine N-oxide by mass spectrometry, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum nitric oxide and stroma-derived factor-1 alfa were measured at baseline and at the end of follow-up; endothelial function was assessed through flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Results The mean (± standard deviation) age of the study participants was 57.6 ± 14.4 years, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 21.3 ± 7.3 mL/min/1.73 m2. During the follow-up, regarding the inflammatory markers and uremic toxins, there was a significant decrease in IL-6 levels (3.4 ± 2.1 pg/mL versus 2.6 ± 1.4 pg/mL; P = 0.04) and a trend toward PCS reduction (55.4 ± 38.1 mg/L versus 43.1 ± 32.4 mg/L, P = 0.07) only in the prebiotic group. Comparing both groups, there was no difference in FMD and PWV. In an exploratory analysis, including a less severe ED group of patients (FMD ≥2.2% at baseline), FMD remained stable in the prebiotic group, while it decreased in the placebo group (group effect P = 0.135; time effect P = 0.012; interaction P = 0.002). Conclusions The prebiotic FOS lowered circulating levels of IL-6 in CKD patients and preserved endothelial function only in those with less damaged endothelium. No effect of FOS in arterial stiffness was observed.

Telomere length is considered to be a biomarker of biological aging and age-related disease. There are few studies that have evaluated the association between telomere length and diet, and none of them have evaluated the impact of a vegetarian diet on telomere length and its correlation with cardiovascular biomarkers in apparently healthy subjects. Therefore, our objectives were to evaluate leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in vegetarians and omnivorous subjects and its association with classical cardiovascular risk biomarkers. From the total of 745 participants initially recruited, 44 omnivorous and 44 vegetarian men apparently healthy were selected for this study and LTL was measured in 39 omnivorous and 41 vegetarians by Real-Time Quantitative PCR reaction. Although telomere length was not different between omnivorous and vegetarians, we found a strong negative correlation between LTL and IMT (intima-media thickness) in omnivorous, but not in vegetarian group. In addition, omnivorous who were classified with short telomere length had higher carotid IMT compared to vegetarians. Our data suggest that telomere length can be a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in the omnivorous group.

BackgroundRecent studies have shown a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MSyn) in vegetarians (VEG) despite the inconclusive evidence from others.ObjectiveTo verify the association between diet and other lifestyle characteristics and the prevalence of MSyn, cardiovascular risk factors (CRF), and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in apparently healthy VEG and omnivorous (OMN) men.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 88 apparently healthy men ≥ 35 years, 44 VEG and 44 OMN, were assessed for anthropometric data, blood pressure, blood lipids, glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP) and FRS. To test the association between lifestyle and MSyn, Student t test, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression model were used. A significance level of 5% was considered in all statistical analyses.ResultsSeveral CRF were significantly lower in VEG than in OMN: body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein b, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (all p < 0.05). The FRS mean was lower in VEG than in OMN (2.98 ± 3.7 vs 4.82 ± 4.8, p = 0.029). The percentage of individuals with MSyn was higher among OMN than among VEG (52.3 vs.15.9%) (p < 0.001). The OMN diet was associated with MSyn (OR: 6.28 95%CI 2.11-18.71) and alterations in most MSyn components in the multiple regression model independently of caloric intake, age and physical activity.ConclusionThe VEG diet was associated with lower CRF, FRS and percentage of individuals with MSyn.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of food consumption in apparently healthy men and their association with cardiovascular risk factors and biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS In this observational study, 88 men had their food standard obtained through the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Associations of dietary patterns with cardiovascular risk factors, such as anthropometric data, laboratory and clinical evaluations, carotid-femoral arterial stiffness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity were evaluated. RESULTS The highest values were observed, for most of the risk factors evaluated, with the highest frequency of weekly consumption of dairy products, meats, sweets, fats, cold meats, sodas, milk and white chocolate; and lower frequency of weekly consumption of fruits, cereals, vegetables, legumes, oilseeds, and soy. There was no significant difference for coffee and dark chocolate CONCLUSIONS A diet with high consumption of animal products has a higher correlation with cardiovascular risk factors; the opposite is true for the consumption of plant-based food, associated with the profile of more favorable biomarkers for cardiovascular health and better biochemical and structural parameters.

Background: Previous studies have shown associations between vegetarian (VEG) diet and a healthy lifestyle and the maintenance of adequate body composition evaluated by anthropometric parameters. Objective: To analyze whether vegetarian men have higher rates of adequate nutritional status compared to omnivorous (OMN) men, evaluated by various methods. Methods: In this observational study, from 745 individuals from São Paulo, we enrolled 44 OMN and 44 VEG apparently healthy men participants in the CARVOS Study were evaluated by two 24-h dietary recalls, body mass index (BMI), circumference measurements, waist-hip ratio (WHR), skinfolds, and by BIA. Results: OMN men had the highest percentage of overweight/obesity based on BMI (70.4%, P=0.001), WHR (15.9%, P=0.026), waist circumference (50%, P=0.001), arm circumference (20.5%, P=0.001), tricipital skinfold (77.3%, P=0.008), % body fat by total of skinfolds (77.3%, P=0.001), and % body fat by BIA (47.7%, P=0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed that being OMN compared to being VEG significantly increased the risk of overweight/obesity (OR 12.12, CI 3.7 to 39.4); inadequate waist circumference (OR 8.39, CI 2.4 to 28.9); inadequate WHR (OR 9.85, CI 1.1 to 86.7); obesity by total of skinfolds (OR 6.2, CI 1.9 to 20.3), high % body fat by total of skinfolds (OR 8.93, CI 2.5 to 32.0) and by BIA (OR 5.7, IC 1.7-19.0). Conclusion: Vegetarian men have higher rates of adequate nutrition and a lower prevalence of overweight according to BMI, excess abdominal fat, and excess body fat estimated by circumferences, skinfold measurement, and by BIA.

Background/Objective: Patients with systemic autoimmune myopathies (SAMs) have high prevalence of dyslipidemia and, consequently, possible endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffness. Our objective was to evaluate the possible benefits on endothelial function and vascular stiffness, as well as adverse effects of atorvastatin in SAMs.Methods: A pilot longitudinal, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted. Twenty-four of 242 patients were randomized at a 2:1 ratio to receive atorvastatin (20 mg/d) or placebo for a period of 12 weeks. Demographic data, comorbidities, and clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as endothelial function and arterial stiffness, were evaluated.Results: Of the 24 randomized patients, 4 patients were excluded, with remaining 20 patients (14 in the atorvastatin group and 6 in the placebo group). The mean age of the patients was 49.0 years, and 75% of the patients were female. At baseline, the demographic data, disease status, treatment, cardiovascular comorbidities, and risk factors were comparable between the atorvastatin and placebo groups. After 12 weeks of follow-up of atorvastatin therapy, no improvements were observed for endothelial function and arterial stiffness in either group (p > 0.05). As expected, a significant reduction in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was observed. During the study, no clinical intercurrences or disease relapses were observed in either group. Conclusions:The atorvastatin drug attenuated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol without worsening clinical outcomes in SAMs. No change was observed for endothelial function and arterial stiffness. Additional studies, with long-term follow-up time and different atorvastatin dosage, are needed to corroborate the results of this study.