Lecture 14 AI generated Flashcards
Describe the Seven Countries Study.
The Seven Countries Study investigated diet, lifestyle, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease across different countries and cultures over an extended period of time, highlighting the association between higher MUFA/SFA ratio and lower CHD mortality.
What was the conclusion of the PREDIMED trial?
The PREDIMED trial concluded that the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death was highest in the control group with low-fat intake, and lowest in the groups following a Mediterranean diet supplemented with either olive oil or nuts, showing a 30% reduction in risk.
How are Omega-3 fatty acids categorized?
Omega-3 fatty acids are categorized into plant n-3 PUFAs (found in nuts) and seafood n-3 PUFAs (very long chain fatty acids), with plant n-3 PUFAs being essential fatty acids.
Define the role of Omega-3 fatty acids in reducing CHD mortality.
Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly from seafood sources, has been associated with a decrease in relative risk for CHD mortality, with even one serving of fish per week leading to a decrease in risk.
Describe the impact of the Mediterranean diet on diabetes risk according to the PREDIMED trial.
The PREDIMED trial showed that participants following a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil had a lower risk of diabetes compared to the control group, emphasizing the importance of nutrition not only in prevention but also in treatment.
Describe the effect of fatty fish on blood pressure, heart rate, and triglyceride production.
Fatty fish can decrease blood pressure and heart rate with normal intake, while triglyceride production decreases with higher intake.
What were the 4 groups in the intervention study involving margarine?
The 4 groups received margarine with either a placebo, EPA-DHA, ALA, or EPA-DHA + ALA.
How did the study conclude the difference in fatty acids affected the outcome?
At the end of the study, it was concluded that the difference in fatty acids did not make a significant difference.
Define how post-MI patients making healthy food choices were associated with lower mortality risk.
Post-MI patients making healthy food choices had a 30% lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality according to the Alpha-Omega cohort study.
Describe how vascular health can be measured.
Vascular health can be measured by blood pressure (office, 24h-ambulatory, home), endothelial function (FMD, biochemical markers in blood).
What is flow mediated dilation (FMD) used to measure?
Flow mediated dilation (FMD) measures the ability of arteries to dilate in response to increased blood flow.
How is flow mediated dilation (FMD) procedure conducted?
In FMD, the artery in the forearm is obstructed, and then the diameter of the artery is measured using an ultrasound system before and after the obstruction is removed to assess the flow-mediated response.
Describe the impact of smoking and age on the ability to dilate blood vessels.
Smokers and older individuals tend to have a lower ability to dilate blood vessels, as observed in flow mediated dilation (FMD) measurements.
Describe the process of NO production in blood vessels due to stretching of the lumen.
Stretching of the lumen of the vessels causes stress, leading to the production NO. NO then from the endothelial cells to vascular smooth muscle, causing and vasodilation.
Define FMD and its role in measuring endothelial function.
FMD, or Flow-Mediated Dilation, is considered the gold standard for endothelial function measurements. However, it has disadvantages such as high variation, difficulty in locating the artery, lower image quality compared to the carotid artery, participant movement, and operator dependency.
How do polyphenols, particularly epicatechin found in cocoa, benefit blood vessels?
Polyphenols, including epicatechin in cocoa, can improve the health of blood vessels. They are plant-based structures that protect plants and give them color. Epicatechin is present in cocoa, tea, and apples, and can enhance blood flow.
Describe the FLAVO study and its findings regarding epicatechin supplementation.
The FLAVO study was a randomized trial involving 35 healthy older adults who were given pills containing epicatechin or a placebo. While there was no significant decrease in 24h-systolic BP, there was an improvement in insulin sensitivity. Cocoa with over 40% epicatechin content can enhance blood flow.
What was the setup and findings of the KaNa trial related to salt intake and blood pressure?
In the KaNa trial, 36 adults with untreated elevated BP were involved in a study with a fully controlled diet where salt intake was 5 grams per day. Salt pills were added during a 4-week period, followed by potassium pills or a placebo. Extra sodium intake increased blood pressure by 7 mmHg, while extra potassium intake decreased blood pressure by over -4 mmHg. Potassium also improved FMD by 0.
Describe the relationship between meta-analysis and the risk of CVD events.
1% increase in meta-analysis is associated with 8-13% lower risk of CVD events.
Define arterial stiffness and provide methods to measure it.
Arterial stiffness refers to the rigidity of blood vessels. It can be measured using pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analyses, augmentation index.
How is pulse wave velocity related to arterial stiffness?
Pulse wave velocity measures how fast blood flows through the body. Shorter travelling time indicates stiffer blood vessels.
What is the augmentation index and how is it calculated?
The augmentation index is an indicator of arterial stiffness. It is calculated by the peak of the reflected wave divided by the peak of the ejection wave, multiplied by 100.
Describe how intima-media thickness is measured and its significance in assessing atherosclerosis.
Intima-media thickness measures the thickness of the carotid artery’s inner layers. It helps in assessing atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in arteries.
Explain the relationship between homocysteine, folate, and atherosclerosis.
Homocysteine was believed to contribute to atherosclerosis. Lowering homocysteine levels by adding folate or B vitamins to the diet could reduce plaque formation.
