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Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet on Change in Cardiac Biomarkers Over Time: Results From the DASH-Sodium Trial.
Belanger, MJ, Kovell, LC, Turkson-Ocran, RA, Mukamal, KJ, Liu, X, Appel, LJ, Miller, ER, Sacks, FM, Christenson, RH, Rebuck, H, et al
Journal of the American Heart Association. 2023;12(2):e026684
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Most deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be attributed to specific modifiable risk factors. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and reduced in saturated fat and cholesterol, is associated with a lower risk of CVD events over time. The aim of this study was to examine the time course of change in biomarkers of cardiac injury, strain, and inflammation from consuming the DASH diet in comparison with a typical American diet. This study is a secondary analysis of the DASH-Sodium randomised clinical trial which recruited adult men and women, aged ≥22years. The participants were randomly assigned in a parallel-arm design to the DASH diet or a typical American diet (control) in a 1:1 ratio. Results show that in comparison with a typical American diet, the DASH diet reduced two of the investigated biomarkers progressively over a 12-week period. Authors conclude that their findings highlight the need for public health policies and interventions that support sustained adherence to a healthy eating pattern for cardiovascular health.
Abstract
Background The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been shown to reduce biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to characterize the time course of change in biomarkers of cardiac injury (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I), cardiac strain (NT-proBNP [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide]), and inflammation (hs-CRP [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein]) while consuming the DASH diet. Methods and Results The DASH-Sodium trial was a randomized controlled trial of 412 adults with elevated blood pressure or hypertension. Participants were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of the DASH diet or a typical American diet. Energy intake was adjusted to maintain body weight. Measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP were performed in stored serum specimens, collected at baseline and ≈4, 8, and 12 weeks after randomization. In both the control diet and DASH diet, levels of NT-proBNP decreased; however, there was no difference between diets (P-trend compared with control=0.22). On the DASH diet versus control, levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I decreased progressively during follow-up (P-trend compared with control=0.025), but a statistically significant between-diet difference in change from baseline levels was not observed until week 12 (% difference, 17.78% [95% CI, -29.51% to -4.09%]). A similar pattern was evident for hs-CRP (P-trend compared with control=0.01; % difference at week 12, 19.97% [95% CI, -31.94% to -5.89%]). Conclusions In comparison with a typical American diet, the DASH diet reduced high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and hs-CRP progressively over 12 weeks. These results suggest that the DASH diet has cumulative benefits over time on biomarkers of subclinical cardiac injury and inflammation. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00000608.
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Effect of Casein Hydrolysate on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Zhou, S, Xu, T, Zhang, X, Luo, J, An, P, Luo, Y
Nutrients. 2022;14(19)
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Casein makes up around 80% of the protein in cow’s milk. Hydrolysed casein has been partially broken down, making it easier to digest. It has various biological functions including, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antihypertensive activities which could be beneficial for cardiovascular health. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarise the effects of casein hydrolysate supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors. 26 randomised control trials (RCTs) were included in the analysis. Casein hydrolysate significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with control diets, but had no effect on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides or fasting blood glucose. The authors concluded that their findings support the consumption of casein hydrolysate in the population at risk for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Abstract
Casein hydrolysate has various biological functional activities, especially prominent are angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activities. Increasing evidence has reported the prominent hypotensive effect of casein hydrolysate. However, the effects of casein hydrolysate on cardiovascular risk factors remain unclear and require more comprehensive and detailed studies. Here, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to summarize the effects of casein hydrolysate supplementation on blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood glucose. In the pooled analyses, casein hydrolysate significantly reduced systolic blood pressure by 3.20 mmHg (-4.53 to -1.87 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure by 1.50 mmHg (-2.31 to -0.69 mmHg). Supplementation of casein hydrolysate displayed no effect on total cholesterol (-0.07 mmol/L; -0.17 to 0.03 mmol/L), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.04 mmol/L; -0.15 to 0.08 mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.01 mmol/L; -0.06 to 0.03 mmol/L), triglycerides (-0.05 mmol/L, -0.14 to 0.05 mmol/L), or fasting blood glucose (-0.01 mmol/L; -0.10 to 0.09 mmol/L) compared with the placebo diets. Collectively, this study indicated that supplementation of casein hydrolysate displayed decreasing effect on blood pressure without affecting blood lipids or glycemic status.
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Effects of tart cherry juice consumption on cardio-metabolic risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.
Moosavian, SP, Maharat, M, Chambari, M, Moradi, F, Rahimlou, M
Complementary therapies in medicine. 2022;71:102883
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels and is the number one cause of death world-wide. CVD risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, being overweight and diabetes. Tart cherry juice is a rich source of strong antioxidants such as proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and flavonols. These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and are therefore potentially beneficial in CVD. The antioxidant potential of tart cherry juice has been extensively studied, but studies have shown contradictory results relating to the efficacy of tart cherry juice on cardio-metabolic risk factors. To date there is no meta-analysis looking at these effects. 10 RCTs were included and the results showed that cherry juice consumption led to a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar. However, there wasn’t any significant effect of cherry juice consumption on blood pressure, insulin, lipid profile levels, fat mass, and BMI. Further clinical trials using higher sample sizes are needed. The clinical importance of this study was that clinicians and nutritionists can recommend the consumption of tart cherry for the prevention and management of CVD related symptoms.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tart cherries are rich in bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins and other phytochemicals known to have antioxidant properties and exert cardiovascular protective effects. However, there is no definitive consensus on this context. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of tart cherry juice consumption on cardio-metabolic risk factors. METHODS A systematic search was conducted on electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception up to December 2021 to identify eligible RCT studies. A random-effect model was utilized to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence (95% CI). RESULTS Ten RCTs were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that tart cherry juice consumption led to a significant reduction in the fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels (WMD = -0.51 mg/dl [95% CI: -0.98, -0.06]). This lowering effect of FBS was robust in subgroups with cross-over studies, participants with age range ≥ 40, duration of follow-up ≤ 4 weeks, and baseline BMI ≥ 30. In contrast, tart cherry juice had no effect on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, in the subgroup analysis, some significant effects were observed for insulin, TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C. CONCLUSION In summary, this meta-analysis showed that tart cherry juice mostly had a favorable effect on FBG levels. However, further RCTs with long-term intervention with different doses of administration are needed.
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Effects of camelina oil supplementation on lipid profile and glycemic control: a systematic review and dose‒response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Jalili, C, Talebi, S, Mehrabani, S, Bagheri, R, Wong, A, Amirian, P, Zarpoosh, M, Ghoreishy, SM, Kermani, MAH, Moradi, S
Lipids in health and disease. 2022;21(1):132
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Research indicates that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving blood lipids, blood pressure, and haemostatic factors, among others. Camelina oil, considered a good source of ALA compared to other edible oils, is one of the richest dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, with a polyunsaturated fatty acid content over 50%. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of camelina oil supplementation (COS) on lipid profiles and glycaemic control in human studies. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomised controlled trials with a total of 428 individuals (202 participants in the COS group and 226 in the control group). Results did not show any affects of COS on lipid profile and glycaemic indices compared with placebo intake. However, subgroup analysis showed that COS for more than 8 weeks and at a dose lower than 30g/d could decrease total cholesterol. Authors conclude that COS may be a beneficial nonpharmacological strategy for the improvement of this lipid marker. However, further studies are required to confirm the findings of this study.
Abstract
BACKGROUND This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to determine the effectiveness of camelina oil supplementation (COS) on lipid profiles and glycemic indices. METHODS Relevant RCTs were selected by searching the ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases up to July 1, 2022. RTCs with an intervention duration of less than 2 weeks, without a placebo group, and those that used COS in combination with another supplement were excluded. Weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were pooled by applying a random-effects model, while validated methods examined sensitivity analyses, heterogeneity, and publication bias. RESULTS Seven eligible RCTs, including 428 individuals, were selected. The pooled analysis revealed that COS significantly improved total cholesterol in studies lasting more than 8 weeks and utilizing dosages lower than 30 g/d compared to the placebo group. The results of fractional polynomial modeling indicated that there were nonlinear dose-response relations between the dose of COS and absolute mean differences in low-density cholesterol, high-density cholesterol, and total cholesterol, but not triglycerides. It appears that the greatest effect of COS oil occurs at the dosage of 20 g/day. CONCLUSION The present meta-analysis indicates that COS may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by improving lipid profile markers. Based on the results of this study, COS at dosages lower than 30 g/d may be a beneficial nonpharmacological strategy for lipid control. Further RCTs with longer COS durations are warranted to expand on these results.
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Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies.
Sanchez-Gimenez, R, Ahmed-Khodja, W, Molina, Y, Peiró, OM, Bonet, G, Carrasquer, A, Fragkiadakis, GA, Bulló, M, Bardaji, A, Papandreou, C
Nutrients. 2022;14(13)
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major public health issue. Identification of circulating biomarkers with prognostic value may help to both identify pathophysiological processes relevant to CVD development and improve preventive cardiovascular risk reduction efforts. The aim of this study was to identify the association of circulating levels of microbial metabolites with CVD incidence. This study is a systematic review of twenty-one studies of which 19 were prospective cohort studies, one study included one nested case-control study and one study included two nested case–control studies. Results show that: - associations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) [molecular metabolite derived from the gut flora] and subsequent risk of CV outcomes were supported by some but not all prospective studies. - inconsistent results were also obtained for secondary bile acids in relation to CVD and related outcomes, and CVD/all-cause mortality. - with regards to branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), their associations with CV outcomes were robust amongst most of the studies. Authors conclude that their findings show inconsistent results for TMAO and bile acids but robust ones for the relationships between BCAAs and CVD. Thus, further studies are needed to investigate whether circulating microbial metabolites could be an intervention target for CVD.
Abstract
Gut microbiota-derived metabolites have recently attracted considerable attention due to their role in host-microbial crosstalk and their link with cardiovascular health. The MEDLINE-PubMed and Elsevier's Scopus databases were searched up to June 2022 for studies evaluating the association of baseline circulating levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), tryptophan and indole derivatives, with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A total of twenty-one studies were included in the systematic review after evaluating 1210 non-duplicate records. There were nineteen of the twenty-one studies that were cohort studies and two studies had a nested case-control design. All of the included studies were of high quality according to the "Newcastle-Ottawa Scale". TMAO was positively associated with adverse cardiovascular events and CVD/all-cause mortality in some, but not all of the included studies. Bile acids were associated with atrial fibrillation and CVD/all-cause mortality, but not with CVD. Positive associations were found between BCAAs and CVD, and between indole derivatives and major adverse cardiovascular events, while a negative association was reported between tryptophan and all-cause mortality. No studies examining the relationship between SCFAs and CVD risk were identified. Evidence from prospective studies included in the systematic review supports a role of microbial metabolites in CVD.
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Anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Teimouri, M, Homayouni-Tabrizi, M, Rajabian, A, Amiri, H, Hosseini, H
Complementary therapies in medicine. 2022;70:102863
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) include various heart or/and blood vessel disorders, such as cerebrovascular disease, congenital heart disease, and coronary artery disease. It is well shown that prolonged or chronic inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of several disorders, especially CVDs. Resveratrol has recently been considered a choice for preventing and treating inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of resveratrol on serum/plasma concentration of specific inflammatory markers - tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and c-reactive protein (CRP) - in patients with CVDs. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of six randomised controlled studies with a total of 415 participants. Results show that resveratrol significantly decreases CRP and TNF-α concentration; however, it did not significantly affect the serum concentration of IL-6 in patients with CVDs. Authors conclude that there is a potential preventive effect of resveratrol supplementation on inflammatory conditions in CVD patients. However, larger randomised clinical trials are needed to further investigate and explore the effects of resveratrol supplementations.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic inflammation is one of the most important factors involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVDs). Accumulating evidence has described the effect of resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, on biomarkers of inflammation among patients with CVDs; however, findings are controversial. Here we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of resveratrol supplements on TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP levels in CVDs patients. METHODS Online research was conducted in the following database: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science databases, and Scopus. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the effects of resveratrol supplements on inflammatory biomarkers among patients with CVDs. The meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) V3 software. RESULTS Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the current meta-analysis. Our results demonstrated that resveratrol significantly decreases serum levels of CRP (MD = -0.63, 95 % CI: -0.1.13, -0.12; p = 0.01), and TNF-α (MD = -0.55, 95 % CI: -1.04, -0.06; p = 0.02), however, resveratrol had not significant effect on serum concentration of IL-6 (MD = -0.12, 95 % CI: -0.52, 0.27; p = 0.53), in patients with CVDs. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that resveratrol can be used as a potential treatment in patients with CVD by reducing inflammatory conditions.
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Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Events in Women vs Men With Type 1 Diabetes.
Braffett, BH, Bebu, I, El Ghormli, L, Cowie, CC, Sivitz, WI, Pop-Busui, R, Larkin, ME, Gubitosi-Klug, RA, Nathan, DM, Lachin, JM, et al
JAMA network open. 2022;5(9):e2230710
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In the general population, women have a lower absolute risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with men. However, among individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the relative risk of CVD is similar or higher in women compared with men. The aim of this study was to assess sex differences in achieving recommended CVD risk management targets and associations with CVD events. This is a cohort study which included a total of 1441 (men n= 736) participants with type 1 diabetes. Results show that the prevalence and mean levels of most cardiometabolic risk factors (except for pulse rate and haemoglobin A1c) were consistent with a less atherogenic profile among women compared with men. Furthermore, achieving treatment targets for blood pressure, lipids, and glucose was associated with significantly decreased risk of CVD in both women and men. Authors conclude that their findings argue for a recalibration of CVD risk factor stratification in revised clinical care guidelines and therapeutic recommendations by sex for individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women compared with men in the general population may be diminished among those with diabetes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate cardiometabolic risk factors and their management in association with CVD events in women vs men with type 1 diabetes enrolled in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study used data obtained during the combined DCCT (randomized clinical trial, conducted 1983-1993) and EDIC (observational study, conducted 1994 to present) studies through April 30, 2018 (mean [SD] follow-up, 28.8 [5.8] years), at 27 clinical centers in the US and Canada. Data analyses were performed between July 2021 and April 2022. EXPOSURE During the DCCT phase, patients were randomized to intensive vs conventional diabetes therapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Cardiometabolic risk factors and CVD events were assessed via detailed medical history and focused physical examinations. Blood and urine samples were assayed centrally. CVD events were adjudicated by a review committee. Linear mixed models and Cox proportional hazards models evaluated sex differences in cardiometabolic risk factors and CVD risk over follow-up. RESULTS A total of 1441 participants with type 1 diabetes (mean [SD] age at DCCT baseline, 26.8 [7.1] years; 761 [52.8%] men; 1390 [96.5%] non-Hispanic White) were included. Over the duration of the study, compared with men, women had significantly lower body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; β = -0.43 [SE, 0.16]; P = .006), waist circumference (β = -10.56 cm [SE, 0.52 cm]; P < .001), blood pressure (systolic: β = -5.77 mm Hg [SE, 0.35 mm Hg]; P < .001; diastolic: β = -3.23 mm Hg [SE, 0.26 mm Hg]; P < .001), and triglyceride levels (β = -10.10 mg/dL [SE, 1.98 mg/dL]; P < .001); higher HDL cholesterol levels (β = 9.36 mg/dL [SE, 0.57 mg/dL]; P < .001); and similar LDL cholesterol levels (β = -0.76 mg/dL [SE, 1.22 mg/dL]; P = .53). Women, compared with men, achieved recommended targets more frequently for blood pressure (ie, <130/80 mm Hg: 90.0% vs 77.4%; P < .001) and triglycerides (ie, <150 mg/dL: 97.3% vs 90.5%; P < .001). However, sex-specific HDL cholesterol targets (ie, ≥50 mg/dL for women, ≥40 mg/dL for men) were achieved less often (74.3% vs 86.6%; P < .001) and cardioprotective medications were used less frequently in women than men (ie, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker: 29.6% [95% CI, 25.7%-33.9%] vs 40.0% [95% CI, 36.1%-44.0%]; P = .001; lipid-lowering medication: 25.3% [95% CI, 22.1%-28.7%] vs 39.6% [95% CI, 36.1%-43.2%]; P < .001). Women also had significantly higher pulse rates (mean [SD], 75.2 [6.8] beats per minute vs 71.8 [6.9] beats per minute; P < .001) and hemoglobin A1c levels (mean [SD], 8.3% [1.0%] vs 8.1% [1.0%]; P = .01) and achieved targets for tighter glycemic control less often than men (ie, hemoglobin A1c <7%: 11.2% [95% CI, 9.3%-13.3%] vs 14.0% [95% CI, 12.0%-16.3%]; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that despite a more favorable cardiometabolic risk factor profile, women with type 1 diabetes did not have a significantly lower CVD event burden than men, suggesting a greater clinical impact of cardiometabolic risk factors in women vs men with diabetes. These findings call for conscientious optimization of the control of CVD risk factors in women with type 1 diabetes.
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Effects of regular sauna bathing in conjunction with exercise on cardiovascular function: a multi-arm, randomized controlled trial.
Lee, E, Kolunsarka, I, Kostensalo, J, Ahtiainen, JP, Haapala, EA, Willeit, P, Kunutsor, SK, Laukkanen, JA
American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology. 2022;323(3):R289-R299
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Physical activity and exercise training are well-documented strategies to prevent ailments and various diseases. However, unlike exercise, heat therapy and the health benefits of Finnish sauna bathing are still not well understood, despite its increasing use throughout the world. The aim of this study was to compare the cardiovascular adaptations of regular exercise alone (EXE) to regular exercise and sauna bathing (EXS), with a sedentary control (CON) group. This study is an 8-week multi-arm randomised controlled trial. Forty-eight participants (females n= 42) were randomly assigned into the EXS, EXE, or the CON group. Results show that regular exercise using the recommended guidelines three times a week, for 50 minutes each time, can effectively improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition. The addition of a regular 15-minute typical Finnish sauna after exercise supplemented the gains in CRF, reductions in systolic blood pressure, and lowered total cholesterol levels considerably. Authors conclude that sauna bathing is a safe and simple lifestyle modification and steps should be taken to make it more accessible worldwide. Thus, future studies should seek to understand the optimal exposure durations, frequencies, modalities, and temperatures for various beneficial adaptations.
Abstract
Regular exercise and sauna bathing have each been shown to improve cardiovascular function in clinical populations. However, experimental data on the cardiovascular adaptations to regular exercise in conjunction with sauna bathing in the general population are lacking. Therefore, we compared the effects of exercise and sauna bathing to regular exercise using a multi-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants (n = 47) aged 49 ± 9 with low physical activity levels and at least one traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to guideline-based regular exercise and 15-min postexercise sauna (EXS), guideline-based regular exercise (EXE), or control (CON) for 8 wk. The primary outcomes were blood pressure (BP) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Secondary outcomes included fat mass, total cholesterol levels, and arterial stiffness. EXE had a greater change in CRF (+6.2 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, +4.2 to +8.3 mL/kg/min) and fat mass but no differences in BP when compared with CON. EXS displayed greater change in CRF (+2.7 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, +0.2 to +5.3 mL/kg/min), lower systolic BP (-8.0 mmHg; 95% CI, -14.6 to -1.4 mmHg), and lower total cholesterol levels compared with EXE. Regular exercise improved CRF and body composition in sedentary adults with CVD risk factors. However, when combined with exercise, sauna bathing demonstrated a substantially supplementary effect on CRF, systolic BP, and total cholesterol levels. Sauna bathing is a valuable lifestyle tool that complements exercise for improving CRF and decreasing systolic BP. Future research should focus on the duration and frequency of exposure to ascertain the dose-response relationship.
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Essential Hypertension and Oxidative Stress: Novel Future Perspectives.
Franco, C, Sciatti, E, Favero, G, Bonomini, F, Vizzardi, E, Rezzani, R
International journal of molecular sciences. 2022;23(22)
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High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and a significant contributor to the development of strokes, heart attacks, and heart and kidney failure leading to early disability and reduced life expectancy. Essential or primary hypotension makes up 95% of high blood pressure cases, which is abnormally elevated blood pressure that is not a result of any other medical condition. Essential hypertension arises from various factors such as diet, lifestyle, environmental and genetic influences. Despite many available medications, not all patients attain well-managed blood pressure levels. Unmanaged high blood pressure can, over time, lead to narrowing and stiffening of the blood vessels and ultimately to structural and functional changes in the blood tissues. In part, this is mediated by oxidative stress, changes in antioxidant capacity and chronic low-grade inflammation, which damage the blood vessels' endothelial tissue and result in vascular stiffness. Melatonin is one of the most potent antioxidants found in nature and has been studied in short-term trials for its blood pressure lowering, antioxidant and vascular protective effects. This small open-label randomised study sought to get a better understanding of the long-term use of melatonin. Initially, the study assessed endothelial tissue damage, oxidative status and vascular stiffness in patients with high blood pressure. Subsequently, some of the participants received a low-dose melatonin supplement (1 mg/day) for one year, whilst being monitored for clinical and structural vascular changes. The study included 23 patients and 14 in the final analysis. After one year, the results showed a significant improvement in arterial stiffness in the melatonin group (11) and an improvement in endothelial tissue function, though the latter was not at statistically significant levels. Improvement in arterial stiffness seemed to be linked to a reduction in total antioxidant capacity (TAC). These findings suggest that melatonin can contribute to restoring oxidative balance in blood plasma, which reflects improved arterial stiffness. The study also demonstrated that besides being a well-tolerated intervention, melatonin also has clinical benefits even when administered at lower doses than normal.
Abstract
Among cardiovascular diseases, hypertension is one of the main risk factors predisposing to fatal complications. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation have been identified as potentially responsible for the development of endothelial damage and vascular stiffness, two of the primum movens of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Based on these data, we conducted an open-label randomized study, first, to evaluate the endothelial damage and vascular stiffness in hypertense patients; second, to test the effect of supplementation with a physiological antioxidant (melatonin 1 mg/day for 1 year) in patients with essential hypertension vs. hypertensive controls. Twenty-three patients of either gender were enrolled and randomized 1:1 in two groups (control and supplemented group). The plasmatic total antioxidant capacity (as a marker of oxidative stress), blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and peripheral endothelial function were evaluated at the beginning of the study and after 1 year in both groups. Our results showed that arterial stiffness improved significantly (p = 0.022) in supplemented patients. The endothelial function increased too, even if not significantly (p = 0.688), after 1 year of melatonin administration. Moreover, the supplemented group showed a significative reduction in TAC levels (p = 0.041) correlated with the improvement of arterial stiffness. These data suggest that melatonin may play an important role in reducing the serum levels of TAC and, consequently, in improving arterial stiffness.
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The Effects of Intermittent Fasting and Continuous Energy Restriction with Exercise on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers, Dietary Compliance, and Perceived Hunger and Mood: Secondary Outcomes of a Randomised, Controlled Trial.
Keenan, S, Cooke, MB, Chen, WS, Wu, S, Belski, R
Nutrients. 2022;14(15)
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Obesity plays an important role in the development of cardiometabolic diseases. Excess body weight contributes to insulin resistance, unfavourable patterns of blood lipids and systemic inflammation, which are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle modifications that restrict energy intake are an effective approach to attaining weight loss and reducing fat mass; however, continuous energy restrictions (CER) often have poor compliance in the long run. Intermittent fasting (IF) approaches present a promising alternative to CER and may promote increased compliance. The favourable changes in cardiometabolic health attained by an energy-restricted diet can be further amplified when combined with exercise. This paper is a secondary analysis from a 12-week intervention investigating the effects of a twice-weekly fast (5:2 IF; IFT group) and CER (CERT group) in 34 young, overweight but metabolically healthy participants when combined with resistance training. The analysis focused on changes in cardiometabolic blood markers, ratings of hunger, mood, energy and compliance as well as the participant's intention to continue with their prescribed diets post-intervention. Both dietary patterns improved blood lipids, namely reductions in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol over 12 weeks. Reductions in TC and LDL-C were more pronounced in the IFT group. No remarkable differences or changes in triglycerides, the inflammatory marker C-reactive Protein or markers of insulin resistance were seen in either group. Both groups reported high levels of dietary compliance and low levels of hunger, suggesting that both diets are well adhered to in the short to medium term. Some gender-specific differences were seen, but the author was unable to make conclusions due to the small study size. The analysis demonstrated that IF and CER, combined with resistance exercise, can improve some cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in overweight but metabolically healthy adults, independent of weight loss, with greater improvements with IF approaches.
Abstract
(1) Background: Excess weight in the form of adiposity plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases. Lifestyle modifications that incorporate continuous energy restriction (CER) are effective at inducing weight loss and reductions in adiposity; however, prescribing daily CER results in poor long-term adherence. Over the past decade, intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a promising alternative to CER that may promote increased compliance and/or improvements in cardiometabolic health parameters independent of weight loss. (2) Methods: This paper presents a secondary analysis of data from a 12-week intervention investigating the effects of a twice-weekly fast (5:2 IF; IFT group) and CER (CERT group) when combined with resistance exercise in 34 healthy participants (17 males and 17 females, mean BMI: 27.0 kg/m2, mean age: 23.9 years). Specifically, changes in cardiometabolic blood markers and ratings of hunger, mood, energy and compliance within and between groups were analysed. Dietary prescriptions were hypoenergetic and matched for energy and protein intake. (3) Results: Both dietary groups experienced reductions in total cholesterol (TC; mean reduction, 7.8%; p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; mean reduction, 11.1%; p < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean reduction 2.6%, p = 0.049) over the 12 weeks. Reductions in TC and LDL-C were greater in the IFT group after adjustment for baseline levels and change in weight. No significant changes in markers of glucose regulation were observed. Both groups maintained high levels of dietary compliance (~80%) and reported low levels of hunger over the course of the intervention period. (4) Conclusions: Secondary data analysis revealed that when combined with resistance training, both dietary patterns improved blood lipids, with greater reductions observed in the IFT group. High levels of compliance and low reported levels of hunger throughout the intervention period suggest both diets are well tolerated in the short-to-medium term.