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Effect of a multi-domain lifestyle intervention on cardiovascular risk in older people: the FINGER trial.
Lehtisalo, J, Rusanen, M, Solomon, A, Antikainen, R, Laatikainen, T, Peltonen, M, Strandberg, T, Tuomilehto, J, Soininen, H, Kivipelto, M, et al
European heart journal. 2022;43(21):2054-2061
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Older people are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, and 90% of the risk factors can be modified, including an unhealthy diet, poor physical activity, obesity, smoking, and obesity-related comorbidities. This randomised controlled trial examined a multifactorial approach combining several lifestyle modifications in 1259 older adults between 60 and 77 years of age to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Participants were randomly assigned to intensive multi-domain lifestyle intervention or regular health advice control groups. The multifactorial lifestyle intervention incorporated dietary counselling, exercise training, cognitive training, and managing CVD and metabolic risk factors. Dietary interventions included tailored strategies that considered increased consumption of fruits, berries, vegetables, whole grains, margarine, oil, and fish. Physical exercise interventions included strength training, balance exercises, and aerobic exercises. Cognitive interventions and intensive strategies to manage metabolic factors were also implemented. In the multifactorial lifestyle intervention group, cerebrovascular events were lower after two years than in the control group. In addition, cardiovascular disease and stroke incidence were lower in the elderly with a history of cardiovascular disease. Healthcare professionals can use the results from this study to understand the benefits of multifactorial lifestyle interventions on cardiovascular disease. However, there is a need for longer-term robust studies since the evidence is sparse.
Abstract
AIMS: Joint prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia could reduce the burden of both conditions. The Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) demonstrated a beneficial effect on cognition (primary outcome) and we assessed the effect of this lifestyle intervention on incident CVD (pre-specified secondary outcome). METHODS AND RESULTS FINGER enrolled 1259 individuals aged 60-77 years (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01041989). They were randomized (1:1) to a 2-year multi-domain intervention with diet, physical and cognitive activity, and vascular monitoring (n = 631), or general health advice (n = 628). National registries provided data on CVD including stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or coronary heart event. During an average of 7.4 years, 229 participants (18%) had at least one CVD diagnosis: 107 in the intervention group and 122 in the control group. The incidence of cerebrovascular events was lower in the intervention than the control group: hazard ratio (HR) for combined stroke/TIA was 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.99] after adjusting for background characteristics. Hazard ratio for coronary events was 0.84 (CI: 0.56-1.26) and total CVD events 0.80 (95% CI: 0.61-1.04). Among those with history of CVD (n = 145), the incidence of both total CVD events (HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.90) and stroke/TIA (HR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.20-0.81) was lower in the intervention than the control group. CONCLUSION A 2-year multi-domain lifestyle intervention among older adults was effective in preventing cerebrovascular events and also total CVD events among those who had history of CVD.
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Daily Ingestion of Eggplant Powder Improves Blood Pressure and Psychological State in Stressed Individuals: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.
Nishimura, M, Suzuki, M, Takahashi, R, Yamaguchi, S, Tsubaki, K, Fujita, T, Nishihira, J, Nakamura, K
Nutrients. 2019;11(11)
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Prevention and management of hypertension are major public health challenges worldwide. Psychosocial factors are related to blood pressure and may lead to hypertension. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term antihypertensive, anti-stress, and psychological state-improving effects of eggplant in human participants with normal-high blood pressure and grade 1 hypertension. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative study. The participants were randomized into one of two intervention groups; placebo group or eggplant group. The participants ingested four eggplant powder capsules, or four placebo capsules every day for 12 weeks. Results indicate that continuous intake of eggplant powder improved blood pressure in participants with normal-high blood pressure and grade 1 hypertension. Additionally, eggplant intake improved positive and negative psychosocial states. Authors conclude that eggplant should be utilised as a safe treatment for blood pressure and mental health.
Abstract
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a globally popular vegetable and its significant health effect has not been reported in randomized controlled trials. Recently, we reported that eggplant was rich in choline esters, including acetylcholine (ACh), and had an antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Here, we evaluated the effects of a continuous intake of eggplant powder on blood pressure (BP), stress, and psychological state (PS) in 100 stressed participants with normal-high BP or grade 1 hypertension in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative study. The participants were randomly assigned to the eggplant or placebo group. Participants in the eggplant group ingested capsules containing eggplant powder (1.2 g/day; 2.3 mg of ACh/day) for 12 weeks, whereas participants in the placebo group ingested placebo capsules. The primary outcome assessed was hospital BP. Secondary outcomes were stress and PS. Eggplant powder intake significantly decreased the hospital diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at week 8 overall and in the normal-high BP group, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP at week 12 overall and in the grade 1 hypertension group, compared to those of the placebo group. It also improved negative PSs at week 8 or 12 in the normal-high BP group. This is the first evidence of the BP- and PS-improving effects of eggplant intake in humans. The functional substance responsible for the effects was estimated to be eggplant-derived choline ester, namely ACh.
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Changes in Eating Behaviors of Children with Obesity in Response to Carbohydrate-Modified and Portion-Controlled Diets.
Kirk, S, Woo, JG, Brehm, B, Daniels, SR, Saelens, BE
Childhood obesity (Print). 2017;13(5):377-383
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Paediatric obesity has been shown to be managed most effectively when interventions with multiple components, such as dietary changes, physical activity, supportive parental involvement, and behavioural strategies are included. The aim to the study was to evaluate whether baseline or changes in psychological dimensions of eating behaviours could account for variability in weight status outcomes. For this study, children aged between 7 – 12 years with a fasting blood glucose level of ≤100mg/dl and with a BMI z-score of 1.60 – 2.65 were recruited. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three diet groups (low carbohydrate, reduced glycaemic load or portion-controlled diet). The study results show that eating behaviours improved significantly with all diets, and increased cognitive restraint and decreased hunger were sustained at 12 months. Disinhibition also remained significantly lower at 12 months for the reduced glycaemic load group. Authors conclude that targeting diets to youth with obesity who have specific characteristics such as sex, race, and/or lower baseline hunger or higher baseline cognitive restraint scores may lead to better outcomes.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study's objective was to determine whether two distinct carbohydrate (CHO)-modified diets and a standard portion-controlled (PC) diet differentially impacted children's eating behaviors and whether eating behavior scores predicted lower BMI among children with obesity. METHODS Children (n = 102) aged 7-12 years with obesity were randomly assigned to a 12-month intervention of a low-carbohydrate (LC), reduced glycemic load (RGL), or standard PC diet. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) was completed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months by parents to characterize their child's hunger (H), disinhibition (D), and cognitive restraint (CR). Baseline and follow-up TFEQ scores by diet were evaluated relative to BMI status over time. RESULTS All diet groups showed increased CR and decreased H and D from baseline to 3 months, with differences from baseline remaining at 12 months for CR and H. Lower BMI status during study follow-up was associated with different TFEQ scores by diet group (LC and RGL: higher CR; PC: lower H), adjusting for sex, age, and race. Higher CR at follow-up was predicted by race and higher baseline CR; only lower H at baseline predicted lower H at follow-up. CONCLUSION Eating behaviors improved significantly with all diets during the initial 3 months; higher CR and lower H were sustained at treatment's end. BMI outcomes were associated with different eating behaviors in CHO-modified diet groups compared with PC diets. Targeting diets of children with obesity with specific baseline characteristics may lead to improved outcomes.