Regular Stair Climbing May Reduce Heart Disease Risk and Boost Longevity: Study

 Just bought a 4 level condo, 7 steps to each level. Absolutely do not believe in removing steps in living quarters. Don't do steps at home, won't be able to travel to step laden places like Machu Pichu or restrooms anywhere in Europe!

Regular Stair Climbing May Reduce Heart Disease Risk and Boost Longevity: Study

New research reveals surprising way to lower your heart disease risk

Really? You're that fucking late to the game?

I do coffee all day, takes that long to get in a 12 cup pot of coffee. This won't change my habit, it's mainly to reduce my dementia and Parkinsons risk and no one knows the amounts for that.

I'm still doing a 12 cup pot of coffee daily to prevent Parkinsons and frailty! Much more important than any problems it can cause.

How coffee protects against Parkinson’s Aug. 2014 

Coffee May Lower Your Risk of Dementia Feb. 2013

Coffee drinkers rejoice! Drinking coffee could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease 

And this: Coffee's Phenylindanes Fight Alzheimer's Plaque December 2018

New research suggests drinking coffee may reduce the risk of frailty May 2025

I think I'm in this category:  I never get the jitters or flushed skin.

Genetics determine how much coffee you can drink before it goes wrong

I'm doing a 12 cup pot of coffee a day with full fat milk to lessen my chances of dementia and Parkinsons. Tell me EXACTLY how much coffee to drink for that and I'll change. Yep, that is a lot more than the 400mg. suggested limit, I don't care! Preventing dementia and Parkinsons is vastly more important than whatever problems it can cause! 

Of course, your fuckingly incompetent? doctor did nothing with this from 3+ years ago! And still hasn't created a 24 hour coffee station

Dementia risk could drop by drinking just one shot daily of common beverage  August 2023

This line is great: The findings indicate that even the Espresso Martini cocktail contains the espresso's beneficial compounds - and can contribute to staving off dementia.

The latest here: 

New research reveals surprising way to lower your heart disease risk

If you’re a coffee lover, this news will surely perk you up. According to the American Heart Association’s recent scientific statement in Circulation, most adults can safely consume up to five, 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee (equal to about 400 mg of caffeine) a day without harming your heart or increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

The scientists also say for some people, that third, fourth, or fifth cup may decrease the risk of some cardiovascular conditions, including stroke, heart failure, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and atrial fibrillation, along with Type 2 diabetes.

These findings are reassuring because they finally dispel the long-standing myth that coffee is detrimental to cardiovascular health, says Craig Basman, M.D., a structural and interventional cardiologist and associate director of Structural and Congenital Heart Disease at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in Hackensack, NJ.

“The conventional guidance, based on earlier studies and the existing literature, was to limit caffeine intake to one to two cups a day,” he explains. “But now we’re seeing that moderate coffee consumption may actually provide cardioprotective benefits, and adding an extra cup or two daily doesn’t appear to increase cardiovascular risk, including arrhythmia (an abnormal or irregular heart rhythm) risk, in healthy adults,” says Dr. Basman.

Related video: How much coffee per day is safe? Here's the answer. (WATN Memphis)Bibhu Mohanty, M.D., a structural cardiologist and an associate professor at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, agrees. He believes the AHA statement acknowledges and gives a broad recommendation that’s good for most people based on existing data, all without pushing any extremes. statement acknowledges and gives a broad recommendation that’s good for most people based on existing data, all without pushing any extremes.

“This is the most definitive statement coming from a body as authoritative as the American Heart Association,” says Dr. Mohanty. “What they’ve distilled is in the 3 to 5 cup range, you’re not going to hurt yourself or add to your cardiovascular risk.”

Here’s more of the research findings and how those drinking a little extra Joe every day may keep some cardiovascular issues, and more, at bay.

How might coffee protect your heart?

Coffee beans, harvested from coffee trees, are the seeds that grow inside a fruit called the “coffee cherry.” Like other plant-based foods, coffee offers a multitude of positive properties. For example, according to many studies, consuming plant-based foods can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, some types of cancers and all-cause mortality.

What is it about coffee’s content that might account for a healthier ticker? It may be due to the flavonoids in the beans. “A lot of plant-based products have a variety of flavonoids (bioactive compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities) that impact blood vessel tone and how well they can dilate,” says Dr. Mohanty. “If the lining of blood vessels is allowed to properly dilate, it can allow for more blood flow to the heart, which can be very important if a person has plaque buildup in their arteries.”

Dr. Mohanty also says research has shown that flavonoids contribute to improving your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as the “good” type of cholesterol, and decreasing your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol levels. “Flavonoids can shift the ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol so it’s going in a good direction,” says Dr. Mohanty.

A higher intake of flavonoids has also been found to lower the risk of hypertension. One study in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine reported those people who had the highest total flavonoid intake were 25% less likely to have high blood pressure compared to the participants with the lowest flavonoid intake.

“Unfiltered coffee can raise unwanted cholesterol whereas filtered coffee cannot,” Dr. Basman says. Why? By using a mesh or paper filter, it prevents certain negative compounds like cafestol, a natural oil that raises LDL levels, from making its way into your coffee.

Adding any extras to your brew can also interfere or cancel out any cardiovascular protection. “The health benefits are quickly lost when you start adding fillers, such as sugar, cream, milk or flavored syrups,” explains Dr. Basman. “You’re adding things containing chemicals and/or fat that’s not necessarily healthy for the heart. For instance, cream or whole milk may raise your cholesterol.”

The paper’s scientists also note adding sugar or dairy products to your coffee can substantially increase calorie intake. This can of course result in extra weight gain, which can potentially increase your risk of developing conditions such as obesity and diabetes, both of which could lead to heart problems.

But Dr. Basman says don’t sweat it too much if you don’t want to drink your coffee straight. “Although the healthiest way to consume coffee is generally black, I’m not overly concerned about a modest amount of milk or sugar having a significant negative metabolic effect,” he says. “As long as it’s not in excessive quantities, it’s unlikely to meaningfully offset the cardiovascular benefits we’re seeing.”

What about other caffeinated drinks?

It's important to note the research looked at caffeinated black coffee and emphasize these possible cardiovascular benefits don’t apply to caffeinated sodas or those keep-you-awake energy drinks, the latter of which can have whopping amounts of caffeine.

“Individually, these drinks have 3 to 10 times more caffeine than a cup of coffee, which if taken in excess, can pose potentially serious problems, such as heart palpitations, arrhythmias and high blood pressure,” warns Dr. Mohanty.

The bottom line

The researchers stress when it comes to caffeine consumption, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” strategy. Individuals can respond differently to caffeine based on an array of factors, including age, medications, underlying health conditions, how quickly their body metabolizes it and even genetics. The scientists also underscore the importance of paying attention to how you respond to caffeine and talking to your doctor if drinking more coffee doesn’t feel right.

However, for many java enthusiasts, there’s no need to feel guilty for indulging in those extra cups. Dr. Mohanty says he’s happy to know people can enjoy their caffeinated coffee and have some guidance on a specific amount of consumption that’s safe. “The paper gives a very fair assessment that consuming within that mid-range of 3 to 5 cups a day is okay and may have positive effects on your heart health.”

After all, coffee is more than just a drink to wake you up; it’s a beverage that brings people together. “Coffee is a big part of our lives both socially and culturally, and no one is trying to take that away from us,” says Dr. Mohanty.

Can This Classic Exercise Really Predict Heart Disease? What The Research Shows by mindbodygreen

 I haven't been able to do any pushups for 20 years now, all due my doctor's COMPLETE FUCKING FAILURE TO CURE SPASTICITY! I'll never forgive him for that failure!

Can This Classic Exercise Really Predict Heart Disease? What The Research Shows

Researchers Link Widely Used Food Preservatives to Higher Heart Disease Risk

 

Your competent? doctor already had the dietician remove all these foods from your hospital diet protocol and your take home diet protocol, right? Oh NO! NOTHING WAS DONE!

Researchers Link Widely Used Food Preservatives to Higher Heart Disease Risk

A diet high in these 3 foods can reduce heart disease risk

 Ask your competent? doctor to give you SPECIFICS; not this useless guideline crapola! High has no meaning that answers the amounts to consume. NO diet protocol here; which is what is needed.

A diet high in these 3 foods can reduce heart disease risk

Both low-carb and low-fat diets can lead to weight loss, but which is better for heart health?

It all depends on what you’re eating while following those regimens, experts say.

Consuming too much protein, for example, or replacing fat with sugar and refined carbs won’t lead to a healthier body.

But three types of foods in particular can be part of either diet and can protect the heart.

Cardiologist Tip of the Day: Focus on Quality Foods for Heart Health

Eating either a low-fat or a low-carb diet that’s rich in three things — plant-based foods, whole grains and unsaturated fats — is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found.

Diet quality plays a "critical role" no matter which macronutrients an eating plan emphasizes, the authors noted.“The study confirms what we’ve learned over the last 20 years,” Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, told NBC News.

Rather than focusing on fat, carbohydrates or protein, it’s the quality of the foods that can lower heart disease risk, he added.

Why It Matters

Coronary heart disease happens when fatty cholesterol deposits build up in the heart arteries, narrowing and hardening them, and limiting how much oxygen-rich blood reaches the heart muscle. It can ultimately lead to a heart attack.

The disease is largely preventable with lifestyle choices, including eating healthy foods, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute notes.Quality foods to eat on either a low-fat or a low-carb diet include nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, Kristina Petersen, an associate professor of nutritional science at Penn State who studies diet and risk of cardiovascular disease, told NBC News.

Eat fewer foods that are higher in added sugar, saturated fat and salt, she added.

How to Get Started

Dietitians recommend these healthy plant-based foods to add to any diet: beans, sweet potatoes, kimchi, nuts, peanut butter, farro and tofu.

There’s a variety of whole grains to try, from whole wheat bread and brown rice to corn, quinoa and oats.

Foods high in unsaturated fats include extra virgin olive oil, walnuts and avocados.Download the Start TODAY app for healthy meals plans and recipe ideas that fit any eating plan.

TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

American Heart Association Shares Nine Diet Rules to Lower Heart Disease Risk

 

Ask your competent? doctor for EXACT DIET PROTOCOLS! None of these rules; they have NO specifics! You need SPECIFICS!

How the hell else is your incompetent? doctor lowering your heart disease risk?

Let's see how long your doctor has been working at that problem AND STILL PRODUCED NOTHING!

• heart disease risk (7 posts to December 2017)

Do you prefer your doctor, hospital and board of director's incompetence NOT KNOWING? OR NOT DOING? Your choice; let them be incompetent or demand action!

American Heart Association Shares Nine Diet Rules to Lower Heart Disease Risk

Study Links Beer Bellies to Harmful Heart Structure Changes, Especially in Men

 The WHO states that abdominal obesity is defined as a waist-hip ratio above 0.90 for males and above 0.85 for females or a body mass index (BMI) above 30.
Mine is just above .90; BMI of 28.1

All because my doctor COMPLETELY FAILED AT GETTING ME 100% RECOVERED!

Study Links Beer Bellies to Harmful Heart Structure Changes, Especially in Men

Can cocoa lower your heart disease risk?

Well shit I identified these from research years ago. I bet your stroke hospital still doesn't have a 24 hour coffee/cocoa station. Incompetence in action, I'd suggest firing the board of directors for not setting proper goals. 

Was this earlier research not good enough to write up protocols? Do they even know about this earlier research?

Flavanol-rich chocolate acutely improves arterial function and working memory performance counteracting the effects of sleep deprivation in healthy individuals June 2016

Cocoa Flavanols: Scientifically proven health benefits  Feb. 2016

 

Boosting Cocoa's Dementia-Fighting Benefits  Oct. 2015 

 

2 Cups of Hot Cocoa-a-Day Keeps the Neurologist Away  June 2015

 

 

Sweet dreams: eating chocolate prevents heart disease  June 2015

 

 Cocoa flavanol consumption improves cognitive function, blood pressure control, and metabolic profile in elderly subjects: the Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) Study—a randomized controlled trial  Jan. 2015 

 

Blueberries, Avocados and Cocoa Beans May Keep Cardiologists at Bay  Jan. 2015

 

This Common Beverage Reversed Normal Age-Related Memory Loss in Three Months - Cocoa  Oct. 2014 

 

Cocoa Extract May Counter Specific Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease  June 2014 

 

Could Hot Cocoa Improve Brainpower in Seniors?  Aug. 2013

 

Chocolate-loving countries produce more Nobel laureates  Oct. 2012

 

Eating small bar of chocolate cuts risks of stroke in men  Sept. 2012

 

Hot Cocoa May Boost Seniors' Brain Power  Aug. 2012

 

Dark Chocolate: Sweet Prevention for CV Events  June 2012

 The latest here:

 

Can cocoa lower your heart disease risk?

In a recent study published in Nutrients, researchers reviewed the effects of cocoa consumption on anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and glycemic and lipid profiles to elucidate its impact on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Study: Effects of Cocoa Consumption on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Image Credit: iprachenko / Shutterstock.com

CVDs and the need for dietary interventions

Current estimates indicate that CVDs claim over 17.9 million lives each year, thus making these diseases the leading global cause of human mortality. In Brazil, over 397,000 individuals died due to CVDs in 2019, 43% of whom succumbed to coronary artery diseases.

The Framingham Heart Study is considered the pioneer of cardiometabolic research, as a significant portion of current cardiometabolic risk stratification has been based on its concepts. This study stratifies CVD risk based on age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and behaviors, including smoking and alcohol dependence. Notably, many of these factors have shown strong associations with diet, with a growing body of literature highlighting the role of healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, in reducing CVD risk.

Cocoa is a fruit that is rich in polyphenols, the majority of which are flavonoids that have been shown to reduce the risk of both CVDs and artherosclerosis by reducing inflammation, improving endothelial function, and lowering blood pressure. More specifically, cocoa appears to activate nitric oxide (NO) and neutralize free radicals, thereby reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage.  

To date, previous studies aimed at revealing the potential benefits of cocoa consumption on the Framingham risk score, a measure of cardiometabolic risk, have produced mixed results.

About the study

The present study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) evaluating the associations between cocoa consumption and cardiometabolic risk markers.

RCTs that included individuals 18 years of age and older that used cocoa, its extracts, or dark chocolate, with a cocoa content of 70% or higher, were eligible for review inclusion. Studies conducted on pregnant or post-menopausal women, animal models, and those investigating the association between cardiometabolic risk and other comorbidities like cancer were excluded from the study.

Relevant publications were identified using six electronic scientific databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, SciELO, LILACS, and Cochrane. The Rayyan reference manager was used for study data extraction and management.

Data on the reviewer, author, journal, publication year, country, methodology, cohort size, and participant details, including age, sex, amount of cocoa supplementation, follow-up period, and reported outcomes, were collected. The Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tool was used to calculate bias risk between included studies.

The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to determine the strength of evidence of each included study against other studies in a paired-effects fashion. Higgins (I²) was used to test the degree of heterogeneity of included publications.

Study findings

Of the 3,807 studies initially identified in the database search, 31 met the study inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Taken together, these studies included a cohort size of 1,110 cases and 876 controls.

Thirteen studies assessed the effects of cocoa supplementation on healthy participants, three on participants with metabolic syndrome, two on hypertension or pre-hypertension, seven with T2D, one on insulin resistance, and four on dyslipidemia or excess weight.

Cocoa consumption had no statistically significant effects on total body mass, waist circumference, or BMI. While abdominal circumference was reduced following cocoa supplementation interventions, these findings were borderline and were associated with high heterogeneity.

However, cocoa polyphenol consumption was found to reduce adverse lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose levels, and blood pressure, with the degree of reductions positively correlated with the dosage of cocoa intake. These findings may explain previously contrasting reports between studies, as cocoa elicited cardioprotective effects despite showing no improvements in some historic CVD risk markers.

Taken together, cocoa consumption, including cocoa supplements and dark chocolate, appears to impart protective effects on cardiometabolic risk markers and have a clinically significant impact on CVD risk reduction.

We suggest that the consumption of polyphenol-rich cocoa could be part of a strategy aimed at promoting cardiovascular health.”

Journal reference:

• Arisi, T. O. P., da Silva, D. S., Stein, E., et al. (2024). Effects of Cocoa Consumption on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients 16(12):1919. doi:10.3390/nu16121919

High levels of niacin linked to heart disease, new research suggests

 

When I was on this drug in a clinical trial it flared up my eczema so bad I quit the trial.

Ask your competent? doctor if this use of niacin for  Alzheimer's prevention is more important that the risk of heart disease. S/he has had two years to figure out what human trials have been done and their results. If they don't know that; you don't have a functioning stroke doctor!

Intake of FDA-Approved Drug Modulates Disease Progression in Alzheimer’s Model

 March 2022

The latest here:

High levels of niacin linked to heart disease, new research suggests

High levels of niacin, an essential B vitamin, may raise the risk of heart disease by triggering inflammation and damaging blood vessels, according to new research.

The report, published Monday in Nature Medicine, revealed a previously unknown risk from excessive amounts of the vitamin, which is found in many foods, including meat, fish, nuts, and fortified cereals and breads.

The recommended daily allowance of niacin for men is 16 milligrams per day and for women who are not pregnant is 14 milligrams per day.

About 1 in 4 Americans has higher than the recommended level of niacin, said the study’s senior author, Dr. Stanley Hazen, chair of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute and co-section head of preventive cardiology at the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute.

The researchers currently don’t know where to draw the line between healthy and unhealthy amounts of niacin, although that may be determined with future research.

"The average person should avoid niacin supplements now that we have reason to believe that taking too much niacin can potentially lead to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” Hazen said.

Currently, Americans get plenty of niacin from their diet since flour, grains and cereals have been fortified with niacin since the 1940s after scientists discovered that very low levels of the nutrient could lead to a potentially fatal condition called pellagra, Hazen said.

Prior to the development of cholesterol-lowering statins, niacin supplements were once even prescribed by doctors to improve cholesterol levels.

To search for unknown risk factors for cardiovascular disease, Hazen and his colleagues designed a multipart study that included an analysis of fasting blood samples from 1,162 patients who had come into a cardiology center to be evaluated for heart disease. The researchers were looking for common markers, or signs, in the patients’ blood that might reveal new risk factors.

The research resulted in the discovery of a substance in some of the blood samples that is only made when there is excess niacin.

Meat in grocery store (Burke/Triolo Productions / Getty Images)

That finding led to two additional “validation” studies, which included data from a total of 3,163 adults who either had heart disease or were suspected of having it. The two investigations, one in the U.S. and one in Europe, showed that the niacin breakdown product, 4PY, predicted participants’ future risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

The final part of the study involved experiments in mice. When the rodents were injected with 4PY, inflammation increased in their blood vessels.

The results are “fascinating” and “important,” said Dr. Robert Rosenson, director of metabolism and lipids for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

The newly detected pathway to heart disease might lead to the discovery of a medication that could reduce blood vessel inflammation and decrease the likelihood of major cardiovascular events, he added.

Rosenson hopes that the food industry will take note and “stop using so much niacin in products like bread. This is a case where too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.”

The new information could influence dietary recommendations for niacin, said Rosenson, who was not involved with the Cleveland Clinic research.

Scientists have known for decades that a person’s cholesterol level could be a major driver of heart disease, said Dr. Amanda Doran, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Even when patients’ cholesterol levels were brought down, some continued to have a high risk of heart attacks and stroke, Doran said, adding that a 2017 trial suggested that the increased risk might be related to blood vessel inflammation.

Doran was surprised to learn that niacin could be involved in driving up the risk of heart disease.

“I don’t think anyone would have predicted that niacin would have been pro-inflammatory,” she said. “This is a powerful study because it combines a variety of techniques: clinical data, genetic data and mouse data.”

Finding the new pathway may allow future researchers to discover ways to reduce blood vessel inflammation, Doran said.

“It’s very exciting and promising,” she said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

Alcohol consumption may have counteractive effects on heart disease risk, study finds

 There really is zero reason to ask your doctor what this means.

Here is what your doctor will use, no thinking required:

Safest level of alcohol consumption is none, worldwide study shows

The latest here:

Alcohol consumption may have counteractive effects on heart disease risk, study finds

A new study identified 60 alcohol-associated circulating metabolites, which appear to produce counteractive effects on the risk of heart disease.

While past research has indicated that moderate alcohol consumption can lower one's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), more recent studies suggest that moderate levels of drinking may be hazardous to heart health. A new analysis led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University now sheds new insight on this complex relationship between alcohol consumption and the progression of CVD.

Published in the journal BMC Medicine, the study found that alcohol consumption may have counteractive effects on CVD risk, depending on the biological presence of certain circulating metabolites—molecules that are produced during or after a substance is metabolized and studied as biomarkers of many diseases.

The researchers observed a total of 60 alcohol consumption-related metabolites, identifying seven circulating metabolites that link long-term moderate alcohol consumption with an increased risk of CVD, and three circulating metabolites that link this same drinking pattern with a lower risk of CVD.

The findings provide a better understanding of the molecular pathway of long-term alcohol consumption and highlight the need for and direction of further research on these metabolites to inform targeted prevention and treatment of alcohol-related CVD.

The study findings demonstrate that alcohol consumption may trigger changes of our metabolomic profiles, potentially yielding both beneficial and harmful outcomes. Because the majority of our study participants are moderate alcohol consumers, our findings contribute to the ongoing discussion about the relationship between moderate alcohol drinking and heart health."

Chunyu Liu, assistant professor of biostatistics at BUSPH

Liu is the co-corresponding/co-senior author of the study along with Jiantao Ma, assistant professor in the Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science at the Friedman School

"However, rather than definitively settling that debate, this study underscores the intricate effects of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular health and generates a useful hypothesis for future investigations," Liu says.

Genetics & Genomics - Second Edition eBook NEW EDITION NOW OUT - Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download the latest edition

For the study, the researchers examined blood samples to measure the association between the cumulative average consumption over 20 years of beer, wine, and liquor and 211 metabolites among 2,428 Framingham Heart Study Offspring Study participants, who are the children of participants in the long-running Boston University-based Framingham Heart Study. Among the participants, 636 developed CVD over the study period.

Among the 60 drinking-related metabolites, 13 metabolites had a stronger association with alcohol consumption in women than in men, perhaps due to women's generally smaller body size and likely higher blood alcohol concentration after consuming the same amount of alcohol as men.

The results also showed that consumption of different types of alcohol was linked to different metabolomic responses, with beer consumption generating a slightly weaker association overall than wine and liquor. In roughly two-thirds of the 60 metabolites, higher plasma levels were detected in participants who consumed greater amounts of alcohol.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) were among the metabolites that were not associated with alcohol consumption.

The researchers then calculated two alcohol consumption-associated metabolite scores, which had opposite associations with the development of CVD.

"While our study presents intriguing findings, validation through state-of-the-art methods and large and diverse study populations is crucial," Ma says. "To enhance reliability, we aim to conduct larger-scale research involving a more diverse racial and ethnic background, as the current study participants are all white. In addition, we will expand our study to integrate with other molecular markers such as genetic information to illustrate the complex relationships between alcohol consumption, metabolite features, and cardiovascular risk."

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism under award R01AA028263. Data collection in the Framingham Heart Study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Complete information on authors, funders, methodology, limitations, and conflicts of interest is available in the published paper.

Source:

Tufts University

Journal reference:

Li, Y., et al. (2023). Circulating metabolites may illustrate relationship of alcohol consumption with cardiovascular disease. BMC Medicine. doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03149-2.

Red meat raises heart disease risk through gut bacteria

Be careful out there. Maybe 50 years from now your doctor will have copied someone else's diet protocol.  Paleo diet not ok?

Red meat raises heart disease risk through gut bacteria

Healthline/Medical News Today | December 13, 2018

Scientists have uncovered further evidence of how a diet rich in red meat interacts with gut bacteria to raise the risk of heart disease.

Advertisement

They found that people who ate red meat as their main source of protein for 1 month had levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) that were two to three times higher than those in people who got their protein primarily from white meat or non-meat sources.
Gut bacteria produce TMAO as a byproduct when they feed on certain nutrients during digestion.
Previous studies have implicated high circulating levels of TMAO in the development of artery-blocking plaques and raised risk of heart-related conditions.
In the recent research, scientists at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio uncovered two mechanisms through which a diet rich in red meat raises TMAO levels.

It appears that not only does frequent consumption of red meat enhance gut bacteria production of TMAO, but it also reduces elimination of the compound through the kidneys.

The European Heart Journal has published a report on the study and its findings.
"This is the first study of our knowledge," says senior study author Dr. Stanley L. Hazen, who chairs the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, "to show that the kidneys can change how effectively they expel different compounds depending on the diet that one eats—other than salts and water."

• See Also: Iron-rich foods for vegetarians and vegans

TMAO as a predictor of heart disease risk

In previous work, Dr. Hazen and his team had found that TMAO alters blood platelets to raise the risk of thrombosis, or blood clots.
Their work revealed that TMAO modifies calcium signaling in blood platelets. In addition, it showed that platelets respond differently to blood-clotting triggers when blood levels of TMAO are high.

The team proposed that the compound could be a powerful predictor of the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death—even when cholesterol and blood pressure levels are healthy.

Others have since replicated the findings and, like Dr. Hazen and his team, have continued to investigate TMAO and its impact on health.
Research from the University of Leicester in the UK, for example, demonstrated that people with acute heart failure fared worse if they had higher circulating levels of TMAO.
Clinical trials are also underway to test TMAO as a predictive marker of heart disease risk.

Red meat diet compared with other diets

The recent study assigned 113 individuals to follow three tightly controlled diets in a random order for 4 weeks each with a "washout diet" preceding the changeover.
The diets differed according to their main source of protein. In the red meat diet, 12% of the daily calories came from lean red meat in the form of pork or beef, while in the white meat diet, these calories came from lean white poultry meat.
In the non-meat diet, 12% of the daily calorie intake came from "legumes, nuts, grains, [and] isoflavone-free soy products."
In all three diets, protein accounted for 25% of the daily calories, and the remaining 13% of this protein came from "eggs, dairy, and vegetable sources."

After 4 weeks on the red meat diet, "the majority of" the individuals had raised levels of TMAO in their blood and urine.

On average, compared with levels during the white meat and non-meat diets, blood levels of TMAO during the red meat diet were up to three times higher. For some individuals, the levels were 10 times higher. Urine samples revealed a similar pattern.

Reduced kidney efficiency

The study also yielded an unexpected result. While on the red meat diet, the study participants' kidneys were less efficient at expelling TMAO.
However, in the 4 weeks after ceasing the red meat diet, their blood and urine levels of TMAO fell.
Dr. Hazen says that the findings show that people can reduce their risk of heart-related problems by changing what they eat.
Gut production of TMAO was lower and kidney elimination was higher when the individuals followed the white meat or non-meat protein diet.
This suggests, says Dr. Hazen, that these types of diet are more healthful for the heart and body.

"We know lifestyle factors are critical for cardiovascular health, and these findings build upon our previous research on TMAO's link with heart disease."
—Dr. Stanley L. Hazen

• See Also: Osteoporosis: Could probiotics protect bone health?

To read more, click here.

Earlier diabetes diagnosis linked to heart disease, stroke

Be careful out there.
https://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/top-medical-news/article/2018/02/26/7505013/?

Healthline/Medical News Today

A study published in the journal Diabetologia has found some interesting associations between the age at which a person is diagnosed with diabetes and their risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer-related mortality.
As recent studies have pointed out, the rates of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes among young people in the United States have been on the rise.
According to a 2017 report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, around 208,000 people in the US under the age of 20 were diagnosed with diabetes.
The age at which someone is diagnosed with diabetes has been linked to a progression in cardiometabolic risk factors. The younger the age at the time of diagnosis, the more likely the people are to be obese, have higher levels of "bad" cholesterol, and experience faster deterioration of their blood sugar control.
Now, Professors Dianna Magliano and Jonathan Shaw, both from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, set out to investigate the link between the age of a diabetes diagnosis and the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer death.
A higher cardiovascular death risk
To this end, Professor Magliano and team examined data on 743,709 people from Australia who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 1997 and 2011.
Because these people were registered with Australia's National Diabetes Services Scheme, the researchers had access to data on their mortality causes.
On average, during the study period, people received their diagnosis at the age of 59, and a total of 115,363 deaths were recorded. The authors summarize their findings, saying:

"An earlier diagnosis of type 2 diabetes—and thus a longer duration of disease—was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, primarily driven by cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality."

More specifically, being diagnosed 10 years earlier amounted to a 20% to 30% higher risk of all-cause mortality, and a 60% higher risk of dying of heart disease. The results were just as strong for both men and women.
"Evidence is accumulating," the authors write, "to suggest that earlier onset of type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of complications and comorbidities compared with later onset, and that the development and progression of complications might be more aggressive in those with earlier onset."
"As such," they continue, "increased clinical attention is imperative for individuals with earlier-onset type 2 diabetes."
"Efforts should focus," the researchers add, "on timely optimization of individuals' self-management skills and medical treatment to prevent or reduce the onset of complications and comorbidities."
"Additionally," they say, "there is a need to identify and screen those at high risk of developing diabetes so that individuals can make lifestyle changes that will prevent or delay the onset of diabetes."
Intriguingly, the study also revealed that cancer-related mortality was lower for those who received the diabetes diagnosis at a younger age.
The authors speculate on the possible explanations for this, saying, "[I]t is possible that following a diagnosis of diabetes, people have more frequent contact with the health-care system, which may increase the likelihood of any present, but undiagnosed, cancer being detected."

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Premature greying or balding may be better predictors of heart disease than obesity

I was balding in high school, pretty much totally bald by 25. I guess I should have chosen better parents.  Am not premature graying.  I'm assuming that this was written before stroke was removed from the cardiovascular disease category and put into neurological diseases.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/premature-greying-balding-may-better-134119052.html
James Brown, Senior Lecturer in Biology and Biomedical Science, Aston University
,The Conversation•November 30, 2017


Male-pattern baldness and premature greying are associated with a greater risk of heart disease before the age of 40 than obesity, according to a new study from India. Does this mean that doctors should be screening our hairline alongside traditional risk factors such as our weight and blood pressure?
Over the years, scientists have developed many cardiovascular disease “risk tools”, with varying levels of usefulness. The tools normally involve measuring “classical” risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels, obesity and diabetes. Included in most of these risk tools is age, because risk of cardiovascular disease in later life is higher if you have risk factors in your forties.
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Beyond these classical risk factors, several slightly odd risk factors have been identified. These include weak grip strength, skipping breakfast and being divorced. Previous research has also suggested that premature hair greying is linked to vascular (blood vessel) disease. Male-pattern baldness may also be an early sign of cardiovascular risk.
Fivefold greater risk
The new study, presented at the 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India, looked at coronary artery disease, a major form of cardiovascular disease. They specifically studied men under the age of 40. This is important as the classical risk factors are not as good at predicting cardiovascular disease in younger people. This study investigated the links between premature hair greying, hair loss and coronary artery disease in young Indian men.
The researchers, from the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad, compared men under 40 with coronary artery disease with age-matched healthy men. All participants had their degree of coronary artery disease measured using a variety of clinical tests. Participants also had their baldness and hair whiteness rated.
When the researchers compared results between the two groups, they found that men with coronary artery disease had significantly higher rates of premature greying (50% versus 30%) and male-pattern baldness (49% versus 27%). After adjusting for other factors, they found that male-pattern baldness carried a 5.6 times greater risk of coronary artery disease. Premature greying was associated with a 5.3 times greater risk.
These hair-related factors were apparently better predictors of coronary artery disease risk than obesity, which was only associated with a 4.1 times greater risk. All of the classical risk factors were worse at predicting coronary artery disease than male-pattern baldness and premature greying.
At least you can do something about being obese. Gabrielle Ray/Shutterstock
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Focus on what you can change
While the study is very interesting, it must be noted that the numbers recruited were relatively small (780 men with coronary artery disease and 1,270 healthy males). Also, the study only recruited Indian men. Before we reconsider how we screen for cardiovascular disease in people under 40, this type of study needs to be repeated in a larger, more diverse group of people.
If these findings are true, the next step is to understand why it is so. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor, so weight loss can be an important tool in reducing the risk of future cardiovascular disease. As of yet there is little we can do to reverse or prevent male-pattern baldness or premature greying, beyond cosmetic changes.
It is possible that these factors may be markers of biological age, which may influence cardiovascular risk. This might mean that there is little we can currently do to reduce this risk. There may also be genetic factors that link premature baldness or greyness with cardiovascular disease risk, but these have yet to be discovered.
It remains to be seen if male-pattern baldness or premature greying really are risk factors for cardiovascular disease across the general population. Until there is more evidence, it is best to be reminded that eating a healthy diet rich in fibre and getting regular exercise are excellent ways to reduce the risk of having heart problems in the future.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.