scholarly journals Skipping breakfast leads to weight loss but also elevated cholesterol compared with consuming daily breakfasts of oat porridge or frosted cornflakes in overweight individuals: a randomised controlled trial

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Geliebter ◽  
Nerys M. Astbury ◽  
Roni Aviram-Friedman ◽  
Eric Yahav ◽  
Sami Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Skipping Breakfast

AbstractEating breakfast may reduce appetite, body weight and CVD risk factors, but the breakfast type that produces the greatest health benefits remains unclear. We compared the effects of consuming a high-fibre breakfast, a non-fibre breakfast, or no-breakfast control on body weight, CVD risk factors and appetite. A total of thirty-six overweight participants (eighteen men and eighteen women) (mean age 33·9 (sd7·5) years, mean BMI 32·8 (sd4·7) kg/m2) were randomly assigned to consume oat porridge (n = 12), frosted cornflakes (n = 12) or a water control (n = 12) breakfast daily for 4 weeks. Appetite ratings were collected on the first day and weekly thereafter. Before and after the intervention, body weight, composition, blood pressure and resting energy expenditure (REE) were measured and a fasting blood sample was collected. Across the 4 weeks, fullness was higher and hunger was lower in the oat porridge group compared with the control group (P < 0·05). Mean weight change over the intervention was significantly different in the control group (−1·18 (sd1·16) kg) compared with both the cornflakes (−0·12 (sd1·34) kg) and oat porridge (+0·26 (sd0·91) kg) groups (P < 0·05). However, the control group also showed elevated total cholesterol concentrations relative to the cornflakes and oat porridge groups (P < 0·05). There were no differences between groups in changes in body composition, blood pressure, REE or other CVD risk factors. In conclusion, although skipping breakfast led to weight loss, it also resulted in increased total cholesterol concentrations compared with eating either oat porridge or frosted cornflakes for breakfast.

1107Reduction of cardiovascular disease risk factors in rural, medically under-served, socioeconomically distressed, high-risk individuals: a randomized controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Moser ◽  
M L Chung ◽  
F Feltner ◽  
T A Lennie ◽  
M J Biddle
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background People in rural, socioeconomically distressed areas of the world suffer from marked cardiovascular disease (CVD) disparities. Despite the CVD disparities seen in rural, distressed areas, efforts directed toward CVD risk reduction and prevention are limited. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to determine the effect of an individualized, culturally appropriate, self-care CVD risk reduction intervention (HeartHealth) compared to referral of patients to a primary care provider for usual care on the following CVD risk factors: tobacco use, blood pressure, lipid profile, body mass index, depressive symptoms, and physical activity levels. Methods The study protocol and intervention were developed with a community advisory board of lay community members, business owners, local government officials, church leaders, and healthcare providers. We enrolled 355 individuals living in Appalachia with two or more CVD risk factors. The intervention was delivered in person to groups of 10 or fewer individuals over 12 weeks. In the first session, participants chose their CVD risk reduction goals. HeartHealth was designed to provide participants with self-care skills targeting CVD risk reduction while reducing barriers to risk reduction found in austere rural environments. The targeted CVD risk factors were measured at baseline and 4 and 12 months post-intervention. Repeated measures data were analyzed with mixed models. Results More individuals in the intervention group compared to the control group met their lifestyle change goal (50% vs 16%, p<0.001). The intervention produced a positive impact on systolic blood pressure (p=0.002, time X group effect), diastolic blood pressure (p=0.001, time x group), total cholesterol (p=0.026, time x group), high density lipoprotein (p=0.002, time x group), body mass index (p=0.017, time x group), smoking status (p=0.01), depressive symptoms (p=0.01, time x group), and steps per day (p=0.001, time x group). Compared to the control group, improvement was seen at 4 months in these risk factors and the positive changes were maintained through 12 months. There were no differences seen across time by group in low density lipoprotein or triglyceride levels. Conclusion Interventions like HeartHealth that focus on self-care and that are derived in collaboration with the community of interest are effective in medically underserved, socioeconomically distressed rural areas. Acknowledgement/Funding Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Abstract 44: Cardiometabolic Responses to Weight Change are Different between Obese and Normal Weight Adults Who are Metabolically Healthy: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaohui Cui ◽  
Kimberly P Truesdale ◽  
Patrick T Bradshaw ◽  
Jianwen Cai ◽  
June Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Weight Maintenance ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Obese Adults ◽  
Metabolically Healthy

Introduction: The 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults recommended weight loss for obese adults in order to reduce their cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, not all obese adults develop CVD and approximately 17% of obese Americans in the 1999-2004 NHANES were metabolically healthy. The absence of abnormal CVD risk factors in this subgroup of obese adults indicates that some individuals are resistant to excess adiposity and positive energy balance, and raises the question of whether all obese adults should be recommended for weight loss treatment. We know of no study that has examined whether metabolically healthy obese (MHO) adults respond to weight changes the same way as metabolically healthy normal weight adults (MHNW). Also, no study has compared the effects of weight loss, weight maintenance and weight gain on CVD risk factors in MHO adults. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the effects of weight change would be different in MHNW and MHO adults, with MHO adults having less stable risk factors, and that weight loss has a protective effect on CVD risk factors in the MHO compared to weight maintenance and weight gain. Methods: Data were from 2,710 MHO and MHNW participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Four examinations yielded 4,541 observations over sequential 3-year intervals. Metabolically healthy was defined as absence of all components of metabolic syndrome, excluding waist circumference, at the beginning of a 3-year interval. Mixed effect models were applied to individually compare changes in five CVD risk factors (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose) in MHO and MHNW adults within 3 weight change categories (<3% weight loss, weight maintenance (±3%) and >3% weight gain). Results: Weight loss was associated with small or no changes in the five CVD risk factors in both MHO and MHNW adults. Weight maintenance was associated with larger increases in MHO compared to MHNW adults in triglycerides (mean ± standard error: 10.0±1.7 vs. 6.5±1.0 mg/dL) and glucose (1.7±0.4 vs. 0.9±0.2 mg/dL). Weight gain was associated with larger increases in systolic (8.6±0.6 vs. 6.2±0.4 mmHg) and diastolic (3.9±0.4 vs. 2.5±0.3 mmHg) blood pressure, triglycerides (22.0±1.8 vs. 16.0±1.1 mg/dL) and glucose (4.9±0.4 vs. 1.9±0.3 mg/dL) among the MHO compared to the MHNW. MHO weight losers experienced more favorable changes in the five CVD risk factors compared to MHO weight maintainers (p<0.04) or gainers (p<0.0001). Conclusions: We showed that compared to MHNW, MHO adults experienced similar changes in CVD risk factors with weight loss and larger increases with weight maintenance and gain. Our study supports the 2013 Guideline that primary health care providers should recommend weight loss treatment for MHO patients.

scholarly journals Comparison of Muscular Endurance and Hypertrophy Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Sedentary Male Smokers

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Stuwart Shaw ◽  
Stacey Turner ◽  
Ina Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Muscular Endurance ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) exemplifies a major medical problem as it is the most considerable cause of morbidity and mortality. While sport conditioning specialists understand and differentiate the different benefits of resistance training (RT) subtypes on athletic performance, this distinction is less clear for health professionals when designing CVD risk reduction programs. Objectives: This study attempted to investigate and compare the effects of hypertrophy and muscular endurance RT on CVD risk in sedentary males. Methods: Sedentary male smokers were randomly assigned to either an eight-week hypertrophy RT group (HTG) (n = 15), muscular endurance RT groups (METG) (n = 15), or a non-exercising control group (CON) (n = 15) to assess their impact on smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) variables associated with the four most prominent CVD risk factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 software using a paired sample t-test and ANOVA. Results: Significant (P ≤ 0.05) improvements were found in three of the 15 measured variables in the HTG (resting mean arterial pressure (RMAP) (P = 0.024); total cholesterol (TC): HDL-C ratio (P = 0.009), and HDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ratio (P = 0.038), with a deleterious decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.027). In turn, significant improvements were found in the METG in 10 of the 15 measured variables, namely; cigarettes smoked per day (P = 0.037), resting systolic blood pressure (RSBP) (P = 0.002), resting diastolic blood pressure (RDBP) (P = 0.006), RMAP (P = 0.000), TC (P = 0.010), triglycerides (TG) (P = 0.010), LDL-C (P = 0.007), HDL-C: LDL-C (P = 0.018), non-HDL-C (n-HDL-C) (P = 0.010), and VO2max (P = 0.001), and a deleterious decrease in HDL-C (P = 0.026). Conclusions: While the oversimplification of RT design for CVD reduction has resulted in cardio-centric CVD training programs, this study demonstrates that some subtypes of RT (i.e. muscular endurance training) may prove more useful than others in reducing multiple CVD risk factors simultaneously.

scholarly journals Vitamin D supplementation does not improve CVD risk factors in vitamin D-insufficient subjects

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 840-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Kubiak ◽  
Per Medbøe Thorsby ◽  
Elena Kamycheva ◽  
Rolf Jorde
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Baseline Serum

Objective Low serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and some of its risk factors. However, in interventional studies, the effects of vitamin D supplementation have been uncertain, possibly due to inclusion of vitamin D-sufficient subjects. Our aim was therefore to examine effects of vitamin D supplementation on CVD risk factors in vitamin D-insufficient subjects. Design Double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Methods A 4-month interventional study with high-dose vitamin D (100,000 IU loading dose, followed by 20,000 IU/week) or placebo with measurements of blood pressure, lipids (total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B), and glucose metabolism parameters (blood glucose, HbA1c, serum human receptors for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), insulin, C-peptide and HOMA-IR). Results A total of 422 subjects with mean serum 25(OH)D level 34 nmol/L were included, with 411 subjects completing the study. Serum 25(OH)D levels increased with 56 nmol/L and decreased with 4 nmol/L in the vitamin D and placebo group, respectively. We found no statistically significant differences between the two groups in any of the measured CVD risk factors, except for a minor increase in sRAGE in the vitamin D group. Stratified analyses of subjects with low baseline serum 25(OH)D levels alone, or combined with blood pressure, lipid and HOMA-IR values above the median for the cohort, did not skew the results in favour of vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion Supplementation with vitamin D in subjects with baseline vitamin D insufficiency does not improve CVD risk factor profile.

Abstract P175: Frozen Single Serving Meals at Lunch Result in Reduced Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Reimers ◽  
Zhiping Yu ◽  
Stephanie Sinnett ◽  
Von Nguyen ◽  
James Rippe
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Ldl Cholesterol ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Potential Strategy ◽  
One Year

Weight loss improves cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile, and strong evidence demonstrates that consuming smaller portions leads to weight loss. When prepared portion-controlled meals are compared to conventional meals as part of an overall weight-loss diet, results of clinical trials of up to one year in duration show greater and more sustained weight loss in those participants who consumed prepared single-serving meals. However, little is known about the effect of replacing just one conventional meal per day with a portion-controlled single-serving meal and no other dietary intervention. We assessed the hypothesis that replacing a typical cafeteria or restaurant hot lunch with a commercially available, frozen, single-serving meal would result in improved cardiovascular profiles. Thirty-five otherwise healthy overweight and obese participants (mean BMI 31.4 ± 3.1) ages 20-55 years were recruited from the community. They consumed and recorded, via duplicate plate method, their usual cafeteria or restaurant lunch for three days. For 30 days thereafter, participants replaced their typical lunches with commercially prepared single-serving meals (Healthy Choice®). They were asked to otherwise maintain their usual eating and exercise habits. Body weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were measured at baseline and after completion of the 30-day intervention. In conjunction with weight loss (200.5 ± 32.0 lb. at baseline vs. 197.7 ± 31.1 lb. post intervention, p < 0.01), reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (113.8 ± 12.8 vs. 109.3 ± 10.9 mmHg systolic, p < 0.05, and 76.0 ± 8.7 vs. 74.6 ± 8.0 mmHg diastolic, NS), serum total cholesterol (188.9 ± 29.1 vs. 176.1 ± 25.6 mg/dl, p < 0.01), and LDL-cholesterol (115.5 ± 26.7 vs. 108.8 ± 22.9 mg/dl, p < 0.001) resulted. These preliminary findings from a short-term study support the conclusion that consuming frozen single-serving meals at lunch provides a potential strategy for overweight and obese adults to reduce body weight, systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol, primary risk factors for CVD.

scholarly journals Effect of a High Protein Weight Loss Diet on Weight, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Cardiovascular Risk among Overweight and Obese Women: A Parallel Clinical Trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Azadbakht ◽  
Vajihe Izadi ◽  
Pamela J. Surkan ◽  
Ahmad Esmaillzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Hs Crp

Studies regarding the effects of high protein (HP) diets on cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors have reported contradictory results. We aimed to determine the effects of an HP diet on CVD risk factors and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) among overweight and obese women. In this randomized controlled trial, we recruited 60 overweight and obese women, aged 20–65, into an HP or energy-restricted control diet for three months (protein, carbohydrate, and fat: 25%, 45%, and 30% versus 15%, 55%, and 30%, resp.). Total protein was divided between animal and plant sources in a 1 : 1 ratio, and animal sources were distributed equally between meats and dairy products. Fasting blood samples, hs-CRP, lipid profile, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were assessed using standard guidelines. Percent change was significantly different between the two diet groups for weight (standard protein (SP): −3.90 ± 0.26 versus HP: −6.10 ± 0.34%; , resp.) and waist circumference (SP: −3.03 ± 0.21 versus HP: −5.06 ± 0.28%; , resp.). Percent change of fasting blood glucose (FBG) substantially decreased in the control group compared to the HP group (−9.13 ± 0.67 versus −4.93 ± 1.4%;P= 0.01, resp.). Total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased both in the HP and in the control diet groups (P= 0.06,P= 0.07, andP= 0.09, resp.); however, the results were marginally significant. Serum levels of hs-CRP were reduced both in the control (−0.08 ± 0.11%,P= 0.06) and in the high protein groups (−0.04 ± 0.09%,P= 0.06). The energy-restricted HP diet resulted in more beneficial effects on weight loss and reduction of waist circumference. CVD risk factors may improve with HP diets among overweight and obese women. When using isoenergetic weight loss diets, total cholesterol, hs-CRP, and SBP were marginally significantly reduced, independent of dietary protein content. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.govNCT01763528.

scholarly journals An Experimental Study of a Mediterranean-style Diet Supplemented with Nuts and Extra-virgin Olive Oil for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction: The Healthy Hearts Program (P12-021-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Willis ◽  
Michael Greene ◽  
Kimberly Braxton-lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Extra Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk

Abstract Objectives The primary objective of this 12-week, randomized, controlled trial was to assess the efficacy of a Mediterranean diet (MD) intervention in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a high-risk population in the southeastern United States. Methods Adults (n = 30) with a BMI of > 24.9 and at least two additional CVD risk factors were randomized into one of two groups. The control group (n = 14) received nutrition education on the recommendations of the American Heart Association (AHA). The intervention group (n = 16) received education promoting patterns of a MD as well as dietary supplements of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) and mixed nuts. The primary outcome measure was change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to 6 and 12-weeks. Secondary outcome measures include changes in diastolic blood pressure; weight; BMI; fasted total cholesterol, HDLc, LDLc, TG, total cholesterol to HDLc ratio, blood glucose, and HOMA-IR. Nutrition knowledge and MD adherence were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12-weeks. Results The AHA group had decreases in HDLc, total cholesterol to HDLc ratio, and TG at baseline to 6-weeks, while the MD group had decreases in fat mass and BMR. The total population, experienced a decrease in weight, BMI, and TG from baseline to 6-weeks. At 12-weeks, decreases in weight, BMI, and % body fat were seen in the entire population compared to baseline. The MD group experienced trends towards significance in the differences in measures from baseline to 12-weeks in systolic blood pressure, TG, and total cholesterol to HDLc ratio. Group assignment played a significant role from baseline to 6-weeks in systolic blood pressure, HDLc, and LDLc levels. Nutrition knowledge influenced blood glucose and total cholesterol levels. MD adherence impacted total cholesterol and non-HDLc levels. Percent nut consumption had a significant impact on HDLc levels, % EVOO consumption significantly influenced LDLc values, and the nut/EVOO interaction was significant in both systolic pressure and HDLc levels. Conclusions Increases in nutrition knowledge, MD adherence, and % nut and EVOO consumption were the most significant influences on measurement outcomes. Our results suggest that a MD can be implemented on a larger scale with potential positive impacts on CVD risk. Funding Sources Funding was provided by Mallon-Zallen Graduate Research Fellowship.

scholarly journals Trends in cardiovascular disease risk factors by body mass index category among adults in England 2003-18: analysis of repeated cross-sectional national health surveys

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
Linda Ng Fat ◽  
Jennifer S Mindell
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Risk Factor Prevalence

Objective. Favourable trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors at the population level potentially mask differences within high- and low-risk groups. Data from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys (Health Survey for England 2003-18) was used to examine trends in the prevalence of key CVD risk factors by body mass index (BMI) category among adults aged 16 years or older (n=115,860). Methods. Six risk factors were investigated: (i) current cigarette smoking; (ii) physical inactivity (<30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week); (iii) drinking above recommended daily alcohol limits; (iv) hypertension (measured blood pressure ≥140/90mmHg or use of medicine prescribed for high blood pressure); (v) total diabetes (reported diagnosed or elevated glycated haemoglobin); and (vi) raised total cholesterol (≥5mmol/L). Age-standardised risk factor prevalence was computed in each four-year time period (2003-06; 2007-10; 2011-14; 2015-18) in all adults and by BMI category (normal-weight; overweight; obesity). Change in risk factor prevalence on the absolute scale was computed as the difference between the first and last time-periods, expressed in percentage points (PP). Results. Risk factor change varied by BMI category in a number of cases. Current smoking prevalence fell more sharply for normal-weight men (-8.1 PP; 95% CI: -10.3, -5.8) versus men with obesity (-3.8 PP; 95% CI: -6.2, -1.4). Hypertension remained at a stable level among normal-weight men but decreased among men with obesity (-4.1 PP; 95% CI: -7.1, -1.0). Total diabetes remained at a stable level among normal-weight adults, but increased among adults with obesity (men: 3.5 PP; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.7; women: 3.6 PP; 95% CI: 1.8, 5.4). Raised total cholesterol decreased in all BMI groups, but fell more sharply among women with obesity (-21 PP; 95% CI: -25, -17) versus their normal-weight counterparts (-16 PP; 95% CI: -18, -14). Conclusions. Relative to adults with normal weight, greater reductions in hypertension and raised total cholesterol among adults with overweight and obesity reflect at least in part improvements in screening, treatment and control among those at highest cardiovascular risk. Higher levels of risk factor prevalence among adults with overweight and obesity, in parallel with rising diabetes, highlight the importance of national prevention efforts to combat the public health impact of excess adiposity.

scholarly journals Effect of Berberine on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2550
Author(s):  
Jie V. Zhao ◽  
Wai-Fung Yeung ◽  
Yap-Hang Chan ◽  
Dana Vackova ◽  
June Y. Y. Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Thromboxane A2 ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Berberine, a long-standing, widely used, traditional Chinese medicine, is thought to have beneficial effects on CVD risk factors and in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The mechanisms and effects, specifically in men, possibly via testosterone, have not been examined previously. To assess the effect of berberine on CVD risk factors and any potential pathway via testosterone in men, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial in Hong Kong. In total, 84 eligible Chinese men with hyperlipidemia were randomized to berberine (500 mg orally, twice a day) or placebo for 12 weeks. CVD risk factors (lipids, thromboxane A2, blood pressure, body mass index and waist–hip ratio) and testosterone were assessed at baseline, and 8 and 12 weeks after intervention. We compared changes in CVD risk factors and testosterone after 12 weeks of intervention using analysis of variance, and after 8 and 12 weeks using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Of the 84 men randomized, 80 men completed the trial. Men randomized to berberine had larger reductions in total cholesterol (−0.39 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.70 to −0.08) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−0.07 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.13 to −0.01) after 12 weeks. Considering changes after 8 and 12 weeks together, berberine lowered total cholesterol and possibly low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and possibly increased testosterone. Changes in triglycerides, thromboxane A2, blood pressure, body mass index and waist–hip ratio after the intervention did not differ between the berberine and placebo groups. No serious adverse event was reported. Berberine is a promising treatment for lowering cholesterol. Berberine did not lower testosterone but instead may increase testosterone in men, suggesting sex-specific effects of berberine. Exploring other pathways and assessing sex differences would be worthwhile, with relevance to drug repositioning and healthcare.

Arterial hypertension in women: Menopause as a risk window

2021 ◽  
pp. 205336912110633
Author(s):  
Basil N Okeahialam ◽  
Hadiza Agbo ◽  
Evelyn Chuhwak ◽  
Ikechukwu Isiguzoro
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Blood Pressures ◽  
Menopause Transition

Objectives Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) exert a heavy toll on health of women, mainly due to hypertension said to cluster around the period of transition to menopause. This makes this period a good window to target for prevention and control. We therefore sought to determine if this period really heralds arterial hypertension and CVD in women in our environment. Study design We secondarily analysed our population data on CVD risk factors in free living rural residents. Main outcome variables The data considered were blood pressure, anthropometric and biochemical variables in women stratified based on menstruation status. Results There were 488 females, with 218 still menstruating. They were younger ( p = .000), had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures ( p = .000), lower anthropometric indices attaining significance only with waist circumference ( p = .001) and lower total cholesterol ( p = .001). Controlling for age, statistically significant differences remained for systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, and total cholesterol. Conclusion The menopause transition comes with a worse CVD profile. Blood pressure rises and so are the anthropometric variables and some biochemical parameters that fuel CVD. This could be ascribed to age which is higher with those post-menopausal. Controlling for age in this cohort still showed that transiting from pre- to post-menopause still came with CVD burden. Clinicians should take the opportunity presented by menopause transition to screen for CVD risk factors and initiate either preventive or control measures to mitigate morbi-mortality consequences.

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