Exercise, Postprandial Triacylglyceridemia, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

2004 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry E. Graham

An elevation of plasma triacylglycerides (TAG) is a well recognized cardiovascular risk factor. Less appreciated is that high and prolonged elevations in TAG in the postprandial (PP) phase is also a risk factor. Given that we spend approximately 18 hrs a day in the PP state, this is particularly critical. The elevation is due to both cylomicron and very low density lipoprotein TAG. It is thought that enhancing the concentrations of these lipoproprotein fractions increases the production of smaller, more dense low density lipoprotein and that this leads to increased cardiovascular disease risk. The PP TAG response is greater in men, in obese individuals, and in type 2 diabetics. It has been reported repeatedly that exercise the day before ingestion of a high fat meal is associated with a marked dampening of the PP TAG rise. The mechanisms for this are not clear and do not appear to be due to changes in the exercised muscle itself. There is some speculation that the production of plasma TAG may be decreased. The exercise benefits are lost within 3 days. The minimum exercise required has not been determined, but even 30 min of intermittent aerobic exercise or mild resistance exercise has a positive effect. This demonstrates a clear benefit from an active lifestyle and one that does not require intense exercise or months of training. Key words: atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, dietary fats, carbohydrates, VLDL, LDL, triglycerides, sex differences

Author(s):  
Danladi I. Musa ◽  
Abel L. Toriola ◽  
Daniel T. Goon ◽  
Sunday U. Jonathan

Purpose: This study examinedthe independent and joint association of fitness and fatness with clustered cardiovascular disease risk (CVDrs) in 11–18 year-old Nigerian adolescents. Methods: A hundred and ninety seven adolescents (100 girls and 97 boys) were evaluated forfitness, fatness and CVDrs. Fitness was evaluated with the progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run test while fatness was assessed using body mass index. A clustered CVDrs was computed from the standardized residuals of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Regression models controlling for waist circumference assessed the association of fitness and fatness with CVDrs. Results: Prevalence of clustered CVD risk was 7.1% (girls = 3.0%; boys = 4.1%). Based on risk factor abnormalities, 52.8% of participants had one or more CVD risk factor abnormalities with more boys (27.4%) affected. Low fitness was associated with clustered CVDrs in both girls (R2 = 9.8%, β = −0.287, p = 0.05) and boys (R2 = 17%, β = −0.406, p < 0.0005). Fatness was not associated with the CVDrs in both sexes. After controlling for all the variables in the model, only fitness (R2 = 10.4%) and abdominal fat (R2 = 19.5%) were associated with CVDrs respectively. Unfit girls were 3.2 (95% CI = 1.31–7.91, p = 0.011) times likely to develop CVD risk abnormality compared to their fit counterparts. The likelihood of unfit boys developing CVD risk abnormality was 3.9 (95% CI = 1.15–10.08, p = 0.005) times compared to their fit peers. Conclusions: Fitness but not fatness was a better predictor of CVDrs in Nigerian boys and girls. The result of this study suggests that any public health strategies aimed at preventing or reversing the increasing trends of CVD risk in adolescents should emphasize promotion of aerobic fitness.


Author(s):  
Marios K. Georgakis ◽  
Rainer Malik ◽  
Stephen Burgess ◽  
Martin Dichgans

Background Although trials suggest that anti‐inflammatory approaches targeting interleukin (IL)‐6 signaling can reduce cardiovascular risk, it remains unknown whether targeting IL‐6 signaling could reduce risk additively to low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) lowering. Here, we assess interactions in associations of genetic downregulation of IL‐6 signaling and LDL‐C lowering with lifetime cardiovascular disease risk. Methods and Results Genetic scores for IL‐6 signaling downregulation and LDL‐C lowering were used to divide 408 225 White British individuals in UK Biobank into groups of lifelong exposure to downregulated IL‐6 signaling, lower LDL‐C, or both. Associations with risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, peripheral artery disease, aortic aneurysm, vascular death) were explored in factorial Mendelian randomization. Compared with individuals with genetic IL‐6 and LDL‐C scores above the median, individuals with LDL‐C scores lower than the median but IL‐6 scores above the median had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93–0.98) for cardiovascular disease. A similar OR (0.96; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98) was estimated for individuals with genetic IL‐6 scores below the median but LDL‐C scores above the median. Individuals with both genetic scores lower than the median were at lower odds of cardiovascular disease (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90–0.95). There was no interaction between the 2 scores (relative excess risk attributed to interaction index, 0; synergy index, 1; P for multiplicative interaction=0.51). Genetic IL‐6 score below the median was associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk across measured LDL‐C strata (<100 or ≥100 mg/dL). Conclusions Genetically downregulated IL‐6 signaling and genetically lowered LDL‐C are associated with additively lower lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. Future trials should explore combined IL‐6 inhibition and LDL‐C lowering treatments for cardiovascular prevention.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 897-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C Block ◽  
Amir Abdolahi ◽  
Christopher P Niemiec ◽  
C Scott Rigby ◽  
Geoffrey C Williams

There is a lack of research on the use of electronic tools that guide patients toward reducing their cardiovascular disease risk. We conducted a 9-month clinical trial in which participants who were at low (n = 100) and moderate (n = 23) cardiovascular disease risk—based on the National Cholesterol Education Program III’s 10-year risk estimator—were randomized to usual care or to usual care plus use of an Interactive Cholesterol Advisory Tool during the first 8 weeks of the study. In the moderate-risk category, an interaction between treatment condition and Framingham risk estimate on low-density lipoprotein and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed, such that participants in the virtual clinician treatment condition had a larger reduction in low-density lipoprotein and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as their Framingham risk estimate increased. Perceptions of the Interactive Cholesterol Advisory Tool were positive. Evidence-based information about cardiovascular disease risk and its management was accessible to participants without major technical challenges.


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