Scientific Discovery, Contextual Factors, and Cardiometabolic Health Research: Back to the Future

Nine-year exposure to residential greenness and the risk of metabolic syndrome among Luxembourgish adults: A longitudinal analysis of the ORISCAV-Lux cohort study

Growing evidence shows a beneficial effect of exposure to greenspace on cardiometabolic health, although limited by the cross-sectional design of most studies. This study examined the long-term associations of residential greenness exposure with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MetS components within the ORISCAV-LUX study (Wave 1: 2007-2009, Wave 2: 2016-2017, n = 395 adults). Objective exposure to residential greenness was measured in both waves by the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and by Tree Cover Density (TCD). Linear mixed models were fitted to estimate the effect of baseline levels and change in residential greenness on MetS (continuous score: siMS score) and its components (waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose and systolic blood pressure), respectively. This study provides evidence that an increase in SAVI, but not TCD, may play a role in preventing MetS, as well as improving HDL-cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels. Greater baseline SAVI was also associated with lower fasting plasma glucose levels in women and participants living in municipalities with intermediate housing price, and greater baseline TCD was associated with larger waist circumference. Overall, findings suggest a mixed impact of increased greenness on cardiometabolic outcomes. Further longitudinal research is needed to better understand the potential effects of different types of greenness exposure on cardiometabolic outcomes.

Diet quality and cardiometabolic health in childhood: the Generation R Study

Purpose

Diet is an important determinant of cardiometabolic disease risk in adults. We aimed to study associations of diet quality with cardiometabolic health in school-age children.

Methods

This study was embedded in the Generation R Study a prospective population-based cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and included 3991 children. Food intake was assessed with a Food-Frequency Questionnaire at age 8 years. A diet quality score (0–10) was calculated reflecting adherence to age-specific dietary guidelines. The following outcome variables were measured at age 10 years and used to create a continuous cardiometabolic risk factor score: body fat percentage, insulin, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Outcomes were expressed in age- and sex-specific standard deviation scores (SDS). Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess associations between the diet quality score and the cardiometabolic risk factor score and with the individual cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results

In models adjusted for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and BMI, a higher diet quality was associated with a lower cardiometabolic risk factor score [− 0.08 per point higher diet score, (95% CI − 0.15, − 0.001)]. This association was mainly driven by associations of higher diet quality with lower systolic [− 0.04 SD (95% CI − 0.06, − 0.01)] and diastolic blood pressure [− 0.05 SD, (95% CI − 0.07, − 0.02)]. No statistically significant associations were found for insulin, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, or body fat percentage as individual factors.

Conclusions

We found an association between higher diet quality and better cardiometabolic health in childhood, mainly driven by a lower blood pressure. Further research is needed to explore associations of diet quality in childhood with long-term cardiometabolic health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02673-2.