Plant Based Diet and Its Effect on Cardiovascular Disease

Standard and New Echocardio Techniques, Such as Global Longitudinal Strain, to Monitor the Impact of Diets on Cardiovascular Diseases and Heart Function

"The Seven Countries Study", published in 1984, was the first study to find a correlation between diet and mortality related to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Since then, many investigations have addressed the relationship between type of diet, or specific nutrients, and CVDs. Based on these findings, some traditional dietary models, such as the Mediterranean or Nordic diet, are recommended to prevent CVDs. Meanwhile, new diets have been proposed for optimal nutrition therapy, for example, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention Diet for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND). The main outcomes evaluated after implementing these dietary models are as follows: CVD-related death; the development of specific CVDs, such as myocardial infarction and hypertension; or biochemical parameters related to CVDs, i.e., non-HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CPR) and homocysteine. However, the early impact of diet on heart functionality is less evaluated. Recently, the echographic measurement of left ventricle (LV) deformation by global longitudinal strain (GLS) has been introduced as a novel marker of clinical and subclinical cardiac dysfunction. This technology allows a subclinical evaluation of heart functionality since, differently from the traditional evaluation of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), it is capable of detecting early myocardial dysfunction. In this review, we analyzed the available studies that correlate dietetic regimens to cardiovascular diseases, focusing on the relevance of LV strain to detect subclinical myocardial alteration related to diet. Evidence is presented that DASH and MIND can have a positive impact on heart functionality and that myocardial strain is useful for early detection of diet-related changes in cardiac function.

Plant-based and vegetarian diets are associated with reduced obstructive sleep apnoea risk

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obesity commonly coexist. Weight loss and exercise are recommended management options for OSA. However, most of the current evidence on diet and OSA is focused on calorie restriction rather than diet quality. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of plant-based dietary indices (PDI) with OSA risk.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from 14 210 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who provided dietary information using the 24-hour recall method were used. PDI - including healthy (hPDI), unhealthy (uPDI) and pro-vegetarian diet index (PVDI) - were determined. OSA risk was determined using the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between dietary indices and OSA risk.

Results

Higher adherence to PDI (odds ratio (OR)Q5 versus Q1=0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-1.00), hPDI (OR=0.83; 95% CI: 0.69-1.01) and PVDI (OR=0.84; 95% CI: 0.68-1.05) was inversely associated with OSA risk, whereas higher consumption of an unhealthy plant-based diet (OR=1.22; 95% CI: 1.00-1.49) was positively associated with OSA. Sex differences in estimates were observed for PDI in males (OR=0.71; 95% CI: 0.56-0.90) versus females (OR=0.93; 95% CI: 0.68-1.28), hPDI in males (OR=0.90; 95% CI: 0.68-1.18) versus females (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.54-1.09) and uPDI in males (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 0.89-1.44) versus females (OR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.03-1.97) but not for PVDI.

Conclusions

Higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet is associated with reduced OSA risk, while an unhealthy plant-based diet has a positive association. The magnitude of these associations differs by sex. Further longitudinal studies are warranted.

High Plant Protein Diet Ameliorated Hepatic Lipid Accumulation Through the Modulation of Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

Substituting plant protein for animal protein has emerged as a promising strategy for managing atherogenic lipids. However, the impact of long-term intake of a high plant protein diet (HPD) on hepatic lipid disorder remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eight-week-old apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE-/- ) mice are fed with either a normal protein diet (NCD) or HPD for 12 weeks. HPD intervention results in decreased body weight accompanied by increased energy expenditure, with no significant effect on glycemic control. Long-term intake of HPD improves the serum and hepatic lipid and cholesterol accumulation by suppressing hepatic squalene epoxidase (SQLE) expression, a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. Integrated analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics profiling reveals that HPD intervention increases the abundance of the Lachnospiraece family and serum levels of 12,13-DiHOME. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrate that 12,13-DiHOME significantly inhibits lipid accumulation, as well as SQLE expression induced by oleic acid in HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSION

Diet rich in plant protein diet alleviates hyperlipidemia via increased microbial production of 12,13-DiHOME.

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food and Drink Products in a Greek Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Population

The positive effects of the Mediterranean diet on healthy living are widely known, while the health effects of religious fasting have received increased attention during the last decade. However, no study has focused on the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in such populations. Therefore, our aim was to investigate UPF intake and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a Christian Orthodox church (COC) religious fasting population in Greece. In this cross-sectional study, 400 individuals who follow the Mediterranean diet were included, stratified as COC fasters and non-fasters. Dietary intake data were collected via three 24 h diet recalls and a monthly food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The NOVA food classification system was used to identify the level of processing and categorize all food items. Fasters consumed significantly less chicken, turkey, and beef and significantly more seafood, fish, snails, soy products, and fresh fruits, in terms of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, as well as significantly more fried potatoes and olives in terms of processed foods when compared with non-fasters. Regarding UPFs, a significantly lower intake of pork sausages, ketchup, and mustard as well as a significantly higher consumption of margarine and tarama dip were recorded in fasters compared with non-fasters. Fasters with MetS more frequently consumed UPFs (such as cheese pastries, biscuits, and cakes) than fasters without MetS (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Similarly, non-fasters with MetS had an increased intake of UPFs (such as Cypriot bread and Coco Pops breakfast cereals) than non-fasters without MetS. Future research should focus on UPF consumption and its associations with clinical outcomes in such populations, thus providing further data for the potential health effects of COC fasting.

Role of diet and exercise in aging, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic diseases

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by memory loss and multiple cognitive impairments. Genetic mutations cause a small proportion (1-2%) of early-onset AD, with mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2). Major contributing factors of late-onset AD are ApoE4 genotype, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, in addition to lifestyle factors, such as unhealthy diet and lack of physical exercise. Disease progression can be delayed and/or prevented to a greater extent by adopting healthy lifestyle with balanced and antioxidant enriched diet and daily exercise. The interaction and interplay of diet, exercise, age, and pharmacological interventions holds a crucial role in the progression, pathogenesis and management of AD and its comorbidities, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular conditions. Antioxidant enriched diet contributes to brain health, glucose control, weight management, and cardiovascular well-being. Regular exercise removes toxins including free radicals and enhances insulin sensitivity, and supports cardiovascular function. In the current article, we discussed, the role of diet, and exercise in aging, AD and other conditions including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions. This article also highlights the impact of medication, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, and pharmacological interventions. These aspects were discussed in different races and ethnic groups in Texas, and the US.

Plant-based diet and its effect on coronary artery disease: A narrative review

Coronary artery disease (CAD), a primary component of cardiovascular diseases, is one of the top contributors to mortality rates worldwide. In 2021, dietary risk was estimated to be attributed to 6.58 million cardiovascular deaths. Plant-based diets (PBDs), which encourage higher consumption of plant foods and lower intake of animal-based foods, have been shown to reduce the risk of CAD by up to 29% when compared to non-vegetarian diets in a meta-analysis. This article aims to summarize the array of PBDs and compare them with conventional Western diets that include meat. We review the various proposed mechanisms for how the bioactive nutrients of PBDs aid in preventing atherosclerosis and CAD events, as well as other cardiac diseases. We conducted a detailed search of PubMed using our exclusive search strategy using the keywords plant-based diet, vegan diet, phytosterols, CAD, myocardial ischemia, and atherosclerosis. A total of 162 pertinent articles published within the past decade were identified for qualitative synthesis. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of our review, we included a total of 55 full-text, peer-reviewed articles that demonstrated the effects of plant-based diets on CAD and were written in English. We excluded animal studies, in vitro or molecular studies, and non-original data like editorials, letters, protocols, and conference abstracts. In this article, we emphasize the importance of dietary interventions, such as PBDs, to prevent CAD and their benefits on environmental sustainability. Integrating plant foods and whole grains into one's daily eating habits leads to an increase in the intake of nutrient-rich foods while reducing the consumption of processed food could not only prevent millions of premature deaths but also provide prevention against many chronic gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.

Global Impacts of Western Diet and Its Effects on Metabolism and Health: A Narrative Review

The Western diet is a modern dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of pre-packaged foods, refined grains, red meat, processed meat, high-sugar drinks, candy, sweets, fried foods, conventionally raised animal products, high-fat dairy products, and high-fructose products. The present review aims to describe the effect of the Western pattern diet on the metabolism, inflammation, and antioxidant status; the impact on gut microbiota and mitochondrial fitness; the effect of on cardiovascular health, mental health, and cancer; and the sanitary cost of the Western diet. To achieve this goal, a consensus critical review was conducted using primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary sources, including bibliographic indexes, databases, and web pages. Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, Sports Discuss, ResearchGate, and the Web of Science were used to complete the assignment. MeSH-compliant keywords such "Western diet", "inflammation", "metabolic health", "metabolic fitness", "heart disease", "cancer", "oxidative stress", "mental health", and "metabolism" were used. The following exclusion criteria were applied: (i) studies with inappropriate or irrelevant topics, not germane to the review's primary focus; (ii) Ph.D. dissertations, proceedings of conferences, and unpublished studies. This information will allow for a better comprehension of this nutritional behavior and its effect on an individual's metabolism and health, as well as the impact on national sanitary systems. Finally, practical applications derived from this information are made.

Soy Milk Consumption in the United States of America: An NHANES Data Report

With the increasing adoption of plant-based diets in the United States, more and more individuals replace cow milk with plant-based milk alternatives. Soy milk is a commonly used cow milk substitute, which is characterized by a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and fibers. Despite these favorable characteristics, little is known about the current prevalence of soy milk consumption the United States. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) to assess soy milk usage in the United States and identified potential predictors for its consumption in the US general population. The proportion of individuals reporting soy milk consumption in the NHANES 2015-2016 cycle was 2%, and 1.54% in the NHANES 2017-2020 cycle. Non-Hispanic Asian and Black ethnicities (as well as other Hispanic and Mexican American ethnicities in the 2017-2020 cycle) significantly increased the odds for soy milk consumption. While a college degree and weekly moderate physical activity were associated with significantly higher odds for consuming soy milk (OR: 2.21 and 2.36, respectively), sex was not an important predictor. In light of the putative health benefits of soy milk and its more favorable environmental impact as compared to cow milk, future investigations should attempt to identify strategies that may help promote its consumption in selected populations.