Association between dietary calcium to Phosphorus Ratio and the odds of ulcerative colitis: A case-control study

Background & aims

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent, inflammatory, autoimmune intestinal disease. The dietary calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio is suggested to affect the inividuals' normal metabolic and inflammatory pathways. The present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary Ca:P ratio and the odds of developing UC in a case-control format.

Methods

The study included sixty-two currently diagnosed UC patients and one hundred twenty-four matched controls, designed as a case-control study. The dietary intakes of the participants were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the dietary Ca:P ratio was calculated. The association between tertiles of Ca:P ratio and UC was examined using the logistic regression. P-values <0.05 were considered as significant.

Results

The study sample consisted of participants with an average age of 36.63 ± 12.42 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.39 ± 3.82 kg/m2. The overall energy-adjusted ratio of Ca:P was 0.74 ± 0.11. In the multivariate model, after adjustment for potential confounders, participants in the third tertile of dietary Ca:P ratio had a lower odds of developing UC compared to the lowest tertlie (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.87; p = 0.026).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that a higher ratio of dietary Ca:P ratio might be protective against developing UC. However, further studies are warranted to examine this association in various populations.

The association between continuous metabolic syndrome score and its components with electrocardiographic abnormalities in community-dwelling older adults: the Bushehr elderly health (BEH) program

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) known as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has developed into a major source of health issue, especially for the elderly. In the present study, we investigated the association between continuous MetS (cMetS) score and its components with electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in the community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study is derived from the second phase of BEH cohort study which is conducted on individuals aged over 60 years old. Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded and coded by qualified physicians and continuous values of metabolic syndrome risk scores (cMetS) were measured. Data regarding socio-demographic, medical history, and lifestyle variables were collected by trained interviewers. The multinomial regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between cMetS and its components with ECG abnormalities in the included participants.

RESULTS

2426 individuals (mean age ± standard deviation: 69.30 ± 6.33 years) were included in the final analysis. Overall, 22.5% of the participants showed ECG abnormalities. Among these, 8.0% (n = 139) of participants had minor and 14.6% (n = 354) had major ECG abnormalities. In the final models, cMetS (OR = 1.04), mean arterial pressure (MAP((OR = 1.01), and higher fasting blood glucose (FBG) (OR = 1.01) increased the risk of ECG abnormalities (p < 0.05). Also, cMetS (OR = 1.05) and MAP (OR = 1.02) were associated with an increased risk of major ECG abnormalities (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MetS and MAP were significantly associated with ECG abnormalities. The results of the present study suggest that ECG screening in the older population with MetS could potentially help to detect those at the higher risk of CVDs.

The association of body composition and fat distribution with hypertension in community-dwelling older adults: the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program

BACKGROUND

A significant proportion of the global burden of disability and premature mortality has caused by hypertension. It seems that the relationship between obesity and hypertension is not only associated with excessive body fat mass (FM) but also with body adipose distribution patterns. The present study investigated the association between regional fat distribution using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and hypertension in older adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed using the data from Bushehr Elderly Health Program (BEH) on a total of 2419 participants aged 60 and over. Hypertension was defined as SBP of at least 140 mmHg and/or DBP of at least 90 mmHg. SBP between 120 and 139 mmHg and/or a DBP between 80 and 89 mmHg were considered prehypertension. Participants underwent body composition measurement by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to analyze FM, fat-free mass (FFM) in trunk and extremities composition.

RESULTS

The results showed that 460 (19.02%) of participants had prehypertension, and 1,818 (75.15% ) had hypertension. The odds of having prehypertension (OR: 1.06, 95%CI: 1.01-1.12) and hypertension (OR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.03-1.13) increased with a rise in total body FM percentage. Moreover, people with a higher FM to FFM ratio had increased odds of being prehypertensive (OR: 9.93, 95%CI: 1.28-76.99) and hypertensive (OR: 16.15, 95%CI: 2.47-105.52). Having a higher android to gynoid FM ratio was related to increased odds of being prehypertensive and hypertensive.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that a higher body FM, particularly in the android region, is associated with higher odds of having hypertension in older adults.

The association of body composition and fat distribution with dysmobility syndrome in community-dwelling older adults: Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Dysmobility Syndrome (DS) is characterized as an accumulation of clinical risk factors for functional disability, such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity. Neurological disorders that affect the motor and sensory systems can also contribute to the condition, resulting in gait and muscle strength disturbances, as well as a history of falls and fractures. The study aimed to determine the association between fat distribution in different body areas and the odds of older adults developing DS, as there is still uncertainty about the accumulation of fat in which area is most closely linked to the condition.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted according to the data from the second phase of the Bushehr Elderly Health Cohort (BEH). Dysmobility Syndrome was defined based on the co-occurrence of at least three outcomes of its criteria. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometric studies. For evaluating the relationship, multivariate logistic regression and adjusted univariate linear regression were used.

RESULTS

Of 2,359 who were recruited in the study, 1,277 participants (54.13%) had DS. According to the final logistic regression model in the limb region, FM and FM to FFM ratios were significantly associated with DS [OR (95%CI) = 1.04 (1.02 to 1.05), and 3.42 (1.95 to 5.99), respectively]. Also, In the trunk region, the FM and FM to FFM ratio were significantly related to the odds of DS, although this relationship was weaker than in the limbs region [OR (95%CI) = 1.02 (1.00 to 1.03), and 2.45 (1.36 to 4.39), respectively].

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that a higher regional and whole-body amount of fat mass rather than fat-free mass is closely linked to an increased risk of DS, particularly in the elderly population. Notably, higher fat mass in the limbs (especially in the legs) is associated with greater odds of DS, while a higher android-to-gynoid fat mass ratio is associated with lower DS risk. Screening fat mass distribution in older individuals can be a valuable strategy for promptly diagnosing DS, implementing interventions to prevent disabilities, and improving their quality of life.