Carmen Sayon-Orea

Consumption of Yogurt, Low-Fat Milk, and Other Low-Fat Dairy Products Is Associated with Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome Incidence in an Elderly Mediterranean Population

BACKGROUND The association between consumption of dairy products and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) is unclear. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between consumption of dairy products (total and different subtypes) and incident MetS in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS We prospectively analyzed 1868 men and women (55-80 y old) without MetS at baseline, recruited from different PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) centers between October 2003 and June 2009 and followed up until December 2010. MetS was defined according to updated, harmonized criteria. At baseline and yearly thereafter, we determined anthropometric variables, dietary habits by a 137-item validated food-frequency questionnaire, and blood biochemistry. Multivariable-adjusted HRs of MetS or its components were estimated for each of the 2 upper tertiles (vs. the lowest one) of mean consumption of dairy products during the follow-up. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 3.2 y, we documented 930 incident MetS cases. In the multivariable-adjusted model, HRs (95% CIs) of MetS for the comparison of extreme tertiles of dairy product consumption were 0.72 (0.61, 0.86) for low-fat dairy, 0.73 (0.62, 0.86) for low-fat yogurt, 0.78 (0.66, 0.92) for whole-fat yogurt, and 0.80 (0.67, 0.95) for low-fat milk. The respective HR for cheese was 1.31 (1.10, 1.56). CONCLUSIONS Higher consumption of low-fat dairy products, yogurt (total, low-fat, and whole-fat yogurt) and low-fat milk was associated with a reduced risk of MetS in individuals at high cardiovascular disease risk from a Mediterranean population. Conversely, higher consumption of cheese was related to a higher risk of MetS. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN35739639.

Yogurt consumption, weight change and risk of overweight/obesity: The SUN cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epidemiological studies on the association between yogurt consumption and the risk of overweight/obesity are scarce. We prospectively examined the association of yogurt consumption with overweight/obesity and average annual weight gain. METHODS AND RESULTS Prospective cohort study of 8516 men and women (mean age 37.1, SD: 10.8 y). Participants were followed-up every two years. Participants were classified in 5 categories of yogurt consumption at baseline: 0-2, >2-<5, 5-<7, 7 and ≥ 7 servings/week. Outcomes were: 1) average yearly weight change during follow-up; and 2) incidence of overweight/obesity. Linear regression models and Cox models were used to adjust for potential confounders. After a median follow-up of 6.6 years, 1860 incident cases of overweight/obesity were identified. A high (>7 servings/week) consumption of total and whole-fat yogurt was associated with lower incidence of overweight/obesity [multivariable adjusted hazard ratios = 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.94); and 0.62 (0.47-0.82) respectively] in comparison with low consumption (0-2 servings/week). This inverse association was stronger among participants with higher fruit consumption. CONCLUSION In this Mediterranean cohort, yogurt consumption was inversely associated with the incidence of overweight/obesity, especially among participants with higher fruit consumption.

Magnesium and depression: a systematic review.

Abstract Introduction The incidence of depression is increasing worldwide. Much is still unknown about the possible role of magnesium in depression prevention and treatment. Magnesium has an effect on biological and transduction pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. The possible role of magnesium in depression prevention and treatment remains unclear. Objectives We systematically reviewed the possible links between magnesium and depression in humans. Methods Twenty-one cross-sectional studies, three intervention trials, one prospective study, one case only study, and one case series study were included based on specific selection criteria. Results A higher intake of dietary magnesium seems to be associated with lower depression symptoms though reverse causality cannot be excluded. The results assessing the association between blood and cerebrospinal fluid magnesium and depression are inconclusive. Discussion Magnesium seems to be effective in the treatment of depression but data are scarce and incongruous. Disturbance in magnesium metabolism might be related to depression. Oral magnesium supplementation may prevent depression and might be used as an adjunctive therapy. However, more interventional and prospective studies are needed in order to further evaluate the benefits of magnesium intake and supplementation for depression.

Type of alcoholic beverage and incidence of overweight/obesity in a Mediterranean cohort: The SUN project

OBJECTIVE The effects of alcohol on body weight might be modulated by the total amount of alcohol intake and type of alcoholic beverage. However, available results are contradictory. There is a scarcity of studies on this topic in Mediterranean areas where wine consumption is high. We prospectively evaluated the association between the type of alcoholic beverage intake and weight change in a Mediterranean cohort. METHODS We followed for an average of 6.1 y 9318 adults without previous chronic disease at baseline. Validated data on diet including alcohol consumption were collected at baseline. Weight was recorded at baseline and updated every 2 y during follow-up. The outcomes were average weight gained every year and incidence of overweight/obesity after a 6-y follow-up. RESULTS During follow-up, 1006 incident cases of overweight/obesity were identified in participants with normal weight at baseline. Beer and spirits consumption (≥7 drinks/wk) was associated with a +119 g/y (95% confidence interval +27 to +212) higher average yearly weight gain after adjusting for relevant confounders. It was also associated with a higher risk of developing overweight/obesity compared with non-drinkers. No association between wine consumption and yearly weight change or the risk of developing overweight/obesity was apparent. CONCLUSION The type of alcoholic beverage can modulate the effect of alcohol intake on the risk of developing overweight/obesity.

Association between Sleeping Hours and Siesta and the Risk of Obesity: The SUN Mediterranean Cohort

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the association between sleeping hours at night and during the siesta and the incidence of obesity in a Mediterranean cohort. Methods: After a median of 6.5 years of follow-up, we included 10,532 or 9,470 participants without chronic disease or obesity at baseline for analyzing the association between the incidence of obesity and nocturnal sleep duration or having siesta. Sleeping hours and siesta were assessed at baseline. Weight was recorded at baseline and every 2 years during the follow-up. The outcome was the incidence of obesity during follow-up among participants with initial BMI <30 kg/m2. Results: During follow-up we observed 446 new cases of obesity in the analysis of nocturnal sleep duration. Sleeping less than 5 h at night was associated with a higher risk of becoming obese compared to sleeping between 7 and <8 h (HR 1.94; 95% CI 1.19-3.18; p for quadratic trend = 0.06) after adjusting for potential confounders. During follow-up, we observed 396 incident cases of obesity in the analysis of siesta. Those who took a siesta for 30 min/day had a 33% lower risk of becoming obese (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46-0.96; p for quadratic trend = 0.13) compared to those who did not take siesta. Conclusion: Our results suggest that short nocturnal sleep duration could be a modifiable risk factor for obesity. It is possible that this association may be stronger among men and subjects who experienced previous weight gain. Additionally, siesta might be a novel and independent protective factor for obesity; however, confirmatory studies are needed.

A longitudinal assessment of alcohol intake and incident depression: the SUN project

BackgroundLongitudinal studies assessing the long-term association between alcohol intake and depression are scarce. The type of beverage may also be important. Therefore we aimed to prospectively evaluate the influence of alcohol intake on incident depression in a Mediterranean cohort.MethodsWe assessed 13,619 university graduates (mean age: 38 years, 42% men) participating in a Spanish prospective epidemiological cohort (the SUN Project), initially free of depression. They were recruited between 1999–2008 and biennially followed-up during 2001–2010. At baseline, a 136-item validated food–frequency questionnaire was used to assess alcohol intake. Wine was the preferred beverage. Participants were classified as incident cases of depression if they reported a new clinical diagnosis of depression by a physician and/or initiated the use of antidepressant drugs. Cox regression and restricted cubic splines analyses were performed over 82,926 person-years.ResultsOnly among women, an U-shaped relationship between total alcohol intake and depression risk was found (P=0.01). Moderate alcohol intake (5–15 g/day) was associated with lower risk (Hazard Ratio: 0.62; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.43-0.89). No association was apparent for higher intakes of alcohol or for any specific type of alcoholic beverage.ConclusionsModerate alcohol intake might protect against depression among women. Further confirmatory studies are needed.

Consumption of fried foods and risk of metabolic syndrome: the SUN cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS There is scarce evidence from long-term prospective studies relating the consumption of fried foods with the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to assess the association between fried food consumption and the incidence of MS. METHODS We followed 8289 participants (2813 men and 5476 women, mean age = 35.9 y, SD = 10.4) during a median period of 8.3-y. They were initially free of any MS criteria. MS was defined according to the American Heart Association and the International Diabetes Federation criteria as outlined in the harmonized definition for MS. Each component of the MS was assessed at the 6th and 8th-y of follow-up. The outcome was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the components of MS after ≥6 years of follow-up. RESULTS During 65335 person-years, 420 incident cases of MS were identified. Frequent consumption of fried foods was not associated with the incidence of MS [HR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.77-1.26) p for trend = 0.862]. However, two components of the MS, central adiposity and high blood pressure were positively associated with fried food consumption [HR for consumption >4 times/week compared with ≤2 times/week = 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01-1.19) (p for trend 0.022) and HR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02-1.32) (p for trend 0.011), respectively] after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSIONS In this Mediterranean cohort of relatively young adults, frequent consumption of fried foods was not associated with MS. Two out of five components of MS (central adiposity and high blood pressure) were positively associated with frequent fried food consumption.

Association Between Dietary Intake of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and the Incidence of Hypertension in a Spanish Cohort: The Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra Project

Polychlorinated biphenyls are persistent organic pollutants that are consumed because of their bioaccumulation through the food chain. Evidence from different sources suggests a positive association between polychlorinated biphenyls exposure and the incidence of hypertension. However, no previous prospective study has investigated this potential relationship in adults. We prospectively assessed the association between dietary intake of polychlorinated biphenyls and the incidence of hypertension in a large cohort. The Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra project is a Spanish cohort of university graduates, most of them health professionals. We included 14521 participants, initially free of hypertension, who were followed-up for a median of 8.3 years. Dietary intake of polychlorinated biphenyls was assessed at baseline through a previously validated 136-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The published concentration levels of polychlorinated biphenyls measured in samples of food consumed in Spain were used to estimate dietary intake. Multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval for incident hypertension. During follow-up, 1497 incident cases of medically diagnosed hypertension were identified. After adjusting for total energy intake and for potential confounders, participants in the fifth quintile of total polychlorinated biphenyls intake were at higher risk of developing hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.43 [95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.88; P for trend 0.017]) compared with those in the first quintile. In this Mediterranean cohort, dietary intake of polychlorinated biphenyls, estimated using a food frequency questionnaire, was associated with a higher risk of developing hypertension during follow-up. Nevertheless, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our results.

Working hours and incidence of metabolic syndrome and its components in a Mediterranean cohort: the SUN project

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important and priority public health problem globally. Long working hours have been proposed as a modifiable risk factor for MetS, despite sparse epidemiological evidence. Thus, the aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the associations between working hours and incidence of MetS and each of its components. METHODS We assessed 6845 participants of a Spanish dynamic prospective cohort of university graduates (the SUN project), initially free of any specific criteria of MetS, and followed-up for a median of 8.3 years. Weekly working hours were collected at baseline and grouped into four categories: >0-24, 25-39, 40-49 and ≥50 h. MetS was defined according to the updated harmonizing criteria. We estimated multivariable adjusted Relative Risks (RR) of MetS and their 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI), using Poisson regression models. RESULTS The cumulative incidence of MetS was 6.0%. Working hours were not independently related to MetS (25-39 h/week = RR: 1.42, 95% CI 0.90-2.25; 40-49 h/week = RR: 1.45, 95% CI 0.91-2.30; ≥50 h/week = RR: 1.49, 95% CI 0.91-2.42, P for trend = 0.235) nor to any of its individual definition criteria. CONCLUSION Our findings do not suggest that long working hours increase the risk of MetS development or each of its components. Further longitudinal studies in general population should be conducted to confirm these results.

Association between dietary intakes of PCBs and the risk of obesity: the SUN project

Background Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are persistent organic pollutants (POP) that are consumed because of their bioaccumulation through the food chain. Recent studies have suggested the implication of POPs in the development of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, this relationship is not entirely consistent, and has not been investigated in longitudinal studies. The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the association between dietary intake of PCBs and the incidence of obesity in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project. Methods Our study included 12 313 participants without obesity at baseline, who were followed-up for a median of 8.1 years. Dietary intakes of PCBs, expressed as WHO toxic equivalents, were assessed at baseline through a 136-item semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The published concentration levels of PCBs measured in samples of food consumed in Spain were used to estimate intakes. Multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to estimate HRs and 95% CI for incident obesity. Results During follow-up, we observed 621 incident cases of obesity. After adjustment for total energy intake and additional adjustment for potential confounders, participants in the fifth quintile of PCBs intake were at higher risk of becoming obese (adjusted HR: 1.58; (95% CI 1.21 to 2.06)) compared to those in the first quintile. The linear trend test was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusions Dietary intake of PCBs as estimated using a food frequency questionnaire was associated with a higher incidence of obesity. Nevertheless, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our results.