Raisa Valve

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention in the Real World: Three-year results of the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial

OBJECTIVE We study the effectiveness of the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial at the 36-month follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 352, type 2 diabetes risk score FINDRISC = 16.2 ± 3.3, BMI 32.6 ± 5.0 kg/m2) received six lifestyle counseling sessions over 8 months. Measurements were at baseline, 12 months (88.6%), and 36 months (77.0%). RESULTS Statistically significant risk reduction at 12 months was maintained at 36 months in weight (−1.0 ± 5.6 kg), BMI (−0.5 ± 2.1 kg/m2), and serum total cholesterol (−0.4 ± 1.1 mmol/l). CONCLUSIONS Maintenance of risk reduction in this “real world” trial proves the interventions potential for significant public health impact.

ASSOCIATION OF A LEUCINE(7)-TO-PROLINE(7) POLYMORPHISM IN THE SIGNAL PEPTIDE OF NEUROPEPTIDE Y WITH HIGH SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND LDL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

High serum levels of total and LDL cholesterol are important risk factors in the development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Cholesterol metabolism is affected by nutritional, environmental and genetic factors. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is widely expressed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, has an important role in the hypothalamic regulation of energy balance by stimulating food intake and favoring energy storage through increased lipoprotein lipase activity in white adipose tissue. As a part of ongoing study of the genetic basis of obesity, we screened the NPY gene for sequence variants. We report here the identification of a common Leu(7)-to-Pro(7) polymorphism in the signal peptide of NPY. Presence of this Pro(7) in NPY was associated with higher serum levels of total and LDL cholesterol in obese subjects participating in two independent Finnish and Dutch studies. Furthermore, normal-weight Finns with Pro(7) also had higher serum levels of total and LDL cholesterol than did subjects with Leu(7)/Leu(7), as analyzed in three subsequent determinations at 5-year intervals during a 10-year follow-up period. The NPY polymorphism was not associated with higher cholesterol levels in normal-weight Dutch. Our study provides evidence that NPY is linked to cholesterol metabolism and that the polymorphism producing Pro(7) in NPY is one of the strongest genetic factors identified thus far affecting serum cholesterol, particularly in obese subjects.

Trends in self-reported sleep duration and insomnia-related symptoms in Finland from 1972 to 2005: a comparative review and re-analysis of Finnish population samples

A hypothesis concerning habitual sleep reduction and its adverse consequences among general population in modern societies has received wide publicity in the mass media, although scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis is scarce. Similarly, there is an extensively distributed belief, at least in Finland, that the prevalence of insomnia‐related symptoms is increasing, but evidence for this is even sparser. These issues are important because of the known increased risk of mortality and health risks associated with sleep duration deviating from 7 to 8 h. To reveal possible trends in self‐reported sleep duration and insomnia‐related symptoms, we reanalyzed all available data from surveys carried out in Finland from 1972 to 2005. The main results were that a minor decrease of self‐reported sleep duration has taken place in Finland, especially among working aged men. However, the size of the reduction (about 4%) was relatively small, approximately 5.5 min per each 10 years during the 33 years’ time interval under study. The proportion of 7 h sleepers has increased and, correspondingly, the proportion of 8 h sleepers has decreased, but the extreme ends of the sleep duration distribution remained unchanged. Tentative evidence suggesting an increase in insomnia‐related symptoms among working aged population during the last 10 years was found. In conclusion, the Finnish data during the past 33 years indicate a general decrease in self‐reported sleep duration of about 18 min and an increase of sleep complaints, especially among the employed middle‐aged population.

Increasing prevalence and high incidence of celiac disease in elderly people: A population-based study

BackgroundCeliac disease may emerge at any age, but little is known of its appearance in elderly people. We evaluated the prevalence of the condition in individuals over 55 years of age, and determined the incidence of biopsy-proven celiac disease (CDb) and celiac disease including seropositive subjects for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (CDb+s).MethodsThe study based on prevalence figures in 2815 randomly selected subjects who had undergone a clinical examination and serologic screening for celiac disease in 2002. A second screening in the same population was carried out in 2005, comprising now 2216 individuals. Positive tissue transglutaminase antibodies were confirmed with small bowel biopsy.ResultsWithin three years the prevalence of CDb increased from 2.13 to 2.34%, and that of CDb+s from 2.45 to 2.70%. Five new cases were found among patients previously seronegative; two had minor abdominal symptoms and three were asymptomatic. The incidence of celiac disease in 2002–2005 was 0.23%, giving an annual incidence of 0.08% in this population.ConclusionThe prevalence of celiac disease was high in elderly people, but the symptoms were subtle. Repeated screening detected five biopsy-proven cases in three years, indicating that the disorder may develop even in the elderly. Increased alertness to the disorder is therefore warranted.

Postprandial Lipemic Response Is Modified by the Polymorphism at Codon 54 of the Fatty Acid–Binding Protein 2 Gene

Polymorphism of the fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) gene has been shown to affect the affinity of intestinal FABP for fatty acids. This could cause changes in postprandial triglyceride metabolism. In the present study, postprandial lipemia was studied in normotriglyceridemic subjects with genetic variation in the FABP2 gene. Oral fat-loading tests were performed in 8 subjects homozygous for the Thr-encoding allele at codon 54 of the FABP2 gene and in 7 subjects homozygous for the Ala-encoding allele (wild type). There were no significant differences between these 2 groups in age, body mass index, fasting plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels, or fasting glucose and insulin levels. The increase of plasma triglyceride concentration after the fat test meal was significantly greater in subjects who were homozygous for the Thr-54 allele (area under the response curve, 4.27+/-1.31 versus 2.49+/-1.18 mmol/L x h-1, P=0.04). The difference was seen in both chylomicron (2.51+/-0. 98 versus 1.41+/-0.74 mmol/L x h-1, P=0.03) and very low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (1.57+/-0.77 versus 0.99+/-0.40 mmol/L x h-1, P=0.04). Postprandial triglyceride response correlated with fasting triglycerides in the Ala-54 homozygotes (r=0.79, P=0.05) but not in the Thr-54 homozygotes (r=0.09), who showed a strong correlation between triglyceride and insulin responses (r=0.83, P=0. 02). With reservations related to a small number of subjects studied, these results indicate that the Thr-encoding allele of the FABP2 gene is associated with increased postprandial lipemia. The lipemic response was associated with postprandial insulin response, suggesting that in the Thr-54 homozygotes, altered postprandial lipemia may also modify insulin action or vice versa.

RURAL URBAN DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH AND HEALTH BEHAVIOUR: A BASELINE DESCRIPTION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH-PROMOTION PROGRAMME FOR THE ELDERLY

Study objective: To (1) describe the setting and design of the Good Ageing in Lahti Region (GOAL) programme; (2) by using the baseline results of the GOAL cohort study, to examine whether living in urban, semi-urban, or rural communities is related to risk factors for chronic diseases and functional disability in ageing individuals. Design: The baseline data of a cohort study of ageing individuals living in three community types (urban, semi-urban, rural). Data were collected by two questionnaires and laboratory assessments. Setting: Fourteen municipalities in the Lahti region (Päijät-Häme County) in Finland. Participants: A regionally and locally stratified random sample of men and women born in 1946—50, 1936—40, and 1926—30. A total of 4,272 were invited and 2,815 (66%) participated. Main results: Elevated serum cholesterol, obesity, disability, sedentary lifestyle (<2 times/week walking), and high fat intake were more prevalent in rural vs. urban and semi-urban communities. After adjustment for sex, age, education, obesity, diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use, rural communities remained the only community type with increased (p<0.05) probability for high BMI (OR 1.33) and high waist circumference (OR 1.43). Conclusions: The unfavourable health and lifestyle profile, together with an old population, makes health promotion for elderly citizens a special challenge for rural communities such as those in Päijät-Häme County, Finland. Most, if not all, of the differences in health between the three community types were explained by educational background, physical activity, and smoking.

Undetected coeliac disease in the elderly: A biopsy-proven population-based study

BACKGROUND Up to 1% of the population suffer from coeliac disease. Data on the prevalence in elderly people is scant. We hypothesized that they would over time have developed obvious symptoms. Clinically silent or undiagnosed disease would thus be relatively uncommon. AIMS To evaluate the prevalence of coeliac disease in elderly people. METHODS The study comprised 2815 individuals aged 52-74 years. Clinical cases of coeliac disease were recorded. Sera from all subjects were screened by IgA class tissue transglutaminase antibodies, and seropositive underwent small bowel biopsy. RESULTS Coeliac disease was detected in altogether 60 individuals, in 25 (0.89%) on clinical grounds, and screening found in 35 (1.24%) new biopsy-proven cases. Thus, a total prevalence of 2.13% (95% confidence intervals 1.60-2.67%) was reached. Of the screen-detected cases, 15 had symptoms, albeit mostly mild. Two out of the 60 had small bowel T-cell lymphoma and two had gastric cancer. The total frequency of biopsy-proven coeliac disease and seropositive cases without histological confirmation was 2.45% (1.88-3.02%). CONCLUSION The prevalence of coeliac disease in elderly people was higher than what has been reported in the population in general. Active case finding by serologic screening is encouraged, since undetected cases may be prone to increased morbidity and mortality.

Clinical benefit of gluten-free diet in screen-detected older celiac disease patients.

BackgroundThe utility of serologic screening for celiac disease is still debatable. Evidence suggests that the disorder remains undetected even in the older population. It remains obscure whether screening makes good or harm in subjects with long-standing gluten ingestion. We evaluated whether older subjects benefit from active detection and subsequent gluten free dietary treatment of celiac disease.MethodsThirty-five biopsy-proven patients aged over 50 years had been detected by serologic mass screening. We examined the disease history, dietary compliance, symptoms, quality of life and bone mineral density at baseline and 1-2 years after the commencement of a gluten-free diet. Symptoms were evaluated by gastrointestinal symptom rating scale and quality of life by psychological general well-being questionnaires. Small bowel biopsy, serology, laboratory parameters assessing malabsorption, and bone mineral density were investigated.ResultsDietary compliance was good. The patients had initially low mean serum ferritin values indicating subclinical iron deficiency, which was restored by a gluten-free diet. Vitamin B12, vitamin D and erythrocyte folic acid levels increased significantly on diet. Celiac patients had a history of low-energy fractures more often than the background population, and the diet had a beneficial effect on bone mineral density. Alleviation in gastrointestinal symptoms was observed, even though the patients reported no or only subtle symptoms at diagnosis. Quality of life remained unchanged. Of all the cases, two thirds would have been diagnosed even without screening if the family history, fractures or concomitant autoimmune diseases had been taken carefully into account.ConclusionsScreen-detected patients benefited from a gluten-free diet. We encourage a high index of suspicion and active case-finding in celiac disease as an alternative to mass screening in older patients.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention in the Real World Three-year results of the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial

OBJECTIVE We study the effectiveness of the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial at the 36-month follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 352, type 2 diabetes risk score FINDRISC = 16.2 ± 3.3, BMI 32.6 ± 5.0 kg/m2) received six lifestyle counseling sessions over 8 months. Measurements were at baseline, 12 months (88.6%), and 36 months (77.0%). RESULTS Statistically significant risk reduction at 12 months was maintained at 36 months in weight (−1.0 ± 5.6 kg), BMI (−0.5 ± 2.1 kg/m2), and serum total cholesterol (−0.4 ± 1.1 mmol/l). CONCLUSIONS Maintenance of risk reduction in this “real world” trial proves the interventions potential for significant public health impact.

Effect of orlistat treatment on body composition and resting energy expenditure during a two-year weight-reduction programme in obese Finns.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of orlistat (Xenical™) treatment on body composition and resting energy expenditure (REE) during a 2 y weight-reduction programme in obese Finns.SUBJECTS: Of initially 96 obese subjects who participated in the weight-reduction programme, those 72 subjects (13 men, 59 women, body mass index (BMI) 35.9±3.9 kg/m2, age 43.4±6.0 y, mean±s.d.) with the complete set of data for 2 y were included in the study.DESIGN: After a 4-week lead-in period, subjects were randomized with either orlistat 120 mg t.i.d. or placebo t.i.d. in conjunction with a mildly hypoenergetic balanced diet for 1 y. This was followed by 1 y double-blind period with the subjects within each treatment group re-assigned to receive orlistat 120 mg t.i.d. or placebo t.i.d. in conjunction with a weight maintenance diet.MEASUREMENTS: Body composition and REE were measured after an overnight fast by a bioelectrical impedance method and indirect calorimeter, respectively. The measurements were performed at the beginning and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.RESULTS: During the first year, the orlistat-treated group had greater reduction of body weight and fat mass but not of fat-free mass or REE as compared to placebo. During the second year, orlistat treatment was associated with smaller regain of body weight and fat mass with no significant differences in the changes of fat-free mass or REE as compared to placebo.CONCLUSION: In addition to better weight loss and maintenance of reduced weight, orlistat treatment is associated with beneficial changes in body composition but with no excess decrease in resting energy expenditure as compared to that achieved during placebo with a dietary therapy alone.