Dietary Factors In The Aetiology And Management Of Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
Describe the major forms of cardiovascular disease i.e coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular and peripheral artery disease.
1) coronary heart disease (CHD): when waxy substance builds up inside of the coronary artery of the heart, reducing its diameter and reduces the oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart itself. Some common consequences of this include angina (a chest pain) or a heart attack (blood flow to a specific region of the heart completely cut off, if delayed causes death of cells of that region).
2) cerebrovascular disease: supply of oxygen to the brain tissues is cut, resulting in a number of conditions such as a stroke.
3) peripheral artery disease: a circulatory issue that reduces blood flow to the peripheral limbs.
Briefly outline what is happening to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Australia?
-Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, and generally all around the globe.
-From 1979-2010, death rates from CHD has declined by greater than 70%, with greater decline in females (88%) than males (85%). Annual decline for younger age groups is slowed.
However, this decline is not due to lifestyle modifications, but rather surgical advancement including stents and bypasses.
Describe the stages of atherosclerosis?
1)Damage to the coronary artery wall. (Risk factors include hypertension, high blood cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and poor blood flow. )
2) Monocytes and T cells move to the damaged site. (Inflammatory response)
3) Monocytes are converted to macrophages, which start to ingest LDL.
4) The macrophages are then converted to foam cells. These attract more LDL, forming a big blob of waste like substance.
5) The smooth muscle cells then goes out to stick to the surface of these blobs, forming atherosclerosis.
6) Eventually the blob breaks open to release the fatty substance inside, which can break away and flow to other areas to form a clot.
List the irreversible risk factors for heart disease?
Gender (male), age (atheroma build up as age increases), genetic and body build (naturally higher central adiposity).
List the modifiable risk factors for heart disease?
Cigarette smoking, dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol, high LDL, low HDL and TG), obesity (especially high waist circumference), hypertension, physical inactivity, hyperglycemia and diabetes type ii, increased thrombosis i.e. Local coagulation or clotting of the blood vessels.
Others include psychosocial: low SES, stressful situations and coronary prone behaviour, geographic factors like climate and season, soft drinking water (debate).
Describe the blood lipoprotein fractions and the research literature related to the role of diet and exercise in controlling blood lipids?
LDL contains more cholesterol, is less dense and contains less protein.
What are the optimum levels for blood lipoproteins?
Total cholesterol < 5.5 LDL < or = 3.5 HDL>1.0(male) or 1.3 (females) Total/HDL ratio: <3 optimal, >5 risk factor TG < or =2.0 ( male)
What are lipoproteins? What about apoproteins?
Lipoproteins are a group of proteins that transport cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. There are three main types; LDL, VLDL and HDL. LDL are formed after VLDL gives up TG to the body cells. They carry fat to the body cells. HDL carry fat to the liver to form bile.
Apoproteins are the protein parts of the lipoproteins. For LDL, it is apoprotein B and app A1 and AII for HDL. They activate or deactivate the metabolism of the fats they carry.
What is meant by a saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acid?
Saturated: single bond between carbons, higher melting temperature.
Monounsaturated: one double bond between carbons, lower melting temperatures.
Polyunsaturated: 2 or more double bonds.
Be able to list at least one food/oil/fats which is predominately saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat?
French fries, butter fat and coconut.
Cottonseed, sunflower oil.
Olive, canola oil
List good source of long chain omega 3 fatty acids?
Olive oil, many fishes like tuna and salmon, meat
List ways to improve HDL and reduce LDL and VLDL levels?
LDL: reduced intake of saturated fat, reduced intake of cholesterol, increase physical exercise, higher mono and polyunsaturated fat intake.
VLDL: higher GI foods, reduced obesity, and reduced alcohol intake.
HDL: take olive oil, small amount of alcohol intake and exercise.
