Nutritional Aspects Of Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What are the major risk factors of CVD?

Answer 1

1. Individual risk factors:
   - genetic predisposition, family history
   - Age: men at irbabive 45 years old and women at risk above 55 years old
2. Modifiable risk factors:
   -Diet high in trans fat, saturated fats, salt and refined sugar.
   Change to heart-healthy diet

• Smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipe
  
  • stop smoking
• Physical inactivity and sedentary life-style
  
  • include exercise into lifestyle and maintenance of a healthy weight
• excessive alcohol intake
  
  • reduce alcohol intake

Question 2

What clinical conditions are risk factors for CVD?

Answer 2

Dyslipidemia
-high LDL, high VLDL and low HDL

Hypertension
-BP > 130/90 mmHg

Obesity
-BMI at or above 30

Diabetes
-Blood glucose at or above 126 mg/dL

Metabolic syndrome
-all of the above

Question 3

What fats contribute to CVD ?

Answer 3

Trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils increase risk if cardiovascular disease

Sources of trans fats- donuts, nachos, fried chicken, fries, cookies, etc

Question 4

What are the types of cardioprotective dietary fatty acids?

Answer 4

1. Monounsaturated: oleic acid (18:1)

2. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 6):
Linoleic acid (18:2) essential
Arachidonic acid (20:4)

3. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3):
   a-linoleic acid (18:3) essential

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA 20:3)
Docisahexaenoic acid (DHA 22:6)

Question 5

Dyslipidemia is correlated to

Answer 5

BMI

Overweight and obesity are risk factors

Question 6

Explain diagnosis of central obesity

Answer 6

1. Waist circumference of:
   more than 40 inches for men
   More than 35 inches fir women
2. Waist to hip ratio:
   - more than 1 for men and more than 0.8 fir women

Apple shape indicates high amounts of visceral fat

Fatty acids from visceral fat deposits are released into the portal vein and can lead to increased hepatic VLDL formation leading to Dyslipidemia

Question 7

Obesity is correlated with increased risk of…

Answer 7

Mortality

The relationship is strongest in individuals less than 55 years old. After 74 years of age, this correlation is not any more observed

Question 8

What are the health risks to obese individuals?

Answer 8

Health risks in obese individuals

1. Hypertension
2. Dyslipidemia
3. Type 2 diabetes
4. Cardiovascular disease
5. Many other chronic conditions

Question 9

What are the health benefits of weight loss in obese individuals?

Answer 9

1. Decreased blood pressure
2. Decreased serum TAGs and increased HDL
3. Decreased blood glucose levels