Background & aimsFew studies have explored the prolonged effects of dietary nitrate on vascular health. This pilot study tested the effects of prolonged consumption (13 weeks) of a range of doses of dietary nitrate (NO3−), provided as beetroot juice (BJ), on blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function in overweight and obese older participants.Methods and resultsSixty-two overweight or obese older participants (60–75 years) were randomized to the following interventions: (1) high NO3− (2) medium NO3−, (3) low NO3−, or (4) placebo. Resting clinic and home BP were measured pre- and post-intervention. Laser Doppler iontophoresis was used to quantify changes in endothelial-dependent and independent microvascular blood flow.ResultsThis pilot study showed that medium and low doses of NO3− were more effective in lowering resting-clinic SBP (P = 0.04 and, P = 0.03, respectively) than was PL. The lower doses of NO3− also resulted in significant increases in microvascular perfusion (medium, P = 0.02; low, P = 0.002) relative to baseline values.ConclusionThese findings indicate that supplementation with medium and low, but not high, doses of NO3− for 13 weeks had positive effects on BP and endothelial function in older overweight and obese adults. These findings require confirmation in larger studies. 相似文献
AimsCurrent dietary recommendations on fish consumption for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention put somewhat vague emphasis on fatty fish, mainly driven by evidence on the cardioprotective effects of n–3 PUFAs. Recent data on the consumption of different types of fish in relation to hard cardiovascular endpoints suggests that fatty but not lean fish can contribute to CVD prevention. This considered, we aimed at evaluating, by an environmental perspective, fish consumption limited to the fatty type – in appropriate amounts for optimizing CVD prevention – within the European context.Data synthesisStarting from the current average intake of total fish by the European population (i.e., 2 servings/week of fatty plus lean fish), we show that the shift towards the consumption of 2 servings/week of solely fatty fish – appropriate for optimizing CVD prevention – would allow a 32% saving of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to fish consumption. This is due to the lower environmental impact of fatty fish globally considered, compared to lean fish. However, since the carbon footprint of different fatty fish species can vary significantly – with small blue fish (e.g., anchovies, sardines, herrings) in the lowest range, we estimated that GHG emissions due to fish consumption in Europe could be reduced by 82% by focusing on small blue fish consumption.ConclusionsConsumption of 2 servings/week of small blue fish could represent a feasible and effective choice among the functional dietary strategies available to achieve the maximal benefits for human and environmental health. 相似文献
BackgroundWe estimated symptomatic and asymptomatic influenza infection frequency in community-dwelling unvaccinated pregnant persons to inform risk communication.MethodsWe collected residue sera from multiple antenatal-care blood draws during October 2016–April 2017. We determined influenza infection as seroconversion with ≥ 4-fold rise in antibody titers between any two serum samples by improved hemagglutinin-inhibition assay including ether-treated B antigens. The serology data were linked to the results of nuclei acid testing (rRT-PCR) based on acute respiratory illness (ARI) surveillance.ResultsAmong all participants, 43 %(602/1384) demonstrated serology and/or rRT-PCR evidenced infection, and 44 %(265/602) of all infections were asymptomatic. ARI-associated rRT-PCR testing identified only 10 %(61/602) of total infections. Only 1 %(5/420) of the B Victoria cases reported ARI and had a rRT-PCR positive result, compared with 33 %(54/165) of the H3N2 cases. Among influenza ARI cases with multiple serum samples, 19 %(11/58) had seroconversion to a different subtype prior to the illness.ConclusionsThe incidence of influenza B infection in unvaccinated pregnant persons is under-estimated substantially. Non-pharmaceutical intervention may have suboptimal effectiveness in preventing influenza B transmission due to the less clinical manifestation compared to influenza A. The findings support maternal influenza vaccination to protect pregnant persons and reduce consequent household transmission. 相似文献