On the within-population relationship between nutrition and serum lipids: the B.I.R.N.H study

In the legend to Table 4 in the above paper dietary cholesterolintake is expressed in g.day^–1 and not in mg.day^–1as erroneously stated.     

On the within-population relationship between nutrition and serum lipids: the B.I.R.N.H study

In the legend to Table 4 in the above paper dietary cholesterolintake is expressed in g.day^–1 and not in mg.day^–1as erroneously stated.     

On the within-population relationship between dietary habits and serum lipid levels in Belgium

In a Belgian population group of 15 954 male and 2116 femalesubjects, an epidemiological survey has been conducted to investigatethe relationship between dietary fat intake and serum totaland HDL-cholesterol. The study has established, both in menand in women, a significant positive relationship between serumtotal cholesterol and the dietary intake of saturated fat anda significant positive relationship between serum total cholesteroland the dietary intake of saturated fat and a significant negativeone between serum total cholesterol and the intake of polyunsaturatedfat and the P/S-ration of the diet. At equal levels of consumption,polyunsaturated fat has a decreasing effect on serum total cholesterolwhich is about half the increasing effect due to saturated fat.Polyunsaturated fat and the P/S-ratio decrease the HDL-cholesterolvalue but only with borderline significance. The present studydemonstrates the importance of dietary fat as a determinantof the serum lipid level within a Population.     

Serum lipid distribution and mortality in Belgium

During the year 1982 serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein A₁and B levels were measured in 1319 male subjects (mean age 20years) from different provinces of Belgium. The serum cholesterollevel and the apolipoprotein B level were distinctly lower inDutch-speaking than in French-speaking subjects. An increaseof 1.1 mg% of total cholesterol was found per kg per consumerunit per year of butter consumed and a decrease of 1.1 mg% perkg per consumer unit per year of margarine consumed. The highercholesterol value in French-speaking subjects correlated significantlywith a high regional mortality from all causes and from ischaemicheart disease in male subjects of the 45–64-year age group.A 10mg% difference in serum cholesterol at the age of 20 yearscorresponds with an increase in mortality from all causes of20% and from ischaemic heart disease of 21%. A significant difference in log GGT (gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase)— possibly due to differences in alcohol consumption —was observed between the provinces of Belgium. The differencein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B level remained significantafter adjustment for log GGT.     

On the within-population relationship between nutrition and serum lipids: the B.I.R.N.H. study

A randomized study was performed in Belgium concerning the relationshipbetween diet and serum lipids in 5485 men and 4856 women witha mean age of 49 years. In men 17.3% of total energy was providedby saturated fat, 15.2% by monounsaturated fat and 7.5% by polyunsaturatedfat. The fat intake in women was very similar. The P/S ratiowas 0.51 in men and 0.52 in women. The alcohol intake was significantlyhigher in men (5.2% of total energy) than in women (2% of totalenergy). In men and women total serum cholesterol increasedwith saturated fat intake (p <0.001) and decreased with polyunsaturatedfat intake (p <0.01). Saturated fat intake raised the HDL-cholesterollevel in men and women (p <0.001) and monounsaturated fatraised it in men only (p <0.01). Dietary cholesterol increasedthe HDL-cholesterol level in women only (p <0.01). HDL-cholesterolincreased with alcohol consumption (p <0.001) and decreasedwith cigarette smoking (p <<0.001). All these changeswere adjusted for differences in age, height and weight. Thestudy confirms the existence, within a population, of a significantrelationship between fat intake and serum lipid levels.     

On the within-population relationship between dietary habits and serum lipid levels in Belgium

In a Belgian population group of 15 954 male and 2116 femalesubjects, an epidemiological survey has been conducted to investigatethe relationship between dietary fat intake and serum totaland HDL-cholesterol. The study has established, both in menand in women, a significant positive relationship between serumtotal cholesterol and the dietary intake of saturated fat anda significant positive relationship between serum total cholesteroland the dietary intake of saturated fat and a significant negativeone between serum total cholesterol and the intake of polyunsaturatedfat and the P/S-ration of the diet. At equal levels of consumption,polyunsaturated fat has a decreasing effect on serum total cholesterolwhich is about half the increasing effect due to saturated fat.Polyunsaturated fat and the P/S-ratio decrease the HDL-cholesterolvalue but only with borderline significance. The present studydemonstrates the importance of dietary fat as a determinantof the serum lipid level within a Population.     

Effects of intravenous sotalol, aprindine and the combination of sotalol and aprindine on chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias in man

The comparative aniiarrhythmic efficacy of three different intravenousdrug regimens was evaluated in 12 symptomatic patients (meanage: 72 years) with chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias(mean: 834 PVCs h^–1). In a cross-over study with latinsquare distribution the following drug regimens were administeredintravenously to all patients (a) aprindine 2 mg kg^–1,(b) sotalol 1.5 mg kg^–1, (c) aprindine 1 mg kg^–1& sotalol 0.75 mg kg^–1. The mean percentage of PVCreduction was 41% (P <0.05) for aprindine 2 mg kg^–1;51% (P <0.05) for sotalol 1.5 mg kg^–1 and 72% (P <0.01)for the combined drug therapy (aprindine 1 mg kg^–1 andsotalol 0.75 mg kg^–1). The mean plasma concentration was1371 ng ml^–1 after administration of aprindine 2 mg kg^–1and 1730 ng ml^–1 after infusion of sotalol 1.5 mg kg^–1.After combined drug therapy, mean plasma levels were 942 ngml^–1 for aprindine and 992 ng ml^–1 for sotalol.The different drug regimens were well tolerated in all patientsand no side-effects occurred. Combination therapy consistingof a drug that prolongs action potential duration with an antiarrhythmicagent that has a high affinity for the inactivated channelsmay thus achieve an antiarrhythmic efficacy comparable to singleagent therapy, permitting the use of lower dosages.