TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediterranean diet and carotid atherosclerosis in the Northern Manhattan study
AU - Gardener, Hannah
AU - Wright, Clinton B.
AU - Cabral, Digna
AU - Scarmeas, Nikolaos
AU - Gu, Yian
AU - Cheung, Ken
AU - Elkind, Mitchell S.V.
AU - Sacco, Ralph L.
AU - Rundek, Tatjana
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ( R37 NS 29993 ).
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Objective: Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) may protect against clinical vascular events by reducing atherosclerosis, but data is limited. This is the first observational study of the association between MeDi adherence and carotid plaque thickness and area. Methods: The study included 1374 participants of the population-based Northern Manhattan Study with diet assessed and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and plaque measured using B-mode ultrasound (mean age 66±9years, 60% female, 60% Hispanic, 18% White, 19% Black). A MeDi adherence score (range=0-9, 9 representing maximal adherence) was examined continuously and in quintiles (3/4/5/6-9 vs. 0-2). Results: Mean cIMT=0.9±0.1mm and 57% had plaque (median plaque thickness=1.5mm, 75th percentile=2.2; median plaque area=4.2mm2, 75th percentile=15.8). There was no association between MeDi and cIMT or plaque presence. MeDi adherence was inversely associated with the 75th percentile of plaque thickness and median of plaque area in quantile regression analyses. These associations persisted after controlling for demographics, smoking, physical activity, and total energy consumption (effect of a 1-point increase in MeDi score on the 75th percentile of plaque thickness=-0.049mm, p=0.03; median of plaque area=-0.371mm2, p=0.03), and when additionally controlling for vascular disease biomarkers, medication use, BMI, and previous cardiac disease. The protective associations appeared strongest for those with a MeDi score of 5 (4th quintile) vs. 0-2 (bottom quintile). Differential effects of a MeDi on plaque thickness and area across race/ethnic groups was suggested. Conclusions: Moderate and strict adherence to a MeDi may protect against a higher burden of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, which may mediate the protection against clinical vascular events. Efforts to improve adherence to a MeDi are critical to reducing the burden of atherosclerotic disease.
AB - Objective: Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) may protect against clinical vascular events by reducing atherosclerosis, but data is limited. This is the first observational study of the association between MeDi adherence and carotid plaque thickness and area. Methods: The study included 1374 participants of the population-based Northern Manhattan Study with diet assessed and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and plaque measured using B-mode ultrasound (mean age 66±9years, 60% female, 60% Hispanic, 18% White, 19% Black). A MeDi adherence score (range=0-9, 9 representing maximal adherence) was examined continuously and in quintiles (3/4/5/6-9 vs. 0-2). Results: Mean cIMT=0.9±0.1mm and 57% had plaque (median plaque thickness=1.5mm, 75th percentile=2.2; median plaque area=4.2mm2, 75th percentile=15.8). There was no association between MeDi and cIMT or plaque presence. MeDi adherence was inversely associated with the 75th percentile of plaque thickness and median of plaque area in quantile regression analyses. These associations persisted after controlling for demographics, smoking, physical activity, and total energy consumption (effect of a 1-point increase in MeDi score on the 75th percentile of plaque thickness=-0.049mm, p=0.03; median of plaque area=-0.371mm2, p=0.03), and when additionally controlling for vascular disease biomarkers, medication use, BMI, and previous cardiac disease. The protective associations appeared strongest for those with a MeDi score of 5 (4th quintile) vs. 0-2 (bottom quintile). Differential effects of a MeDi on plaque thickness and area across race/ethnic groups was suggested. Conclusions: Moderate and strict adherence to a MeDi may protect against a higher burden of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, which may mediate the protection against clinical vascular events. Efforts to improve adherence to a MeDi are critical to reducing the burden of atherosclerotic disease.
KW - Carotid atherosclerosis
KW - Intima-media thickness
KW - Mediterranean diet
KW - Plaque
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U2 - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.03.011
DO - 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.03.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 24721190
AN - SCOPUS:84900871184
VL - 234
SP - 303
EP - 310
JO - Atherosclerosis
JF - Atherosclerosis
SN - 0021-9150
IS - 2
ER -