Aim: Meat is commonly consumed in India; however, in comparison to Western settings, it is eaten in relatively lower quantities and with minimal processing. The association between meat intake and cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) and their risk factors in India is currently uncertain. We examined whether meat intake is associated with risk factors for CMDs and the measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in urbanising villages in southern India. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 6012 adults (52.3% male) participating in the Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents’ Study (APCAPS), which is a large prospective, intergenerational cohort study in Southern India that began with the long-term follow-up of the Hyderabad Nutrition Trial (1987–1990). We used cross-sectional data from the third wave of data collection conducted in 2010–2012, where total meat intake was assessed using 100-item, semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). The FFQs were validated using multiple weighed 24 h dietary recalls. The main predictor, ‘total meat intake’, was calculated as the sum of chicken, red meat, and fish consumption. The risk factors for CMDs [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein] and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis [Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Pulse Wave Velocity, and Augmentation Index] were assessed using standardised clinical procedures. Stratified by gender, the association of meat intake with the risk factors of CMDs and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis was examined using linear multilevel models with random intercept at the household level. Results: The mean (SD) age of the male (n = 3128) and female participants (n = 2828) was 34.09 years (15.55) and 34.27 years (12.73), respectively. The median (IQR) intake of meat was 17.79 g/day (8.90, 30.26) in males and 8.90 g/day (4.15, 18.82) in females. In males, a 10 g increase in total meat intake/1000 Kcal/day was positively associated with DBP, BMI, WC, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, whereas in females, a 10 g increase in total meat intake/1000 Kcal/day was positively associated with SBP, DBP, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides. There was no relationship between meat consumption and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusions: Meat intake had a linear positive association with CMD risk factors among the relatively younger Indian population who were consuming meat at lower levels compared to their European counterparts. Full article

The aim of this longitudinal descriptive observational study was to analyze the influence of different lifestyles on arterial stiffness (AS) throughout five years of follow-up and to describe the differences by sex in a Spanish adult population without cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. A random stratified sampling by age and sex was used to obtain 501 subjects included in the initial assessment. No cardiovascular disease was allowed in the subjects. The average age was 55.9 years, and 50.3% were women. A total of 480 subjects were analyzed again five years later. Alcohol and tobacco consumption were collected with standardized questionnaires. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with the Mediterranean diet adherence screener (MEDAS) questionnaire. Physical activity was assessed with the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and sedentary time was assessed with the Marshall Sitting Questionnaire (MSQ). AS was assessed by measuring carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and central augmentation index (CAIx) with SphygmoCor System^®, and ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) with Vasera VS-1500^®. Increases in vascular function measures per year of follow-up were: cfPWV = 0.228 ± 0.360 m/s, baPWV = 0.186 ± 0.308 m/s, CAVI = 0.041 ± 0.181 m/s, and CAIx = 0.387 ± 2.664 m/s. In multiple regression analysis, positive association was shown between an increase in baPWV and tobacco index (β = 0.007) and alcohol consumption (β = 0.005). Negative association was shown between CAVI and Mediterranean diet score (β = −0.051). In multinomial logistic regression analysis, the OR of tobacco index of subjects with a cfPWV increase >P75 was OR = 1.025 and of subjects classified between P25 and P75 was OR = 1.026 regarding subjects classified with an increase <P25. The OR for alcohol consumption of participants with a baPWV increase >P75 was OR = 1.006 regarding subjects classified with an increase <P25. An OR = 0.838 was found in the Mediterranean diet score of subjects with an increased CAVI > P75, and an OR = 0.841 was found of subjects classified between P25–75 regarding subjects classified with an increase <P25. In conclusion, the association of lifestyle between an increase in AS measures at 5 year follow-up differs according to the AS measure analyzed. A positive association was shown with increased cfPWV and tobacco index, as well as alcohol consumption with increased baPWV. However, a negative association with CAVI and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was found. Full article

The aim of the study was to analyze the association between dietary patterns (DP) identified in the group of Lower Silesia (Poland) inhabitants and the prevalence of selected noncommunicable diseases, such as total cardiovascular diseases (CVD), hypertension, diabetes, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), visceral obesity, and excessive body weight. This study involved 2023 subjects aged 35–70 years, from Wroclaw and surrounding villages. The assessment of food intake in the study group was assessed using the standardized Food Frequency Questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified using the principal components analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation. Three dietary patterns were identified in the study group: unhealthy, healthy, and traditional. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, IFG, and visceral obesity decreased across the quartiles of healthy DP. Prevalence of IFG increased across the quartiles of unhealthy DP, but the prevalence of hypertension decreased. When the diet was more adherent to the traditional DP the prevalence of CVD, diabetes, IFG, visceral obesity, obesity, and being overweight was higher. DP abundant in fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, raisins, and unrefined grains, named “healthy dietary pattern”, had a beneficial association with lower prevalence of selected noncommunicable diseases. DP abundant in meat products, but poor in fruits and vegetables were positively associated with higher prevalence of total CVD, diabetes, IFG, excessive body weight, and visceral obesity. Full article