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The relationship between diet and subclinical atherosclerosis: results from the Asklepios Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 606–613 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Nutritional epidemiology shifted its focus from effects of single foods/nutrients toward the overall diet. Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are promoted worldwide to stimulate a healthy diet, including a variety of foods, to meet nutrient needs and to reduce the risk for non-communicable diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate whether adherence to the FBDG is associated with reduced femoral/carotid atherosclerosis and/or inflammation.

Subjects/Methods:

In October 2002, 2524 healthy men and women aged 35–55 years were recruited for the Belgian Asklepios cohort study. Subjects were extensively phenotyped, including echographic assessment of (carotid and femoral) atherosclerosis. A dietary index consisting of three subscores (dietary quality, diversity and equilibrium) was calculated to measure adherence to the Flemish FBDG, using data from a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. General linear models were used to investigate associations between these scores and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and atherosclerosis and inflammation markers.

Results:

Women had better overall dietary scores than men (69 vs 59%). Participants with higher dietary scores showed better age-adjusted CV risk profiles (lower waist/hip ratio, blood pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood triglycerides and homocystein), although most of these associations were only significant in men. Higher dietary scores were also inversely associated with inflammation makers (interleukin-6 and leukocyte count). Associations between diet and atherosclerosis were only found for femoral atherosclerosis and significance disappeared after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions:

Better adherence to the Flemish FBDG is associated with a better CV risk profile and less inflammation, mainly among men. There was no direct effect on the presence of carotid or femoral atherosclerosis.

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Acknowledgements

We want to acknowledge all the participants from the Asklepios Study who voluntarily contributed to this study. The Asklepios Study was partly funded by an FWO Research Grant FWO (G.0427.03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    L I Hoebeeck, E R Rietzschel, D De Bacquer, G De Backer, L Maes & I Huybrechts

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

    E R Rietzschel, M De Buyzere, G De Backer & T Gillebert

  3. Department of Clinical Chemistry, AZ St-Jan AV Hospital, Brugge, Belgium

    M Langlois

Authors
  1. L I Hoebeeck
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  2. E R Rietzschel
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  4. M De Buyzere
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  5. D De Bacquer
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  6. G De Backer
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  7. L Maes
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Correspondence to I Huybrechts.

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The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Contributors: LIH: statistical analyses, interpretation of the results and drafting of the paper. ERR: conceptualization of the study, statistical analyses, interpretation of the results and contribution to the writing of the paper. ML: laboratory investigations, and contribution to the writing of the paper. MDB: contribution to conceptualization of the study and to the writing of the paper. DDB: contribution to conceptualization of the study and to the writing of the paper. GDB: conceptualization of the study, and contribution to the writing of the paper. LM: concept of FBDGs and dietary quality index, interpretation of the results and contribution to the writing of the paper. TG: conceptualization of the study, interpretation of the results and contribution to the writing of the paper. IH: conceptualization of the dietary intake questionnaire, statistical analyses, interpretation of the results and contribution to the writing of the paper.

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Hoebeeck, L., Rietzschel, E., Langlois, M. et al. The relationship between diet and subclinical atherosclerosis: results from the Asklepios Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 606–613 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.286

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