Page 57 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 57
erate consumption of red wine for usual drinkers. The Scientific Adviso- nutrition of the elderly with atherosclerosis 55
ry Committee of the American Heart Association stated that the Mediterrane-
an-style diet has impressive effects on Cardiovascular Disease. Atherosclerosis
is one of the most important risk factors for the development of Cardiovascular
Disease. Thus, several pharmacological strategies have been used to decrease or
prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Interestingly, in recent years sev-
eral studies have emphasized the role of several dietary nutrients and bioac-
tive compounds in the mechanisms of the processes around the plaque forma-
tion. Nutrients such as saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acids, among others,
are associated with an increase in the development of atherosclerosis. On the
other hand, nutrients such as soy, omega-3 fatty acids, several vitamins, and
polyphenols reduce or attenuate the appearance of atherosclerotic lesions. The
activity of these compounds is associated with a reduction in the inflammatory
response, in the antioxidant capacity to prevent oxidation of LDL particles, leu-
kocyte migration, adhesion molecules, in the viability of VSMCs and reduction
in blood pressure among others (Torres, Guevara-Cruz, 2015; Velázquez-Ville-
gas and Tovar, 2015).
Nutrition is far more important in stroke risk than most physcians sup-
pose. Healthy lifestyle choices reduce the risk of stroke by 80 %. A Cretan Med-
iterranean diet, high in olive oil, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes,
and low in cholesterol and saturated fat, can reduce stroke by 40% or more in
high-risk patients. The role of the intestinal microbiome in cardiovascular risk
is emerging. High levels of toxic metabolites produced by intestinal bacteria
from meat (particularly red meat) and egg yolk are renally excreted. Patients
with renal impairment, including the elderly, should limit red meat and avoid
egg yolk, as should other patients at high risk of stroke. Salt intake should be
limited to 2–3 grams per day. Metabolic B12 deficiency is common and usual-
ly missed. It has serious neurological consequences, including an increase in
the risk of stroke. It now clear that B vitamins to lower homocysteine reduce
the risk of stroke, but we should probably be using methylcobalamin instead
of cyanocobalamin (Spence, 2019). Several conditions associated with the de-
velopment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as diabetes, obesity, hyper-
tension, and dyslipidemia are known to be modifiable by changes in lifestyle.
Among lifestyle factors, our diet, including both the nutritional quality and
our acquired eating patterns, constitutes a major target of CVD prevention
strategies. Eating patterns are highly dependent on cultural, social and psy-
chological determinants, as people integrate them into their daily life routines.
A particular habit that might have a significant effect on CVD health is break-
fast consumption, as it is associated with factors such as satiety, daily energy
intake (EI), metabolic efficiency of the diet, and appetite regulation. A num-
ber of studies have reported associations between the habit of omitting break-
fast and increased cardiometabolic health markers, including obesity, diabetes
and unfavorable lipid profile. Although there are some studies linking skip-
ping breakfast with coronary heart disease risk, to the best of our knowledge,
ry Committee of the American Heart Association stated that the Mediterrane-
an-style diet has impressive effects on Cardiovascular Disease. Atherosclerosis
is one of the most important risk factors for the development of Cardiovascular
Disease. Thus, several pharmacological strategies have been used to decrease or
prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Interestingly, in recent years sev-
eral studies have emphasized the role of several dietary nutrients and bioac-
tive compounds in the mechanisms of the processes around the plaque forma-
tion. Nutrients such as saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acids, among others,
are associated with an increase in the development of atherosclerosis. On the
other hand, nutrients such as soy, omega-3 fatty acids, several vitamins, and
polyphenols reduce or attenuate the appearance of atherosclerotic lesions. The
activity of these compounds is associated with a reduction in the inflammatory
response, in the antioxidant capacity to prevent oxidation of LDL particles, leu-
kocyte migration, adhesion molecules, in the viability of VSMCs and reduction
in blood pressure among others (Torres, Guevara-Cruz, 2015; Velázquez-Ville-
gas and Tovar, 2015).
Nutrition is far more important in stroke risk than most physcians sup-
pose. Healthy lifestyle choices reduce the risk of stroke by 80 %. A Cretan Med-
iterranean diet, high in olive oil, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes,
and low in cholesterol and saturated fat, can reduce stroke by 40% or more in
high-risk patients. The role of the intestinal microbiome in cardiovascular risk
is emerging. High levels of toxic metabolites produced by intestinal bacteria
from meat (particularly red meat) and egg yolk are renally excreted. Patients
with renal impairment, including the elderly, should limit red meat and avoid
egg yolk, as should other patients at high risk of stroke. Salt intake should be
limited to 2–3 grams per day. Metabolic B12 deficiency is common and usual-
ly missed. It has serious neurological consequences, including an increase in
the risk of stroke. It now clear that B vitamins to lower homocysteine reduce
the risk of stroke, but we should probably be using methylcobalamin instead
of cyanocobalamin (Spence, 2019). Several conditions associated with the de-
velopment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as diabetes, obesity, hyper-
tension, and dyslipidemia are known to be modifiable by changes in lifestyle.
Among lifestyle factors, our diet, including both the nutritional quality and
our acquired eating patterns, constitutes a major target of CVD prevention
strategies. Eating patterns are highly dependent on cultural, social and psy-
chological determinants, as people integrate them into their daily life routines.
A particular habit that might have a significant effect on CVD health is break-
fast consumption, as it is associated with factors such as satiety, daily energy
intake (EI), metabolic efficiency of the diet, and appetite regulation. A num-
ber of studies have reported associations between the habit of omitting break-
fast and increased cardiometabolic health markers, including obesity, diabetes
and unfavorable lipid profile. Although there are some studies linking skip-
ping breakfast with coronary heart disease risk, to the best of our knowledge,
