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Biomedical subjects

Eric B Rimm

Publications and source records attributed to Eric B Rimm.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Body mass index and risk of prostate cancer in U.S. health professionals.

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and prostate cancer risk may be complex because obesity is associated with various hormonal factors and because the influence of BMI may differ according to whether the cancers are hereditary or sporadic. We used data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, in which 2896 incident cases of prostate cancer were reported from February 1, 1986, through January 31, 2000, to determine prospectively whether BMI was associated with the risk of hereditary (men <60 years of age or with a positive family history of prostate cancer) and sporadic (men > or =60 years of age and without such a family history) prostate cancer. The risk of prostate cancer in men with a higher BMI (> or =30 kg/m2) was lower than that in men with a lower BMI (23-24.9 kg/m2) but only if they were younger (<60 years old) (relative risk = 0.52, 95% confidence interval = 0.33 to 0.83; P(trend)<.001) or had a family history of prostate cancer (relative risk = 0.74, 95% confidence interval = 0.45 to 1.19; P(trend) =.01). However, for groups with more sporadic cancers, BMI had a weak, non-statistically significant positive association with prostate cancer. We observed statistically significant interactions between BMI and age (P(interaction)<.001, two-sided Wald test) and between BMI and family history of prostate cancer (P(interaction) =.006, two-sided Wald test). Patterns for BMI and waist circumference were similar. Because obesity is associated with lower circulating concentrations of testosterone, our results suggest the hypothesis that androgens may play a more direct role for early-onset or hereditary prostate cancers than for sporadic prostate cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sexual function in men older than 50 years of age: results from the health professionals follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have provided data on erectile dysfunction in specific settings, few studies have been large enough to precisely examine age-specific prevalence and correlates. OBJECTIVE: To describe the association between age and several aspects of sexual functioning in men older than 50 years of age. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. SETTING: U.S. health professionals. PARTICIPANTS: 31 742 men, age 53 to 90 years. MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaires mailed in 2000 asked about sexual function, physical activity, body weight, smoking, marital status, medical conditions, and medications. Previous biennial questionnaires since 1986 asked about date of birth, alcohol intake, and other health information. RESULTS: When men with prostate cancer were excluded, the age-standardized prevalence of erectile dysfunction in the previous 3 months was 33%. Many aspects of sexual function (including overall function, desire, orgasm, and overall ability) decreased sharply by decade after 50 years of age. Physical activity was associated with lower risk for erectile dysfunction (multivariable relative risk, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.6 to 0.7] for >32.6 metabolic equivalent hours of exercise per week vs. 0 to 2.7 metabolic equivalent hours of exercise per week), and obesity was associated with higher risk (relative risk, 1.3 [CI, 1.2 to 1.4] for body mass index >28.7 kg/m2 vs. <23.2 kg/m2). Smoking, alcohol consumption, and television viewing time were also associated with increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction. Men who had no chronic medical conditions and engaged in healthy behaviors had the lowest prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Several modifiable health behaviors were associated with maintenance of good erectile function, even after comorbid conditions were considered. Lifestyle factors most strongly associated with erectile dysfunction were physical activity and leanness.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Habitual dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in relation to inflammatory markers among US men and women.

BACKGROUND: Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake favorably affects chronic inflammatory-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease; however, high intake of n-6 fatty acids may attenuate the known beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated habitual dietary n-3 fatty acid intake and its interaction with n-6 fatty acids in relation to the plasma inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 (sTNF-R1 and R2) among 405 healthy men and 454 healthy women. After adjustment for other predictors of inflammation, intake of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was inversely associated with plasma levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 (P=0.03 and P<0.001, respectively) and somewhat less so for C-reactive protein (P=0.08). n-3 alpha-linolenic acid and n-6 cis-linoleic acid were not significantly related to the inflammatory markers. We found little if any association between n-3 fatty acid (EPA+DHA) intake and tumor necrosis factor receptors among participants with low intake of n-6 but a strong inverse association among those with high n-6 intake (P=0.04 and 0.002 for interaction of n-3 with n-6 on sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that n-6 fatty acids do not inhibit the antiinflammatory effects of n-3 fatty acids and that the combination of both types of fatty acids is associated with the lowest levels of inflammation. The inhibition of inflammatory cytokines may be one possible mechanism for the observed beneficial effects of these fatty acids on chronic inflammatory-related diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Alcohol drinking patterns and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among younger women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among relatively young and middle-aged women. METHODS: In a prospective study, 109 690 women, aged 25 to 42 years, without a history of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes mellitus completed a detailed lifestyle and medical history questionnaire in 1989. During 10 years of follow-up, we documented 935 incident cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: We found a nonlinear relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus after adjustment for multiple confounders, including body mass index, smoking, physical activity, and family history of diabetes mellitus (quadratic trend P =.003). Compared with lifelong abstainers, the adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) were 0.80 (0.66-0.96) for those consuming 0.1 to 4.9 g/d, 0.67 (0.50-0.89) for those consuming 5.0 to 14.9 g/d, 0.42 (0.20-0.90) for those consuming 15.0 to 29.9 g/d, and 0.78 (0.34-1.78) for those consuming 30.0 g/d or more. Further adjustment for dietary factors, including glycemic load, trans-fatty acid, polyunsaturated fat, and total fiber intake, did not appreciably alter these findings. The inverse association with light to moderate drinking was most apparent in women who reported wine or beer drinking. Women who reported 30.0 g/d or more of liquor intake showed a significantly increased risk of diabetes mellitus compared with those who did not report liquor intake (adjusted relative risk, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-6.23). CONCLUSION: Light to moderate alcoholic beverage consumption may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among women aged 25 to 42 years, although this benefit may not persist at higher levels.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Physical activity in relation to cardiovascular disease and total mortality among men with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to examine the relationship of physical activity with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality among men with type 2 diabetes. CVD risk and mortality are increased in type 2 diabetes. Few epidemiological studies have investigated the effect of physical activity on these outcomes among type 2 diabetics. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the 3058 men who reported a diagnosis of diabetes at age 30 years or older in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study (HPFS), we excluded 255 who reported a physical impairment. In the remaining 2803 men, physical activity was assessed every 2 years; 266 new cases of CVD and 355 deaths of all causes were identified during 14 years of follow-up. Relative risks of CVD and death were estimated from Cox proportional hazards analysis with adjustment for potential confounders. The multivariate relative risks of CVD incidence corresponding to quintiles of total physical activity were 1.0, 0.87, 0.64, 0.72, and 0.67 (Ptrend=0.07). The corresponding multivariate relative risks for total mortality were 1.0, 0.80, 0.57, 0.58, and 0.58 (Ptrend=0.005). Walking was associated with reduced risk of total mortality. Relative risks across quintiles of walking were 1.0, 0.97, 0.87, 0.97, and 0.57 (Ptrend=0.002). Walking pace was inversely associated with CVD, fatal CVD, and total mortality independently of walking hours. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was associated with reduced risk of CVD, cardiovascular death, and total mortality in men with type 2 diabetes. Walking and walking pace were associated with reduced total mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We compared the incidence rates of myocardial infarction and stroke in subjects with and without rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among the 114 342 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis at baseline in 1976. All self-reported cases of rheumatoid arthritis were confirmed by medical record review. Fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions and strokes were similarly confirmed. Multivariate pooled logistic regression was used to adjust for potential cardiovascular risk factors. Five hundred twenty-seven incident cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 3622 myocardial infarctions and strokes were confirmed during 2.4 million person-years of follow-up. The adjusted relative risk of myocardial infarction in women with rheumatoid arthritis compared with those without was 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23 to 3.29). For stroke, the adjusted relative risk was 1.48 (95% CI, 0.70 to 3.12). Women who had rheumatoid arthritis for at least 10 years had a risk for myocardial infarction of 3.10 (95% CI, 1.64 to 5.87). CONCLUSION: In this large prospective cohort of women, participants with rheumatoid arthritis had a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction but not stroke compared with those without rheumatoid arthritis. If these data are confirmed, aggressive coronary heart disease prevention strategies should be tested for persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Roles of drinking pattern and type of alcohol consumed in coronary heart disease in men.

BACKGROUND: Although moderate drinking confers a decreased risk of myocardial infarction, the roles of the drinking pattern and type of beverage remain unclear. METHODS: We studied the association of alcohol consumption with the risk of myocardial infarction among 38,077 male health professionals who were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at base line. We assessed the consumption of beer, red wine, white wine, and liquor individually every four years using validated food-frequency questionnaires. We documented cases of nonfatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease from 1986 to 1998. RESULTS: During 12 years of follow-up, there were 1418 cases of myocardial infarction. As compared with men who consumed alcohol less than once per week, men who consumed alcohol three to four or five to seven days per week had decreased risks of myocardial infarction (multivariate relative risk, 0.68 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.84] and 0.63 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.74], respectively). The risk was similar among men who consumed less than 10 g of alcohol per drinking day and those who consumed 30 g or more. No single type of beverage conferred additional benefit, nor did consumption with meals. A 12.5-g increase in daily alcohol consumption over a four-year follow-up period was associated with a relative risk of myocardial infarction of 0.78 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Among men, consumption of alcohol at least three to four days per week was inversely associated with the risk of myocardial infarction. Neither the type of beverage nor the proportion consumed with meals substantially altered this association. Men who increased their alcohol consumption by a moderate amount during follow-up had a decreased risk of myocardial infarction.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2003

Leisure-time physical activity and reduced plasma levels of obesity-related inflammatory markers.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between physical activity and the obesity-related inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-Rs) 1 and 2. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between physical activity and insulin sensitivity (insulin, C-peptide, and hemoglobin A(1c) levels) and whether inflammatory markers mediate this association. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Biomarkers were measured in 405 healthy men and 454 healthy women from two large ongoing prospective studies. Information about physical activity and other variables was assessed by questionnaires. RESULTS: After adjustment for other predictors of inflammation, physical activity was inversely associated with plasma levels of sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein (p = 0.07, p = 0.004, p = 0.04, and p = 0.009). After further adjustment for BMI and leptin, as a surrogate for fat mass, most of these associations were no longer significant. Physical activity was also inversely related to insulin and C-peptide levels (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001); however, in contrast to BMI and leptin, levels of inflammatory markers explained only very little of this inverse relationship. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that frequent physical activity is associated with lower systemic inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity. These associations can partially be explained by a lower degree of obesity in physically active subjects. Although inflammatory markers may mediate obesity-dependent effects of physical activity on inflammatory related diseases such as type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease, our study suggests that they do not directly account for the beneficial effects of physical activity on insulin resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Whole grain consumption and weight gain: a review of the epidemiological evidence, potential mechanisms and opportunities for future research.

The epidemiological data that directly examine whole grain v. refined grain intake in relation to weight gain are sparse. However, recently reported studies offer insight into the potential role that whole grains may play in body-weight regulation due to the effects that the components of whole grains have on hormonal factors, satiety and satiation. In both clinical trials and observational studies the intake of whole-grain foods was inversely associated with plasma biomarkers of obesity, including insulin, C-peptide and leptin concentrations. Whole-grain foods tend to have low glycaemic index values, resulting in lower postprandial glucose responses and insulin demand. High insulin levels may promote obesity by altering adipose tissue physiology and by enhancing appetite. The fibre content of whole grains may also affect the secretion of gut hormones, independent of glycaemic response, that may act as satiety factors. Future studies may examine whether whole grain intake is directly related to body weight, and whether the associations are primarily driven by components of the grain, including dietary fibre, bran or germ.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed2003

Alcohol consumption patterns and HbA1c, C-peptide and insulin concentrations in men.

OBJECTIVE: Observational studies support inverse associations between moderate alcohol consumption and fasting insulin concentrations, but the importance of drinking pattern on the effect of alcohol on insulin sensitivity has not been fully explored. We examined the relations of alcohol consumption patterns-including average daily consumption, frequency of consumption and drinking with meals-to fasting insulin, fasting c-peptide and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 462 disease-free men selected from the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study to provide information on a range of drinking patterns. Study participants were 48 to 82 years of age who provided a blood sample and detailed information on diet, life-style and alcohol consumption patterns in 1994. Among the study participants, 267 men provided a fasting blood sample and contributed to the analyses of insulin and c-peptide. RESULTS: Biologic markers were not strongly related to average alcohol consumption. Compared to abstainers, differences in insulin concentrations-all statistically non-significant-were 0.06, 1.25, 1.02, and 0.12 micro U/mL for consumers of <1, 1-1.9, 2-2.9, 3+ drinks per day, respectively. The frequency of alcohol consumption was inversely related to fasting c-peptide and insulin concentrations after controlling for average alcohol consumption and other potential confounding variables. Compared to men who reported consuming alcohol one to three days per week, c-peptide concentrations were 0.08 ng/mL and 0.29 ng/mL lower (p-trend = 0.04) in men who reported consuming alcohol on four to five days per week and six to seven days per week, respectively. Men who consumed alcohol on most days also had lower fasting insulin levels than more irregular drinkers (p-trend = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that frequent alcohol consumption is inversely related to fasting c-peptide and insulin concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Alcohol consumption in relation to risk of cholecystectomy in women.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption has been linked to a lower risk of gallstone disease. However, the magnitude of the association is uncertain, and little is known about the relation of alcohol consumption patterns and individual types of alcoholic beverages to gallstone disease risk. OBJECTIVE: We prospectively examined the association between alcohol intake and cholecystectomy, a surrogate for symptomatic gallstone disease, in a large cohort of women. DESIGN: Women from the Nurses' Health Study who had no history of gallstone disease in 1980 (n = 80,898) were followed for 20 y. Alcohol consumption, which was measured every 2-4 y by food-frequency questionnaires, was used to predict subsequent cholecystectomy through multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We ascertained 7831 cases of cholecystectomy. Relative to subjects who had no alcohol intake, subjects who had alcohol intakes of 0.1-4.9, 5.0-14.9, 15.0-29.9, 30.0-49.9, and >/=50.0 g/d had multivariate relative risks of cholecystectomy of 0.95, 0.86, 0.80, 0.67, and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.79), respectively. Relative to subjects who never consumed alcohol, subjects who consumed alcohol 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7 d/wk had multivariate relative risks of cholecystectomy of 0.94, 0.88, 0.87, and 0.73 (0.63, 0.84), respectively. All alcoholic beverage types were inversely associated with cholecystectomy risk, independent of consumption patterns (for quantity of alcohol consumed, P = 0.04, 0.001, and 0.003 for wine, beer, and liquor, respectively; for frequency of alcohol consumption, P = 0.01, 0.07, and <0.0001 for wine, beer, and liquor, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The intake of all alcoholic beverage types is inversely associated with the risk of cholecystectomy. Recommendations regarding the benefit of consuming moderate quantities of alcohol should be weighed against the potential health hazards.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The use of B vitamin supplements and peripheral arterial disease risk in men are inversely related.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) causes morbidity and is associated with mortality. B vitamin intake has been inversely associated with coronary heart disease, but their effects on PAD are not known. We examined prospectively the relationships between dietary folate, vitamin B-6 and B-12 and PAD risk in 51529 male U.S. health professionals, aged 40 to 75 y, who answered a detailed 131-item questionnaire to assess diet and vitamin supplement use. The study population consisted of 46036 men free of PAD, cardiovascular disease and diabetes at baseline followed for 12 y during which we documented 308 incident PAD cases. For every 400 microg/d increment of folate intake, the multivariate adjusted PAD risk decreased by 21% [relative risk (RR) = 0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.96]. Men in the top category of folate intake (median = 840 micro g) were at 33% lower risk of PAD than men in the bottom category (median = 244 microg) (RR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.96, P-value, test for trend = 0.03) after multivariate adjustment. There were weak inverse associations between intake of vitamin B-6 and PAD risk (RR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.48-1.02, P-value, test for trend = 0.06) and B-12 (RR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.54-1.11, P-value, test for trend = 0.12). These results suggest that higher consumption of folate may contribute to the prevention of PAD.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Moderate alcohol intake and renal function decline in women: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of moderate alcohol consumption on renal function has important public health implications given the high prevalence of alcohol use. Experimentally, alcohol may adversely affect renal function, but clinical data are limited and no large, prospective studies have examined this issue. METHODS: In a prospective study of 1658 nurses enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study, we sought to determine if there was an association between moderate alcohol consumption and rate of decline in renal function. Daily alcohol intake was measured in 1990, 1994 and 1998 using a detailed questionnaire. Maximum daily alcohol intake was measured in 1988. Creatinine, measured from blood samples provided in 1989 and 2000, was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and creatinine clearance (CCr). RESULTS: Compared to individuals with no alcohol intake, the odds ratios (ORs) for developing a >or=25% estimated GFR decline were: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.72-1.32) for 0.1-4.9 g/day, 0.83 (95% CI: 0.56-1.21) for 5-14.9 g/day and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.50-1.31) for 15-59.9 g/day. For women with hypertension (n = 726), the ORs for a >or=25% estimated GFR decline were: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.53-1.21) for 0.1-4.9 g/day, 0.62 (95% CI: 0.34-1.12) for 5-14.9 g/day and 0.53 (95% CI: 0.25-1.12) for 15-59.9 g/day. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate alcohol consumption had no substantial adverse effect on renal function in women over an 11 year follow-up period.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2003

The relationship between amalgam restorations and mercury levels in male dentists and nondental health professionals.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare the mercury levels in general dentists with the mercury levels in other health professionals using toenail clippings as a biomarker, (2) to identify risk factors associated with high mercury levels, and (3) to compare practice characteristics of dentists with high and low mercury levels. METHODS: A sample of 579 men was randomly selected from the 33,737 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who had provided toenail samples in 1987. A questionnaire was sent to these male subjects in 1991 to obtain information on fish consumption, toothbrushing frequency, number of teeth, number of amalgam restorations, general practice or specialty status, number of amalgam restorations placed and removed per week, mercury storage and handling procedures, and mercury spillage incidents. A measure of long-term mercury exposure was obtained from toenail samples using neutron activation analysis for the 410 respondents (71% response rate). The 90th percentile mercury level in toenails (0.88 ppm) was selected as the threshold for elevated toenail mercury level. RESULTS: No relationship was found between the number of dental amalgams and toenail mercury levels among general dentists, dental specialists, and nondental health professionals. General dentists were found to have more than twice the level of mercury in toenails than nondental health professionals (mean level = 0.94 vs 0.45) and 60 percent higher than dental specialists (mean = 0.59). The combined use of disposable capsules and water storage of scrap amalgam appeared to reduce the risk of elevated mercury levels. Regardless of professional status, consumption of tuna and saltwater fish were the primary exposure factors that were positively associated with toenail mercury levels. CONCLUSIONS: As shown by the associations with dental profession and fish consumption, the mercury content of toenails is a stable biomarker of cumulative long-term mercury exposure. The lack of association between nail mercury levels and number of amalgam restorations suggests that avoidance of mercury amalgam restorative materials cannot be justified by the presence of mercury released from dental amalgams.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and incidence of ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Periodontal and other infections have been suggested as potential risk factors for stroke. This study evaluates periodontal disease and tooth loss as risk factors for ischemic stroke. METHODS: The study population consisted of 41 380 men who were free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes at baseline. Periodontal disease history was assessed by mailed validated questionnaires. During 12 years of follow-up, stroke incidence was assessed and subclassified by use of medical history, medical records, and imaging reports. Hazard ratios (HRs) were adjusted for age, amount smoked, obesity, alcohol, exercise, family history of cardiovascular disease, multivitamin use, vitamin E use, profession, baseline reported hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Sex and socioeconomic status were inherently controlled for by restriction. Confounding variables were updated in the analyses for each 2-year follow-up interval. RESULTS: We documented 349 ischemic stroke cases during the follow-up period. Men who had < or =24 teeth at baseline were at a higher risk of stroke compared to men with > or =25 teeth (HR=1.57; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.98). There was little evidence of an increased risk with recent tooth loss during follow-up. A modest association was seen between baseline periodontal disease history and ischemic stroke (HR=1.33; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.70). Addition of dietary factors to the model changed the HR only slightly. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that periodontal disease and fewer teeth may be associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A cross-sectional study of alcohol consumption patterns and biologic markers of glycemic control among 459 women.

OBJECTIVE: Little research has explored associations of drinking patterns with glycemic control, especially among women. Our objective was to determine the relationship of patterns of alcohol consumption-including average daily consumption, weekly frequency of consumption, drinking with meals, and beverage type-with biologic markers of insulin resistance in young women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was cross-sectional in design. The subjects consisted of a stratified random subpopulation of 459 U.S. normal-weight and overweight female nurses, 33-50 years of age, drawn from the Nurses' Health Study II and sampled for distinct drinking patterns. Women provided blood samples and detailed information on dietary and lifestyle factors between 1995 and 1999. The main outcome measures were fasting insulin, C-peptide, and HbA(1c). RESULTS: Adjusting for age, smoking, physical activity, television watching, BMI, and several dietary factors, average alcohol intake was inversely associated with HbA(1c) (units in percentage of HbA(1c)): 0 g/day (reference = 5.36%), 0.1 to <5.0 g/day (-0.04%), 5.0 to <15.0 g/day (-0.09%), 15.0 to <25.0 g/day (-0.10%), and > or =25.0 g/day (-0.17%) (P value, test for trend <0.001). We found an inverse association of alcohol intake and insulin, but only for women with a BMI > or =25 kg/m(2). Specifically, insulin levels were lowest for episodic drinkers consuming > or =2 drinks per day on 0-3 days per week. Consumption with meals and type of alcoholic beverage did not further influence these results. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate alcohol consumption of 1-2 drinks per day on a few to several days of the week may have a beneficial glycemic effect, particularly among overweight women.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A prospective study of intake of fish and marine fatty acids and prostate cancer.

Experimental studies suggest that marine fatty acids have an antitumor effect on prostate tumor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high consumption of fish and marine fatty acids reduces the risk of prostate cancer in humans. We followed 47882 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Dietary intake was assessed in 1986, 1990, and 1994, using a validated food frequency questionnaire. During 12 years of follow-up, 2482 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed, of which 617 were diagnosed as advanced prostate cancer including 278 metastatic prostate cancers. Eating fish more than three times per week was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, and the strongest association was for metastatic cancer (multivariate relative risk, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.86, compared with infrequent consumption, i.e., less than twice per month). Intake of marine fatty acids from food showed a similar but weaker association. Each additional daily intake of 0.5 g of marine fatty acid from food was associated with a 24% decreased risk of metastatic cancer. We found that men with high consumption of fish had a lower risk of prostate cancer, especially for metastatic cancer. Marine fatty acids may account for part of the effect, but other factors in fish may also play a role.

Adult↗