This tab will answer the following nutritional question: How can nutrition contribute positively to my health?

One swallow does not make a summer. A famous Dutch saying that could not be any more obvious. Just because one single scientific study about a certain topic makes certain claims, it does not necessarily mean it is true. On the other hand, a review article (a collection of scientific studies on a certain topic) of randomized, placebo-controlled double blind clinical trials (RCTs) will answer the following question:
"Do taking dietary supplements make sense?" Yes for a positive conclusion and no for a negative conclusion.

One swallow does not make a summer. A famous Dutch saying that could not be any more obvious. Just because one single scientific study about a certain topic makes certain claims, it does not necessarily mean it is true. On the other hand, a review article (a collection of scientific studies on a certain topic) of cohort studies or case-control studies will answer the following question:
"Should I change my diet?".

Find scientific studies on vitamin A: type vitamin A in Search field.

Nutrition and health

Abdominal adiposity and higher body fat mass increase risk of atrial fibrillation

Objectives:
Different adiposity measures have been associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation, however, results have previously only been summarized for BMI. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Is there an association between different adiposity measures and risk of atrial fibrillation?

Study design:
This review article included 25 prospective studies with 83,006 cases among 2,405,381 participants.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found every 5 unit increment in BMI significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 28% [RR= 1.28, 95% CI = 1.20-1.38, I2 = 97%].

The investigators found every 10 cm increase in waist circumference significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 18% [95% CI = 1.12-1.25, I2 = 73%, n = 5].

The investigators found every 10 cm increase in hip circumference significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 32% [95% CI = 1.16-1.51, I2 = 91%, n = 3].

The investigators found every 0.1 unit increase in waist-to-hip ratio significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 9% [95% CI = 1.02-1.16, I2 = 44%, n = 4].

The investigators found every 5 kg increase in fat mass significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 9% [95% CI = 1.02-1.16, I2 = 94%, n = 4].

The investigators found every 10% increase in fat percentage nonsignificantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 10% [95% CI = 0.92-1.33, I2 = 90%, n = 3]. Nonsignificantly because RR of 1 can be found in the 95% CI of 0.92 to 1.33. RR of 1 means no risk.

The investigators found every 5 kg increase in weight significantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 10% [95% CI = 1.08-1.13, I2 = 74%, n = 10].

The investigators found every 5% increase in weight gain nonsignificantly increased risk of atrial fibrillation with 8% [95% CI = 0.97-1.19, I2 = 86%, n = 2]. Nonsignificantly means, there is no association at a 95% confidence.

The investigators found the association between BMI and atrial fibrillation was nonlinear [p nonlinearity 0.0001] with a stronger association at higher BMI levels. However, increased risk was observed even at a BMI of 22-24 compared to 20.

The investigators concluded general and abdominal adiposity and higher body fat mass increase risk of atrial fibrillation.

Original title:
Body mass index, abdominal fatness, fat mass and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies by Aune D, Sen A, […], Vatten LJ.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28194602

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find here more information/studies about cardiovascular diseases and overweight.

Tomatoes reduce cardiovascular risk among adults

Objectives:
Do consuming tomato products and lycopene supplementation reduce cardiovascular risk among adult subjects >18 years of age?

Study design:
This review article included 21 studies.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found consuming tomato was associated with a significant reduction of 0.22 mmol/L in LDL-cholesterol [p = 0.006]. Significant means, there is an association at a 95% confidence.

The investigators found consuming tomato was associated with a significant reduction of 0.25 in plasma IL-6 concentration [p = 0.03].

The investigators found consuming tomato was associated with a significant improvement of 2.53% in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) [p = 0.01].

The investigators found lycopene supplementation reduced systolic blood pressure with 5.66 mmHg [p = 0.002].

The investigators found no other outcome was significantly affected by these interventions.

The investigators concluded consuming tomato products and lycopene supplementation had positive effects on blood lipids, blood pressure and endothelial function. These results support the development of promising individualised nutritional strategies involving tomatoes to tackle cardiovascular diseases.

Original title:
Tomato and lycopene supplementation and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Cheng HM, Koutsidis G, […], Lara J.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28129549

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find here more information/studies about vegetable consumption, carotenoids and cardiovascular diseases.

Impaired endothelial function is an early indicator of atherosclerosis. Endothelial function is often quantified by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), which represents the endothelium-dependent relaxation of a conduit artery-typically the brachial artery - due to an increased blood flow. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is endothelium-dependent and can be assessed by ultrasound in the brachial artery.