Volume 10 Issue 2

▪ Keyword : Asia–Pacific, cardiovascular disease, chronic non-communicable disease, clinical trials

▪ Content : The Asia–Pacific region is undergoing a major change in both food and health patterns, with a connection between the two more than likely. Evidence for certain traditional Asia–Pacific foods as protective agents against chronic non-communicable disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), in particular, is growing at a time when their usage diminishes. The nature of the evidence to establish relevant Asia–Pacific food–health linkages will include randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials, but is much more extensive and meaningful. Okinawans have probably achieved one of the most successful food cultures from a health point of view and serve as a reference point for the Asia–Pacific region. The expert working party has produced, in November 2000, the ‘Okinawan Recommendations ...

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular, coronary heart disease, lifestyle, nutrition, oxidation, physical activity

▪ Content : As the world’s population ages, cardiovascular health becomes increasing important. The ageing process gradually leads to a decline in the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. Other factors associated with ageing can hasten this decline, for instance, lifestyles that have become more sedentary. Additionally, the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes, major risk factors for cardiovascular disease increase with age. Nutrition throughout the lifecycle can help prevent the development of these conditions and appropriate food habits instigated later in life can improve the management of these conditions and their impact on cardiovascular health.

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular disease, cereal, dietary fiber, folic acid, homocysteine

▪ Content : This review elucidates the importance of healthy dietary and lifestyle habits to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Given published evidence of the poor compliance, increased cost, and decreased benefit/risk ratios of medical therapies, individuals (and populations) are encouraged to adopt healthy life habits.

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular, China, diabetes, glycemic index, hypertension

▪ Content : Cross-cultural and intervention studies increasingly point the way to seeds like nuts, soy and lentils, and products of them like tempe being cardioprotective. Soy and its products (like tofu, tempe, soy drinks and soy desserts) are historically and currently some of the most important foods in the Asian region where diets remain predominantly plant-based.

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular protection, fish, fruits, n-3 fatty acids

▪ Content : Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological studies indicate fish eaters are less likely to die prematurely compared with non-fish eaters. The protective properties in fish are likely to be related to its concentration of omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, selenium, vitamin D, taurine and coenzyme Q10. A high consumption of fruits and vegetables has been shown to protect against stroke and coronary heart disease. The presence of vitamins and minerals, as well as the complex array of non-nutrient compounds, found in fruits and vegetables would play an important role in this protection.

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular disease, China, Oriental tea

▪ Content : Chinese tea and the major health effects include: antimicrobial, anti-ultraviolet radiation, anticancer, lowering blood lipid and glucose, and protecting against coronary heart diseases. In contrast to the extensive studies on the protective effects of tea on cancer, fewer studies on the health effects of tea on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been published.

▪ Keyword : biomarkers, Brazil, cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia, fish

▪ Content : Okinawans, who have a different ethnicity and food cultural history to other Japanese nationals, and an exceptional longevity have been studied at home and as migrant groups in Hawaii and Brazil. Biomarkers for fish and soy intake and intervention studies indicate that these foods, along with seaweed and green vegetables are candidates for chronic non-communicable disease prevention.

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular disease, China, diet, nutrition

▪ Content : The change of lifestyle of Chinese people, along with the development of the national economy, has caused significant changes of the disease pattern in China. This includes the shift from predominantly communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

▪ Keyword : life expectancy, lifestyles, Okinawa, social gradient theory

▪ Content : This paper examines why the social gradient of life expectancy does not apply in Japan when Okinawa is considered. The social gradient thesis links differences in longevity to social rank, with people and populations in higher status hierarchical positions having lower mortality and longer life expectancies than those beneath them in the social scale.

▪ Keyword : festivals, fish, foods, history, Japan, konbu

▪ Content : Okinawan food culture in the Ryukyu island is one of the world’s most interesting culture because its consumers have the longest life expectancies and low disability rates. It is a product of cultural synthesis, with a core of Chinese food culture, inputs through food trade with South-East Asia and the Pacific and strong Japanese influences in eating style and presentation.

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular function, homocysteine, Okinawan life style, sex hormones

▪ Content : A healthy cardiovascular system, with minimal arteriosclerosis, good endothelial function and well compensated ventricular function has been observed at advanced ages, and linked to a healthy lifestyle. This has consisted of a plant-based diet, low in salt and fat, with monounsaturates as the principal fat. Other healthy lifestyle factors include regular physical activity (farming and traditional dance) and minimal tobacco use.

▪ Keyword : Asia–Pacific region, cardiovascular disease mortality rates and trends

▪ Content : By 2020, non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are expected to account for seven out of every 10 deaths in the developing countries compared with less than half this value today. As a proportion of total deaths from all-causes, CVD in the Asia–Pacific region ranges from less than 20% in countries such as Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia to 20–30% in urban China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

▪ Keyword : Okinawa, recommendation, nutrition, cardiovascular disease

▪ Content : Okinawan recommendations on nutrition and cardiovascular disease

▪ Keyword : Asia, cardiovascular, diabetes, obesity, Pacific

▪ Content : The association between abdominal obesity and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now well recognized. Both problems are becoming more prevalent within the Asia–Pacific region, but there are substantial differences within and between countries. The strength of the temporal relationship between obesity and CVD in the region has led to the suggestion that obesity is the driving force behind the continuing epidemic of CVD.

▪ Keyword : abdominal obesity, coronary heart disease risk, modernisation, nutritional programming, visceral fat

▪ Content : The level of obesity within the Pacific Islands is extremely high and so is the prevalence of weight-related morbidity and mortality. In contrast, the level of obesity, as defined by the standard WHO classification, remains relatively low in most Asian countries, yet rates of obesity-related disease, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are increasing rapidly. Many Asian races appear to be susceptible to the development of excessive abdominal fatness, even at low levels of body mass index (BMI). In addition, the health consequences of weight gain appear to occur at much lower levels of BMI and are more intense than in those of European origin.

▪ Keyword : abdominal adiposity, Asia–Pacific, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insulin resistance

▪ Content : In many parts of the Asia–Pacific region, diabetes prevalence is increasing and seems destined to become a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The phenomenon seems predicated on insulin resistance (IR), partly attributable to an early impact of abdominal (visceral) adiposity than in Caucasian populations. Food intake along with physical activity and emotional stress are all determinants of glycaemic status.

▪ Keyword : Asia, diet, hypertension, nutrition transition, prevention

▪ Content : In this paper, the possible reasons for the prevalence of hypertension in the Asia–Pacific region are examined, along with its likely dietary, nutritional and sociocultural causes. This brief survey indicates the need for more comprehensive blood pressure monitoring and surveillance throughout the region. Findings from research conducted in the region and elsewhere suggest that a variety of aetiological factors predict the occurrence of hypertension, most of which are similar to those observed in western populations. However, several lines of research suggest that obesity, abdominal obesity and a number of dietary constituents, in addition to salt, may play relatively greater roles than in western populations. It is argued that hypertension may be prevented via a combination of indi...

▪ Keyword : anti-oxidant vitamins, folic acid, homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin E

▪ Content : In the past, recommended vitamin or micronutrient intakes have often been based on levels that were adequate to prevent clinical deficiencies from developing. Once these levels were reached, clinicians and nutrition scientists generally attributed little value to higher vitamin intake from supplements or food sources. Evidence has continued to mount showing that the intake and serum concentration of certain vitamins above those necessary to prevent clinical deficiencies, might importantly influence health status. This paper discusses the association of anti-oxidant vitamins and cardiovascular disease, and the association of low intake or serum concentrations of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, and elevated serum homocysteine, resulting in an increase in vascular disease risk.

▪ Keyword : Asia–Pacific, cardiovascular disease risk, hypercholesterolemia, lipid

▪ Content : Hypercholesterolemia, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is well-known as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia in the Asia–Pacific regions, although not as high as in the North American and European regions, in adults and children varied from country to country. The ‘Cardiovascular Risk Factor of Chiang Mai children (CARFACC)’ study has shown the small ‘n’ and capital ‘N’ phenomenons, where in some individuals, blood lipid levels were tracked from childhood to adulthood. The new concept of programming by early nutrition on later adult health has now been accepted. The prevention of dyslipidemia during childhood should receive more attention

▪ Keyword : cardiovascular disease, childhood growth, fetal growth, fetal origins of adult disease, later obesity

▪ Content : Individuals who were small at birth have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in later life. Barker has put forward a hypothesis to explain this and other associations, known as the ‘fetal origins theory of adult disease'. It is proposed that chronic disease is the long-term outcome of physiological adaptations the unborn baby makes when it is undernourished, a process referred to as ‘programming’. Maternal nutrition is thought to be a major influence on programming, and growth in childhood as well as obesity in later life may modulate the propensity for disease acquired in the womb. While robust evidence to support specific nutritional interventions during pregnancy is currently lacking, the theory in general affirms broader public health nutritional strategies and policies...