Cardiovascular disease

Posted on Cardiovascular disease

Moderate Wine Consumption May Support Heart Health in At-Risk Individuals Following a Mediterranean Diet

New research published in the European Heart Journal reveals that drinking small to moderate amounts of wine as part of a Mediterranean diet may help reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases in individuals with elevated health risks.

The study, led by Professor Ramon Estruch of the University of Barcelona and Hospital Clinic Barcelona, is part of a larger effort to explore the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. This diet emphasizes olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish, while minimizing processed and sugary foods. Participants in the study either had type-2 diabetes or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of heart conditions.

Accurate Measurement Yields Clearer Results

Previous studies on wine and heart health have had mixed results, often relying on self-reported consumption. To address this, the researchers used a more reliable method—measuring tartaric acid levels in participants’ urine. Tartaric acid, found naturally in grapes and wine, provides an objective measure of recent wine consumption.

The study followed 1,232 participants for four to five years, tracking their health outcomes. Researchers discovered that those who drank light to moderate amounts of wine (half to one glass per day) had a 50% lower risk of experiencing cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to those who drank little or no wine. Even lighter drinking, such as one glass per week up to half a glass per day, was associated with a 38% reduction in risk. However, drinking more than one glass per day eliminated these benefits.

A Heart-Healthy Lifestyle

Professor Estruch emphasized that moderate wine consumption is most beneficial when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle. He noted, “The reduction in cardiovascular risk we observed with moderate wine consumption is significant—greater even than some medications like statins. This highlights the potential value of incorporating wine responsibly into a balanced Mediterranean diet.”

He also noted that while the findings are promising, they apply primarily to older adults in Mediterranean populations. The protective effects of wine appear to emerge after the age of 35 to 40, and the recommended amounts for women are half those for men.

Broader Implications

An editorial accompanying the study, authored by Professor Giovanni de Gaetano and colleagues from Italy, praised the innovative use of tartaric acid as a biomarker for wine consumption. They noted that while the findings strengthen the case for moderate wine consumption as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, it is essential to consider broader factors such as drinking patterns and overall dietary habits.

The study underscores the importance of moderation. Drinking wine in excess can negate its benefits, making responsible consumption key to achieving positive health outcomes. Future research will continue to explore how dietary habits and lifestyle choices interact to affect heart health.

In summary, this research provides encouraging evidence that moderate wine consumption, as part of a Mediterranean diet, may support heart health—especially for individuals at higher cardiovascular risk.

4o

Posted on A to Z of Medical Conditions, Cardiovascular disease

Disney Princesses Face Hidden Health Risks, Experts Say

Fairy tale endings could use a dose of real-world wellness advice.
Fairy tale endings could use a dose of real-world wellness advice.

Disney princesses may enchant audiences with their happily-ever-afters. Still, health experts warn that these beloved characters face serious hidden dangers that could jeopardize their well-being in the real world. Writing in the Christmas issue of The BMJ, Sanne van Dijk and colleagues suggest strategies to help Disney’s heroines start living “healthily ever after.

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Loneliness and Limited Social Interaction
Take Snow White, for example. Her time as a scullery maid under her wicked stepmother isolates her socially, putting her at risk for cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety. While the Seven Dwarfs provide some companionship, her infamous encounter with the poisoned apple proves that not all fairy-tale food choices are health-conscious.

Princess Jasmine faces similar risks growing up isolated within her palace walls. Experts note that her pet tiger, Rajah, adds a layer of danger, including potential zoonotic infections and the ever-present threat posed by living with a predator.

Environmental Hazards
Cinderella’s daily exposure to dust while cleaning leaves her vulnerable to occupational lung diseases. Matters worsen when her fairy godmother sprinkles “magical glitter,” essentially aluminium-coated microplastics, which can harm lung tissue. Instead of a prince, the authors wryly suggest, Cinderella might need respiratory therapy to breathe easily ever after.

Risky Adventures and Overexertion
Pocahontas’ daring cliff dive in pursuit of peace might look graceful on screen, but experts estimate the 252-meter leap would result in more fractures than harmony. Meanwhile, Sleeping Beauty’s long enchanted nap could lead to serious health issues like muscle atrophy, cardiovascular disease, and even pressure ulcers. Prince Philip’s kiss breaks the spell—but the authors note he overlooks the need for consent, raising eyebrows in a modern context.

Animal-Related and Occupational Risks
Belle, who cohabitates with the Beast, faces possible exposure to life-threatening diseases like brucellosis and rabies. Mulan, celebrated for saving China, endures immense family pressure to preserve their honor—a stressor linked to mental health challenges in real-life situations involving honor-based expectations.

And then there’s Rapunzel, whose endlessly long hair isn’t just a tool for escape but also a source of potential health issues. Repeated pulling on her braid could lead to traction alopecia, causing scalp pain, headaches, and even permanent hair loss.

A Call for Wellness Interventions
The authors argue that Disney princesses need more than just fairy-tale fixes. Interventions like mindfulness training, psychotherapy, and education about animal cohabitation could go a long way toward improving their health outcomes. Measures to combat exposure to toxic particles and prevent infectious diseases would also help these characters live more realistic, healthy lives.

“Disney must consider strategies to address these challenges,” the authors conclude. “Only then can its princesses truly enjoy their happily-ever-afters in good health.”

4o

Posted on Cardiovascular disease, Diet

Olive, grape, garlic, rosemary and saffron have properties against cardiovascular diseases

The active components of these elements of the Mediterranean diet show promise in treating atherosclerosis and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes
The active components of these elements of the Mediterranean diet show promise in treating atherosclerosis and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Cardiovascular problems are the leading cause of disease and mortality worldwide. Plant extracts, rich in bioactive compounds, have contributed significantly to the development of drugs, as they offer therapeutic potential for several of these diseases. However, their use is limited by possible side effects, drug-drug interactions and the lack of scientific evidence from quality preclinical and clinical studies.


During the 2023/24 academic year, biologist Mateu Anguera Tejedor made an essential contribution in this field with his final year Biology degree project at the UAB, tutored by the then postdoctoral researcher at the Institut de Neurociències of the UAB (INc-UAB) and current lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona, René Delgado.


The study, recently published as a scientific article in the journal Food Bioscience, provides an overview of the mechanisms of action and the preclinical and clinical evidence, as well as the adverse effects of essential bioactive compounds derived from a group of selected Mediterranean plants which form part of the Mediterranean diet.


Among the species analysed, six representative plants and their major active components are reported: garlic (Allium sativum, with diallyl trisulfide, allicin and S-allyl [cysteine]), hawthorn shrub (Crataegus monogyna, with quercetin, apigenin and chlorogenic acid), saffron (Crocus sativus, with crocin and safranal), olive (Olea europaea, with oleic acid, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and oleacein), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, with rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera, with resveratrol). The review focused on the most critical pharmacological mechanisms, including their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory actions, and their regulation of lipid metabolism, which may be relevant for conditions such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. The results show that these active components are promising in potentially treating atherosclerosis and could reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.


In addition to summarising the current scientific evidence, the study provides a reference guide for future research by identifying potential knowledge gaps and offering timely recommendations for designing preclinical and clinical studies in this area. Key areas for future exploration include the long-term safety of these compounds, the evaluation of their synergistic effects when consumed as part of a Mediterranean diet, and the need to establish standardised protocols in controlled clinical settings. By broadening the scientific basis of these traditional remedies, this review may help pave the way for their use as active pharmaceutical ingredients in developing future phytomedicines.


Combined ingestion could alter the efficacy of individual extracts.


The research team believes that using these natural extracts is promising. Still, their combined ingestion could influence therapeutic outcomes due to the “matrix effect”, which implies that dietary components can alter the efficacy of each extract, either enhancing or diminishing their benefits. Understanding this interaction is essential to optimise the therapeutic application of these plant extracts in a dietary context. It is vital to recognise that there is often a lack of robust evidence of the impact of natural extracts in humans, and therefore, researchers caution that “the label of ‘natural’ does not guarantee safety, and this emphasises the need to prioritise pharmacokinetic, toxicological and clinical studies to evaluate their efficacy, safety and efficiency in comparison with existing drugs”.

Posted on Cardiovascular disease, Exercise, Women's Health

Small daily bursts of vigorous incidental activity could almost cut cardiovascular risk in middle-aged women.

Tiny, daily bursts of vigorous incidental physical activity could almost halve cardiovascular risk in middle-aged women

Just four minutes of vigorous daily physical activity significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks and heart failure in middle-aged women.

Woman walking upstairs Credit Shutterstock

Research from the University of Sydney reveals that an average of just four minutes of incidental vigorous physical activity each day could nearly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, by half for middle-aged women who do not participate in structured exercise.

“A study led by Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearable Hub at the Charles Perkins Centre and the Faculty of Medicine and Health, found that engaging in at least 1.5 minutes to an average of 4 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day—completed in short bursts of up to 1 minute—was linked to improved cardiovascular health outcomes in middle-aged women who do not participate in structured exercise.”

High-intensity physical activity incorporated into a daily routine is “vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity” (VILPA). Longer sessions of VILPA are associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers suggest that since less than 20 per cent of middle-aged and older adults participate in regular structured exercise, engaging in VILPA could be a beneficial alternative.

“Adopting short bursts of vigorous physical activity as a regular habit could be a beneficial option for women who may not enjoy structured exercise or are unable to engage in it for various reasons. To start, this can be as simple as incorporating a few minutes of activities throughout the day such as climbing stairs, carrying groceries, walking uphill, playing tag with a child or pet, or engaging in power walking,” said Professor Stamatakis.

The study analyzed data from 22,368 participants, consisting of 13,018 women and 9,350 men aged 40 to 79, who reported not engaging in regular structured exercise. This data was collected from the UK Biobank, where participants wore physical activity trackers nearly 24 hours a day for a week, between 2013 and 2015.

Cardiovascular health was monitored through hospital and mortality records, tracking major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, until November 2022. 

After accounting for factors such as lifestyle, socioeconomic status, cardiovascular health, co-existing conditions, and ethnicity, the researchers found that women who engaged in more vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) had a lower risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events. Specifically, women who averaged just 3.4 minutes of VILPA daily were 45 percent less likely to encounter a major cardiovascular event. Additionally, they were 51 per cent less likely to suffer a heart attack and 67 per cent less likely to develop heart failure compared to women who did not engage in any VILPA.

Even when daily VILPA levels were lower than 3.4 minutes, they were still linked to lower cardiovascular event risk. A minimum of 1.2 to 1.6 minutes of VILPA per day was associated with a 30 per cent lower risk of total major cardiovascular events, a 33 per cent lower risk of heart attack, and a 40 per cent lower risk of heart failure. 

However, men reaped fewer benefits from tiny bursts of VILPA. Those who averaged 5.6 minutes daily were only 16 per cent less likely to experience a major cardiovascular event compared with men who did none. A minimum of 2.3 minutes per day was associated with only an 11 per cent risk reduction. 

Professor Stamatakis said more testing was needed to understand how VILPA may improve cardiovascular health.  

“To date, it hasn’t been clear whether short bursts of VILPA lower the risk of specific types of cardiovascular events, like heart attack or stroke. We aimed to identify minimum daily thresholds and feasible amounts for testing in community programs and future trials,” he said. 

“Importantly, the beneficial associations we observed were in women who committed to short bursts of VILPA almost daily. This highlights the importance of habit formation, which is not always easy. VILPA should not be seen as a quick fix—there are no magic bullets for health. But our results show that even a little bit higher intensity activity can help and might be just the thing to help people develop a regular physical activity – or even exercise – habit,” he said. 

Posted on Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes

World’s most common heart valve disease linked to insulin resistance in large study

Newly-established link could open doors for new treatments of aortic stenosis – which effects 2% of over 65s worldwide
Newly-established links could open doors for new treatments for aortic stenosis, affecting 2% of over 65s worldwide.

A sizeable new population study of men over 45 indicates insulin resistance may be an essential risk factor for the development of the world’s most common heart valve disease – aortic stenosis (AS). 

Published today in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Medicine, the findings are believed to be the first to highlight this previously unrecognised risk factor for the disease. 

It is hoped that by demonstrating this link between AS and insulin resistance – when cells fail to respond effectively to insulin and the body makes more than necessary to maintain normal glucose levels – new avenues for preventing the disease could open.  

Aortic stenosis is a debilitating heart condition. It causes the aortic valve to narrow, restricting blood flow out of the heart. Over time, the valve thickens and stiffens, making the heart work harder to pump blood effectively around the body. If not addressed, this can gradually cause damage that can lead to life-threatening complications, such as heart failure. 

People living with AS can take years to develop symptoms, which include chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Some may never experience symptoms but may still be at risk of heart failure and death. Previously identified risk factors for AS include age, male sex, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes. 

Insulin resistance, which often develops years before the onset of type 2 diabetes, occurs when cells fail to respond effectively to insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. In response, the body makes more insulin to maintain normal glucose levels – leading to elevated blood insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia).  

In the current study, researchers analysed data from 10,144 Finnish men aged 45 to 73, all initially free of AS, participating in the Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) Study. At the start of the study, the researchers measured several biomarkers, including those related to hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. After an average follow-up period of 10.8 years, 116 men (1.1%) were diagnosed with AS. 

The team identified several biomarkers related to insulin resistance – fasting insulin, insulin at 30 minutes and 120 minutes, proinsulin, and serum C-peptide – associated with increased AS risk. These biomarkers remained significant predictors of AS, even after adjusting for other known risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure, or excluding participants with diabetes or an aortic valve malformation. 

The researchers then used advanced statistical techniques to isolate key biomarker profiles, identifying two distinct patterns that indicate insulin resistance as a predictor of AS, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors, such as age, blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. 

“This novel finding highlights that insulin resistance may be a significant and modifiable risk factor for AS,” says lead author Dr Johanna Kuusisto, from the Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. 

“As insulin resistance is common in Western populations, managing metabolic health could be a new approach to reduce the risk of AS and improve cardiovascular health in ageing populations. Future studies are warranted to determine whether improving insulin sensitivity through weight control and exercise measures can help prevent the condition.” 

This study’s major strengths include its large population-based cohort and long follow-up period. However, its limitations include the sole focus on male subjects and the relatively small number of AS cases, which may limit the generalisability of the findings to other populations.