Examinando por Autor "Baylin, Ana"
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Ítem Adipose tissue arachidonic acid and the metabolic syndrome in Costa Rican adults(Clinical Nutrition, no. 26, 2007) Williams, Eric S.; Baylin, Ana; Campos, HanniaArachidonic acid, an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is a major component of mammalian cell membranes and may account for up to 25% of all phospholipid fatty acids. Although it is consumed in the diet in meats, eggs, and some fish, it is also synthesized in the liver from linoleic acid, the most abundant dietary PUFA, and transported to other cell types via serum albumin or lipoproteins. A major function of arachidonic acid is to serve as a precursor to the eicosanoid family of autocrine and paracrine hormones that modulates immune and inflammatory responses in the body. Additionally, there is evidence that arachidonic acid may act as a transcriptional regulator by modulating signal transduction at the cell surface, by altering membrane fluidity, or cell surface interactions by acylating membrane proteins.Ítem Adipose tissue biomakers of fatty acid intake(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, No.76, 2002) Baylin, Ana; Kabagambe, Edmond K.; Siles, Xinia; Campos, HanniaThe use of biomarkers to assess dietary intake has increased dramatically in the past few years (1-7). Biomarkers may provide a more accurate and objective measure of long-term intake than dietary questionnaires provide because biomarkers do not rely on memory, self-reported information, or interviewer bias. However, nutrient concentrations in tissue or blood do not always reflect dietary intake because they can be affected by genetic factors, smoking, obesity, physical activity, and metabolism.Ítem Alcohol intake, drinking patterns and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Costa Rica(The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 82, no. 6, 2005) Kabagambe, Edmond K.; Baylin, Ana; Rimm, Eric B.; Campos, HanniaModerate consumption of alcohol in developed countries has been associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction (MI) (1–3). This evident protection is thought to be due to improved plasma lipid profiles, particularly an increase in HDL cholesterol (4–6), increased adiponectin (7), reduced plasma fibrinogen (8), viscosity (9), platelet activity (10, 11), C-reactive protein (8, 12), and improved insulin sensitivity (13). However, the protective effect of alcohol is not uniform across sex and populations or socioeconomic classes (14, 15), which raises doubts as to whether alcohol per se is truly protective or instead is a marker for another protective factor associated with alcohol consumption (4). Others have suggested that certain types of alcohol, eg, wine, may be more protective than others (16 –18). Growing evidence (2, 6, 14) suggests that the amount and pattern of intake, rather than the type of alcohol (19, 20), are more important in explaining the effects of alcohol in populations. Other studies suggest that sex (14) and genetic diversity of alcohol users (6, 21) may also play an important role in explaining the observed protection and differences across studies. For instance, in a recent prospective study, alcohol was inversely related to MI in white Americans but was hazardous for hypertension and MI in African Americans (14, 22). These disparities could be due to differences in alcohol intake patterns or the prevalence of functional genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding alcoholmetabolizing enzymes that have been reported across races (23–26). Polymorphisms in the alcohol dehydrogenase gene have been associated with changes in bothHDLcholesterol and risk of MI in moderate drinkers (6). Apart from one multicountry study (3) in which consumption of alcohol was marginally associated with a reduced risk of MI, to date, no large case-control studies have investigated the association between alcohol intake, patterns, and risk of MI in developing countries where diet and lifestyles differ from those in Western cultures. We conducted a large (n = 4548), matched, incident casecontrol study of residents of the Central Valley of Costa Rica, a country with low wine intake, to determine whether alcohol users, compared with self-reported lifelong abstainers, are less likely to have an MI. We also determined whether the pattern of alcohol drinking is associated with the risk of MI or intermediate phenotypes such as plasma lipid concentrations.Ítem Arachidonic acid in adipose tissue is associated with nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in the Central Valley of Costa Rica(The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 135, no. 12, 2004) Baylin, Ana; Campos, HanniaArachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of prothrombotic eicosanoids, is potentially atherogenic, but epidemiologic data are scarce. We evaluated the hypothesis that increased AA in adipose tissue is associated with increased risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (MI), and if so, whether this association is related to dietary or adipose tissue linoleic acid. We studied the association between AA and MI in 466 cases of a first nonfatal acute MI, matched on age, gender, and residence to 466 population controls. Fatty acids (FA) were assessed by GC in adipose tissue samples collected from all subjects. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were calculated from multivariate conditional logistic regression models. Subjects in the highest quintile of adipose tissue AA (0.64% of total FA) had a higher risk of nonfatal acute MI than those in the lowest quintile (0.29% of total FA), after adjusting for potential confounders including (n-3) and trans FAs (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.53, P for trend = 0.026). Adipose tissue AA was not correlated with dietary AA (r 0.07), linoleic acid (r 0.04), or other dietary (n-6) FAs, or with adipose tissue linoleic acid (r = -0.07). These data suggest that the association between MI and adipose tissue AA is not related to dietary intake of (n-6) FAs including linoleic acid. Better understanding of the metabolic factors that increase AA in adipose tissue is urgently needed.Ítem Association between hepatic lipase -514 C/T promoter polymorphism and myocardial infarction is modified by history of hypercholesterolemia and waist circumference(Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, Volumen 20, no. 7, 2009) Baylin, Ana; Ruiz Narváez, Edward A.; Jensen, Majken K.; Rimm, Eric B.; Campos Núñez, HanniaBackground and aims: To examine whether the association between the 514 C/T polymorphism of the hepatic lipase gene and myocardial infarction (MI) is modified by history of hypercholesterolemia and increased waist circumference. Hepatic Lipase (HL) is a major determinant of HDL cholesterol, an established independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) [1]. However, the role of HL in atherosclerosis remains uncertain. Overexpression of HL in transgenic and knockout animal models has resulted in both antiatherogenic and pro-atherogenic effects [2]. Although low HL activity in humans has been identified as a risk factor for CHD [3] the net effect of HL on CHD is hard to establish given its role in lipoprotein metabolism as both a lipolytic enzyme and as a ligand that facilitates uptake of lipoproteins [4]. Four linked polymorphisms (250 G to A, 514 C to T, 710 T to C, 763 A to G) have been identified in the promoter region of the HL gene [5]. These four poly- morphisms are in complete linkage disequilibrium and together define a common HL allele designed as 514 T allele. The T allele at position 514 of the HL gene is consistently associated with lower HL activity, higher HDL cholesterol, particularly HDL2 cholesterol, higher remnant-like particles, and triglyceride content and size of HDL and LDL particles [6]. Nevertheless, evidence of the effect of the 514 T allele on CHD is inconsistent. Some studies have shown no association [7-14], while others have shown an increased risk of CHD for carriers of the 514 T allele [15-19]. Surprisingly, the 514 T allele has not been inversely associated with CHD.Ítem Conjugated linoleic acid in adipose tissue and risk of myocardial infarction(The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 92:34-40, 2010) Smit. Liesbeth; Baylin, Ana; Campos, HanniaBackground: Despite the high saturated fat content of dairy products, no clear association between dairy product intake and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) has been observed. Dairy products are the main source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 18:2n27t), which is produced by the ruminal biohydrogenation of grasses eaten by cows. Pasture-grazing dairy cows have more CLA in their milk than do grain-fed cows. Some animal models have reported beneficial effects of CLA on atherosclerosis.Ítem Decreased Consumption of Dried Mature Beans Is Positively Associated with Urbanization and Nonfatal Acute Myocardial Infarction(J Nutr, Vol. 135, no. 7, 2005) Kabagambe, Edmond K.; Baylin, Ana; Ruiz Narvaez, Edward; Siles, Xinia; Campos, HanniaLegumes may protect against myocardial infarction (MI). The objective of this study was to determine whether consumption of dried mature beans (referred to as beans), the main legume in Latin America, is associated with MI. The cases (n = 2119) were survivors of a first acute MI and were matched by age, sex, and area of residence to randomly selected population controls (n = 2119) in Costa Rica. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated FFQ. Of the population, 69% consumed 1 serving of beans/d (1 serving = one-third cup of cooked beans, 86 g). Consumption of 1 serving/d was significantly higher (P 0.001) in rural (81%) than in urban (65%) areas. Individuals who never eat dried beans or whose consumption was 1 time/mo were classified as nonconsumers. Compared with nonconsumers, intake of 1 serving of beans/d was inversely associated with MI in analyses adjusted for smoking, history of diabetes, history of hypertension, abdominal obesity, physical activity, income, intake of alcohol, total energy, saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat, and cholesterol [odds ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% CI: 0.45–0.88]. No further protection was observed with increased number of servings/d (OR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.52–1.03 for 1 serving/d). In summary, we found that consumption of 1 serving of beans/d is associated with a 38% lower risk of MI. No additional protection was observed at intakes 1 serving/d. These findings are timely given the trend toward increased obesity, cardiovascular disease, and a reduction in the intake of beans in Latin American countries.Ítem Decreased consumption of dried mature beans is positively associated with urbanization and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction(The Journal of Nutrition, vol 35, no. 7, 2005) Kabagambe, Edmond K.; Baylin, Ana; Ruiz Narváez, Edward A.; Siles, Xinia; Campos, HanniaBeans, Phaseolus vulgaris, are legumes that are thought to have originated from southern Mexico and Central America over 7000 y ago (1); they still form an important part of the staple diet in those regions. For many centuries, beans have remained part of the human diet in several countries on all continents. Black beans or black Spanish beans are the commonest variety in Latin America; they are usually consumed as dried mature beans together with rice. The combination of rice and dried mature black beans (later referred to as beans) supplies various nutrients including essential amino acids, folate, soluble fiber, copper, magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, and _-linolenic acid (2–10). Although there are several varieties of beans that occur in different sizes, shapes, and colors, their nutrient composition is quite similar to that of black beans (Table 1). Legumes including beans may protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD)3 through various mechanisms (2,5,10,11). However, epidemiologic data on the association between individual legumes such as beans and peas and CVD are lacking. Beans form the core of the Latin American staple diet and contribute significantly to energy and micronutrient intakes (5–7,12). Despite the recommendation to increase the intake of beans by health organizations (8), their consumption, as well as that of other legumes, has decreased with urbanization (13). This is probably because of the increased availability and advertising of relatively cheap simple carbohydrate diets such as pasta and white bread (7,13). As expected, these trends are likely to be responsible for the increased obesity and the slow emergence of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases in many Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, where myocardial infarction (MI) accounts for 47.2% of CVD (14,15). Some of the few studies that have investigated the nutrients in beans [e.g., fiber (16 –18), folate (19), magnesium (20,21), and copper (22)], suggest inverse associations with CVD. Unlike soybeans and peanuts, the role of other legumes (e.g., beans) in CVD has not been reported. We therefore investigated, in a large incident case-control study in Costa Rica, whether eating beans is associated with risk of MI and explored potential mechanisms for such an association.Ítem Diet and leukocyte telomere length in a population with extended longevity: the Costa Rican longevity and healthy aging study (CRELES)(Nutrients, 13(8), 2021) Ruiz Narváez, Edward A.; Baylin, Ana; Azofeifa Navas, Jorge; Leal Esquivel, Alejandro; Rosero Bixby, LuisElderly Costa Ricans have lower mortality rates compared to their counterparts from developed countries. Reasons for this survival advantage are not completely known. In the present study, we aimed to identify dietary factors associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of biologic aging, in the elderly population of Costa Rica. We conducted prospective analysis in 909 participants aged 60+ years from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES). We used a food frequency questionnaire to assess usual diet. We calculated dietary patterns using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We used generalized linear models to examine the association of dietary patterns and food groups with leukocyte telomere length. We found two major dietary patterns explaining 9.15% and 7.18% of the total variation of food intake, respectively. The first dietary pattern, which represents a traditional Costa Rican rice and beans pattern, was more frequent in rural parts of the country and was positively associated with baseline LTL: (95% CI) = 42.0 base-pairs (bp) (9.9 bp, 74.1 bp) per one-unit increase of the traditional dietary pattern. In analysis of individual food groups, intake of grains was positively associated with baseline LTL: (95% CI) = 43.6 bp (13.9 bp, 73.3 bp) per one-serving/day increase of consumption of grains. Our results suggest that dietary factors, in particular a traditional food pattern, are associated with telomere length and may contribute to the extended longevity of elderly Costa Ricans.Ítem Dietary patterns and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Costa Rican adults(European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 60, no. 6, 2006) Martínez Ortiz, J. A.; Fung, T. T.; Baylin, Ana; Hu, F. B.; Campos, HanniaCardiovascular disease (CVD) has become an important public health problem in transition countries in Latin America (Medina and Kaempffer, 2000; Cubillos-Garzón et al., 2004; Ventura and Mehra, 2004; World HealthOrganization, 2004). Because changes in dietary intake are, in part, likely responsible for the increase in CVD during the past 20–30 years (Popkin, 2001), it is essential to identify foods that could play a role on CVD in developing countries. Food pattern analysis has become a valuable tool to examine the effects of diet on chronic disease (Jacques and Tucker, 2001; Hu, 2002). A major advantage of this procedure is that it takes into account multiple dietary factors, including nutrient and non-nutrient components, which could have complex effects on disease risk (Hu, 2002). In the context of Western countries, two main patterns that relate to CVD have been identified. In one study in men (Hu, 2002), a Western dietary pattern consisting primarily of red and processed meat, refined grains, sweets and desserts, French fries, and high-fat dairy products was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. In Denmark, a prudent dietary pattern consisting of whole meal bread, fruit, and vegetables was protective against all cause and cardiovascular mortality (Osler et al ., 2001). In the same study, no association with mortality was found for a Western pattern characterized by high intake of meat products, potatoes, white bread, butter, and lard. Consistently, a Mediterranean style diet which includes olive oil, fiber, fruits, vegetables, fish and alcohol, and reduced in meat and meat products was also protective against myocardial infarction (MI) (Martinez-Gonzalez et al ., 2002). The purpose of our study is to identify dietary patterns that are associated with risk of incident MI in Costa Rica, a Latin American country in transition (Reddy, 2004).Ítem Does genetic variation in the Δ6-desaturase promoter modify the association between α-linolenic acid and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome?(The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol.89, no. 3, 2009) Truong, Hong; DiBello, Julia R.; Ruiz Narváez, Edward A.; Kraft, Peter; Campos Núñez, Hannia; Baylin, AnaBackground: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are associated with protection against components of the metabolic syndrome, but the role of α-linolenic acid (ALA), the metabolic precursor of EPA and DHA, has not been studied. The Δ6-desaturase enzyme converts ALA into EPA and DHA, and genetic variation in the Δ6-desaturase gene (FADS2) may affect this conversion.Ítem Fasting Whole Blood as a Biomarker of Essential Fatty Acid Intake in Epidemiologic Studies: Comparison with Adipose Tissue and Plasma(American Journal of Epidemiology, vol.162, no. 4, 2005) Baylin, Ana; Kyung Kim, Mi; Donovan Palmer, Amy; Siles Díaz, Xinia; Dougherty, Lauren; Tocco, Paula; Campos Núñez, HanniaBiomarkers could provide a more accurate measure of long-term intake than questionnaires. Adipose tissue is considered the best indicator of long-term essential fatty acid intake, but other tissues may prove equally valid. The authors evaluated the ability of fasting whole blood, relative to fasting plasma and adipose tissue, to reflect fatty acid intake. Costa Rican men (n = 99) and women (n = 101) completed a 135-item food frequency questionnaire and provided adipose tissue and blood samples from 1999 to 2001. Fatty acids were identified by using capillary gas chromatography. Correlation coefficients adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index were calculated. Diet-tissue correlation coefficients for α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, respectively, were 0.38 and 0.43 in whole blood, 0.51 and 0.52 in adipose tissue, and 0.39 and 0.41 in plasma. High correlations were observed between whole-blood α-linolenic and linoleic acid and adipose tissue (r = 0.59 and r = 0.67) and plasma (r = 0.96 and r = 0.88), respectively. Results show that fasting whole blood is a suitable biomarker of long-term essential fatty acid intake, and its performance is comparable to that of fasting plasma. Thus, fasting whole blood could be the sample of choice in epidemiologic studies because of its ability to predict intake, its accessibility, and minimum sample processing.Ítem Linolenic Acid and Risk of Nonfatal Acute Myocardial Infarction(Circulation, no. 118, 2008) Campos, Hannia; Baylin, Ana; Willett, Walter C.Background—Intake of long-chain n-3 fatty acids found in fish is low in many countries worldwide. -Linolenic acid could be a viable cardioprotective alternative to these fatty acids in these countries. Methods and Results—Cases (n 1819) with a first nonfatal acute myocardial infarction and population-based controls (n1819) living in Costa Rica matched for age, sex, and area of residence were studied. Fatty acids were assessed by gas chromatography in adipose tissue samples and by a validated food frequency questionnaire specifically designed for this population. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from multivariate conditional logistic regression models. Linolenic acid in adipose tissue ranged from 0.36% in the lowest decile to 1.04% in the highest decile. The corresponding median levels of intake were 0.42% and 0.86% energy. Greater -linolenic acid (assessed either in adipose or by questionnaire) was associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction. The odds ratios for nonfatal myocardial infarction for the highest compared with the lowest deciles were 0.41 (95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.67) for -linolenic acid in adipose tissue and 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.42 to 0.88) for dietary -linolenic acid. The relationship between -linolenic acid and myocardial infarction was nonlinear; risk did not decrease with intakes 0.65% energy (1.79 g/d). Fish or eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid intake at the levels found in this population did not modify the observed association. Conclusions—Consumption of vegetable oils rich in -linolenic acid could confer important cardiovascular protection. The apparent protective effect of -linolenic acid is most evident among subjects with low intakes.Ítem Nonfatal Acute Myocardial Infarction in Costa Rica: Modifiable Risk Factors, Population-Attributable Risks, and Adherence to Dietary Guidelines(Circulation Jourrnal of the American Heart Association, Volume 115, number 8, 2007) Kabagambe, Edmond K; Baylin, Ana; Campos, HanniaCardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction (MI), is increasing in developing countries. Knowledge of risk factors and their impact on the population could offer insights into primary prevention. Methods and Results—We estimated the population-attributable risk (PAR) for major MI risk factors among Costa Ricans without a history of diabetes, hypertension, or regular use of medication (889 MI cases, 1167 population-based controls). Lifestyle and dietary variables were measured with validated questionnaires. In multivariate analyses, abdominal obesity (PAR, 29.3%), smoking (PAR, 25.6%), nonuse of alcohol (PAR, 14.8%), caffeine intake (PAR, 12.8%), physical inactivity (PAR, 9.6%), and poor diet (PAR, 6.0%) were the most important MI risk factors. Subjects in the favorable categories of the above 6 risk factors showed a lower risk of MI (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.33) than those in the unfavorable categories. Compared with women, men were more likely to smoke (31% versus 10%) but less likely to have waist circumferences greater than Adult Treatment Panel III cutoffs (9% versus 35%). Many subjects did not meet the American Heart Association or World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization dietary guidelines. For instance, 95% obtained 7% of energy from saturated fat, 25% had 5% of energy from polyunsaturated fat, 63% had 1% energy from trans fat, and 53% had low fiber intake ( 25 g/d). Conclusions—These findings confirm the benefit of a healthy diet, physical activity, moderate alcohol, and cessation of smoking as approaches for the primary prevention of MI. Obesity and smoking were the 2 most important risk factors for nonfatal MI in Costa Rica.Ítem Nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Costa Rica: modifiable risk factors, population-attributable risks, and adherence to dietary guidelines(Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association, Vol. 115, no. 9, 2007) Kabagambe, Edmond K.; Baylin, Ana; Campos Núñez, HanniaDisability and mortality resulting from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are on the rise in many developing countries, partly because of the nutritional transition and westernization of lifestyles. Developing countries account for 80% of the global CVD burden. In 2002, the number of health-years of life lost to heart disease including myocardial infarction (MI) per 1000 people in developing countries was between 6 and 20 for countries such as Costa Rica, Uganda, Croatia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and India, whereas for developed countries, they were 5 for Australia, 5 for Canada, 7 for the United Kingdom, and 8 for the United States. These numbers suggest poor quality of secondary prevention and lack of primary CVD prevention in developing countries. Recent data show that primary prevention could reduce CVD deaths by 4 times the reduction achieved through secondary prevention.Ítem Social connections, leukocyte telomere length, and all-cause mortality in older adults from Costa Rica : the Costa Rican longevity and healthy aging study (CRELES)(Journal of Aging and Health, DOI: 10.1177/08982643251313923, 2025) Gan, Danting; Baylin, Ana; Peterson, Karen E.; Rosero Bixby, Luis; Ruiz Narváez, Edward A.Objectives: To examine the association of social connections with blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and all-cause mortality in older Costa Ricans. Methods: Utilizing data from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES), a prospective cohort of 2827 individuals aged 60 and above followed since 2004, we constructed a Social Network Index (SNI) based on marital status, household size, interaction with non-cohabitating adult children, and church attendance. We used linear regression to assess SNI’s association with baseline LTL (N = 1113), and Cox proportional-hazard models to examine SNI’s relationship with all-cause mortality (N = 2735). Results: Higher SNI levels were associated with longer telomeres and decreased all-cause mortality during follow-up. Being married and regular church attendance were associated with 23% and 24% reductions of the all-cause mortality, respectively. Discussion: These findings underscore the importance of social engagement in promoting longevity among older Costa Ricans, suggesting broader implications for aging populations globally.Ítem Socio-economic status and health awareness are associated with choice of cooking oil in Costa Rica(Public Health Nutrition, Vol 10, issue 11, 2007) Colon Ramos, Uriyoán; Kabagambe, Edmond K; Baylin, Ana; Ascherio, Alberto; Campos, Hannia; Peterson, Karen EObjective: To examine the socio-economic and lifestyle determinants of cooking oil choice in Costa Rica during the last decade (1994–2004). Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects (total n ¼ 2274) belonged to the control population of a large case– control study; they were recruited yearly. Data about type of oil used for cooking, dietary intake, socio-economic and demographic characteristics were collected. Setting: A dietitian visited all subjects and conducted the interviews at their homes; all subjects lived in the Costa Rican central valley region. Subjects: Adult, free-living, rural and urban Costa Ricans with no history of myocardial infarction and physical or mental disability. Results: The odds of choosing soybean over palm oil increased significantly each year (P , 0.05) and was determined by high socio-economic status (SES) and variables that suggest health awareness (self-reported history of hypertension, high cholesterol, multivitamin use and intake of green leafy vegetables). The odds of choosing other unsaturated oils, namely corn and sunflower, over soybean oil also increased yearly (P , 0.05) and was associated with the same two factors (high SES and health awareness). Palm oil users remained in the lowest SES tertile and were more likely to live in rural areas. Across all SES tertiles, high health awareness determined the odds of choosing other unsaturated oils over palm oil, and soybean oil (P , 0.05). Conclusion: These data show that, in addition to SES, health awareness is associated with selection of unsaturated oils over palm oil in a developing country undergoing transition. These data should be considered when targeting nutrition messages and policies that promote better dietary choices.Ítem Some dietary and adipose tissue carotenoids are associated with the risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Costa Rica(The Journal of Nutrition, Volumen 135, no. 7, 2005) Kabagambe, Edmond Kato; Furtado, Jeremy; Baylin, Ana; Campos, HanniaAntioxidants, particularly carotenoids and tocopherols, may protect against cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary and adipose tissue carotenoids and tocopherols are associated with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Cases (n 1456) of a first acute MI were identified and matched by age, sex, and residence to randomly selected population controls (n 1456) living in Costa Rica. Carotenoids and tocopherols were measured in adipose tissue using HPLC. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. Anthropometrical and lifestyle data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Subjects were distributed into quintiles of intake or adipose tissue concentration of carotenoids or tocopherols. The lowest quintile was used as the referent in conditional logistic regression analyses. Adipose tissue-carotene showed a significant inverse relation with MI risk; the odds ratio (OR) comparing the highest to the lowest quintile was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.51– 0.96, P for trend 0.02). Intake of fruits and vegetables that are rich in-carotene was also inversely associated with the risk of MI (OR 0.74; CI: 0.54 –1.01, P for trend 0.09). In contrast, lutein zeaxanthin in adipose tissue (OR 1.46; CI: 1.05–2.05, P for trend 0.02) and diet (OR 1.18; CI: 0.88 –1.57, P for trend 0.02) was positively associated with MI risk. MI risk was not associated with any of the other carotenoids or tocopherols in the diet or adipose tissue. Thus, the inverse association between -carotene and MI risk suggests that -carotene protects against MI or it is a marker of some protective factor in foods containing -carotene. The mechanism underlying the positive association between lutein zeaxanthin and the risk of MI warrants investigation.Ítem The relation between trans fatty acid levels and increased risk of myocardial infarction does not hold at lower levels of trans fatty acids in the costa rican food supply(The Journal of Nutrition, Vol.136, no. 11, 2006) Colón Ramos, Uriyoán; Baylin, Ana; Campos Núñez, HanniaData on the effects of recent industrial modifications that reduced the trans fatty acid (TFA) content in food supplies are scarce. In this study, incident cases (n = 1797) of a first nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) were matched with population controls (n = 1797) for age, sex, and area of residence in Costa Rica. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were calculated from conditional logistic regressions before and after a reduction of TFA in Costa Rican foods. Initially, the median quintiles of total adipose tissue TFA were 1.85, 2.47, 2.99, 3.58, and 4.40 g/100 g; total TFA was positively associated with increased MI risk after adjusting for established risk factors (OR by quintiles of total TFA: 1.00, 1.37, 1.91, 1.86, 3.28; P for trend < 0.001). This association was mostly due to 18:2 trans. In contrast, after industrial modification, median quintiles of total adipose tissue TFA were 1.84, 2.26, 2.57, 2.88, and 3.42 g/100 g; the association with MI was no longer significant (OR by quintiles of total TFA: 1.00, 0.78, 1.03, 0.88, and 1.03; P for trend = 0.65). Adipose tissue 18:1 trans fatty acids were not associated with risk of MI before or after the modification. Although to date there are no TFA regulations in Costa Rica, it appears that indirect international influence has led to a TFA reduction in the food supply and, consequently, to a reduction in the risk of nonfatal MI. The public health sector of Costa Rica should regulate food labeling and content to ensure very low levels of TFA intake.Ítem Traditional rural dietary pattern and all-cause mortality in a prospective cohort study of elderly Costa Ricans: the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES)(The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2024) Zhang, Yundan; Cortés Ortiz, Mónica V.; Leung, Cindy W.; Baylin, Ana; Rosero Bixby, Luis; Ruiz Narváez, Edward A.Costa Rica, as many other Latin American countries, is experiencing a fast demographic aging. It is estimated that by 2030, 18.5% of the population, or almost 1 of every 5 Costa Ricans, will be 60 y or older, compared with 7.9% or 1 of every 13 Costa Ricans in 1999 [1]. As the population ages, chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and neurodegenerative disorders are expected to increase in prevalence posing growing challenges to the health of the Costa Rican population. With the demographic shift toward an aging population, there is an urgent need to study determinants of longevity and healthy aging. Diet—as part of a healthy lifestyle—is a key modifiable factor that may help to minimize the burden of age-related health conditions. Beans are a major source of protein and fiber in Costa Rican adults and part of traditional diets in most Latin American countries. High bean consumption has been found associated with a protective cardiometabolic prolife such as low total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol [2,3]. In the Costa Rican population specifically, intake of beans has been associated with lower risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction in middle-aged adults [4]. We recently reported that a traditional Costa Rican rural dietary pattern, rich in beans and rice, was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres—a marker of biologic aging—in Costa Rican adults 60 y and older [5]. However, no studies have examined whether adherence to a traditional diet in elderly Costa Ricans may also be associated with lower mortality. Because of the nutrition transition (i.e., a shift from traditional diets to an increased consumption of processed foods highs in sugars, fats, and salt) experienced by Costa Rica in the last decades [4,6,7], it is essential to evaluate the potential impact of traditional diets on promoting healthy aging and longevity within an aging population. In this study, we assessed the association between a traditional rural dietary pattern, as well as their major food components beans and rice, and all-cause mortality among elderly Costa Ricans aged 60 y and older at baseline. We hypothesized that higher scores on the traditional dietary pattern are associated with lower all-cause mortality in elderly Costa Ricans. We also assessed whether additional dietary patterns may be associated with all-cause mortality. We used longitudinal and nationally representative data from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES).