Work

Dietary habits and cardiovascular disease risk in middle-aged and elderly populations: a review of evidence

Year: 2009

Type: review

Abstract: Dietary habits and cardiovascular disease risk in middle-aged and elderly populations: a review of evidence Eleni Tourlouki, Antonia-Leda Matalas, Demosthenes B PanagiotakosDepartment of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, GreeceBackground: The proportion of elderly is increasing worldwide. This trend is paralleled by an increase in chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. A limited number of studies have investigated the effect of diet on cardiometabolic risk factors (such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity) in older populations, despite the fact that diet plays a significant role in elderly health. In this review, a summary of studies that have evaluated the effect of dietary habits on cardiovascular disease risk in elderly populations is presented.Methods: A search was made in available databases (PubMed and Scopus) looking for results from observational studies and clinical trials that assessed dietary habits on cardiovascular disease risk in elderly populations (>65 years old). Studies during the last decade were retrieved and summarized.Results: All eight of the reviewed observational studies and all three reviewed clinical trials performed in elderly populations reported an inverse association between healthy dietary patterns with cardiovascular disease risk and its predisposing markers. Conclusion: Dietary intervention strategies should be implemented in older adults, in order to prevent cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, and improve quality of life. Keywords: diet, cardiovascular disease, risk factors, elders

Source: Clinical Interventions in Aging

DOI: 10.2147/cia.s5697

Author: Eleni Tourlouki

Institution: Harokopio University of Athens

Language: English

Topic: Nutritional Studies and Diet

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836