Fat and fiber consumption are associated with peripheral arterial disease in a cross-sectional study of a Japanese-Brazilian population.
BACKGROUND
The Western diet plays a role for the epidemics of obesity and related diseases. This study examined a possible association between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the dietary components of Japanese immigrants living in Brazil.


RESULTS
In this cross-sectional study, 1,267 subjects (aged > or =30 years) with complete dietary, clinical and laboratory data were studied according to a standardized protocol. Ankle-to-brachial index was used to identify subjects with PAD. The overall prevalence of PAD was 14.6%. Subjects with PAD were older, had lower education and higher mean values of blood pressure, triglycerides, and fasting and 2-h plasma glucose levels compared with those without the disease. Among the subjects with PAD, the consumption of fiber from whole grains (3.0 vs 3.4 g, p=0.001) and linoleic acids (11.0 vs 11.7 g, p=0.017) were lower and intake of total (72.8 vs 69.1 g, p=0.016) and saturated fatty acids (17.4 vs 16.3 g, p=0.012) were higher than those without PAD. Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between PAD with high total fat intake, low intake of fiber from fruit and oleic acid, independently of other variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite limitations in examining the cause - effect relationship, the data support the notion that diet could be important in reducing the occurrence of PAD.
Gimeno
Suely Godoy Agostinho
SG
Preventive Medicine Department, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. suely@medprev.epm.br
Hirai
Amélia Toyomi
AT
Harima
Helena Aiko
HA
Kikuchi
Mário Yasuo
MY
Simony
Rosana Farah
RF
de Barros
Newton
N
Cardoso
Marly A
MA
Ferreira
Sandra Roberta Gouvea
SR
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001938:Brazil / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004493:Education; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D014280:Triglycerides