title: Selected biomarkers of age-related diseases in older subjects with different nutrition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The nutritionists introduce on the base of epidemiological and clinical studies that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Aging belongs to the main risks of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Markers of age-related diseases (cardiovascular, metabolic syndrome, diabetes) were assessed in two nutritional groups of older apparently healthy non-obese non-smoking women aged 60-70 years, 45 vegetarians (lacto-ovo-vegetarians and semi-vegetarians) and 38 non-vegetarians (control group on a traditional mixed diet, general population).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vegetarian values of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance are significantly reduced. Non-vegetarian average values of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and C-reactive protein are risk. Vegetarians have a better antioxidative status (significantly increased vitamin C, lipid-standardized vitamine E and beta-carotene plasma concentrations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Favourable values of cardiovascular risk markers in older vegetarian women document a beneficial effect of vegetarian nutrition in prevention of this disease as well as the vegetarian diet can be an additional factor in therapy. Vegetarians suffer from mild hyperhomocysteinemia; it is due to the lower vitamin B12 concentration. Vitamin B12 supplements are inevitable for the hyperhomocysteinemia prevention (Tab. 2, Ref. 26).
authors.affiliation: Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia. marica.kudlackova@szu.sk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajcovicova-Kudlackova
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Babinska
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blazicek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valachovicova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spustova
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mislanova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paukova
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids