Meal patterns in healthy adults: Inverse association of eating frequency with subclinical atherosclerosis indexes.
OBJECTIVE
Meal patterns and their relationship with cardiovascular disease are insufficiently examined with important clinical implications. Our aim was to investigate associations between eating frequency (EF) and early markers of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively recruited 164 healthy subjects (46.8 ± 9.3years, 62 men). EF among other dietary parameters and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, including flow mediated dilatation (FMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV), intima media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaques in the carotid arteries were evaluated in all volunteers.


RESULTS
EF was positively associated with total energy intake (EI) and a favorable profile in terms of adiposity, glucose tolerance and blood lipids. Subjects with an increased EF (> median), had significantly lower IMT (p = 0.024) and prevalence of plaques (5.3% vs. 21.3%, p = 0.003), as compared to those below median. IMT and the prevalence of plaques were also significantly lower in those with increased EF compared with subjects with low EF belonging to the same group of energy intake (EI) by EI median. By multivariate regression analysis, carotid plaques remained significantly associated with EF (OR: 0.71, 95% CI 0.56-0.89), while IMT also remained significantly associated with EF after adjustment for age and dietary factors (beta: -0.010, 95% CI: -0.020 to -0.0002), but not after adding obesity-related risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased EF is associated with lower prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries in apparently healthy individuals. Whether consumption of the same amount of energy in more eating episodes favorably affects cardiovascular risk should be further investigated.
Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Str, 17671 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: pkaratzi@hua.gr.
Kalliopi
K
Karatzi
Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Str, 17671 Athens, Greece.
Mary
M
Yannakoulia
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, M. Asias 75, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Theodora
T
Psaltopoulou
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 80 V. Sofias Str, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Paraskevi
P
Voidonikola
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 80 V. Sofias Str, 11528 Athens, Greece.
George
G
Kollias
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, M. Asias 75, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Theodoros N
TN
Sergentanis
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 80 V. Sofias Str, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Theodoros
T
Retsas
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 80 V. Sofias Str, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Maria
M
Alevizaki
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 80 V. Sofias Str, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Christos
C
Papamichael
Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra University Hospital, 80 V. Sofias Str, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Kimon
K
Stamatelopoulos
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
Arterial stiffness; Cardiovascular disease; Carotid atherosclerosis; Dietary patterns; Meal frequency; Premature atherosclerosis