title: Diets and morbid tissues--history counts, present counts.
abstract: Body fat distribution, especially visceral fat accumulation, may contribute more than total fat mass per se to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Early prevention highly improves health outcomes later in life, especially when considering such cumulative conditions as atherosclerosis. However, as these processes emerge to be partly reversible, dietary and lifestyle interventions at any age and health condition are greatly beneficial. Given the worldwide abundance of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, the identification and implementation of strategies for preventing or reducing the accumulation of morbid fat tissues is of great importance for preventing and regressing atherosclerosis. This review focuses on dietary strategies and specific food components that were demonstrated to alter body fat distribution and regression of atherosclerosis. Different properties of various adipose depots (superficial subcutaneous, deep subcutaneous and visceral fat depots) and their contribution to metabolic and cardiovascular disorders are briefly discussed. Visceral obesity and atherosclerosis should be approached as modifiable rather than ineluctable conditions.
authors.affiliation: Soroka University Medical Center,Beer-Sheva,Israel.
authors.forename: Yaakov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Henkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653,Beer-Sheva84105,Israel.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovsan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653,Beer-Sheva84105,Israel.
authors.forename: Yftach
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gepner
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653,Beer-Sheva84105,Israel.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shai
mesh_terms: D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Body fat distribution; dietary strategies