Direct association between diet and the stability of human atherosclerotic plaque.
Mediterranean diet has been suggested to explain why coronary heart disease mortality is lower in southern than northern Europe. Dietary habits can be revealed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) measurement of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) in biological tissues. To study if diet is associated with human plaque stability, atherosclerotic plaques from carotid endarterectomy on 56 patients (21 Portuguese and 35 Swedish) were analysed by IRMS and histology. Plaque components affecting rupture risk were measured. Swedish plaques had more apoptosis, lipids and larger cores, as well as fewer proliferating cells and SMC than the Portuguese, conferring the Swedish a more rupture-prone phenotype. Portuguese plaques contained higher δ(13)C and δ(15)N than the Swedish, indicating that Portuguese plaques were more often derived from marine food. Plaque δ(13)C correlated with SMC and proliferating cells, and inversely with lipids, core size, apoptosis. Plaque δ(15)N correlated with SMC and inversely with lipids, core size and apoptosis. This is the first observational study showing that diet is reflected in plaque components associated with its vulnerability. The Portuguese plaques composition is consistent with an increased marine food intake and those plaques are more stable than those from Swedish patients. Marine-derived food is associated with plaque stability.
Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.|Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Isabel
I
Gonçalves
Lund University, Department of Physics, Division of Nuclear Physics, Lund, Sweden.
Elisavet
E
Andersson Georgiadou
Lund University, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Medical Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Sören
S
Mattsson
Lund University, Department of Geology, Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Sweden.
Göran
G
Skog
Department of Vascular Surgery, Santa Maria Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Luís
L
Pedro
Department of Vascular Surgery, Santa Maria Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
José
J
Fernandes E Fernandes
Departments of Haematology and Vascular Diseases, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Nuno
N
Dias
Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
Gunnar
G
Engström
Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
Jan
J
Nilsson
Lund University, Department of Physics, Division of Nuclear Physics, Lund, Sweden.
Kristina
K
Stenström
D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011174:Portugal; D013548:Sweden
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes