Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD
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Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis · Mar 2012
Multicenter StudyMajor dietary patterns and risk of coronary heart disease in middle-aged persons from a Mediterranean country: the EPIC-Spain cohort study.
No previous study has assessed the association between major dietary patterns and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a large cohort from a Mediterranean country. ⋯ A Mediterranean diet, as consumed in this study population, was associated with a lower risk of CHD.
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Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis · Mar 2012
Population based strategy for dietary salt intake reduction: Italian initiatives in the European framework.
Excess dietary sodium chloride (salt) intake is etiologically related to hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moderate reduction of salt intake reduces blood pressure (BP) and is expected to contribute to reduce the risk of CVD. Previous community-based trials to reduce BP by means of salt reduction were very successful. ⋯ These initiatives include i) the evaluation of current dietary habits promoted by the Working Group for Dietary Salt Reduction in Italy (GIRCSI); ii) the chemical analysis of the bread salt content, a major source of sodium intake in Italy, and the agreement between the bakers' associations and the Ministry of Health for a gradual reduction of the bread salt content; iii) the implementation of educational campaigns to increase population awareness, iv) the involvement of the food catering system. In the immediate future, food reformulation must be extended to other food categories in collaboration with industry, foods' salt targets ought to be defined, the food labelling system must be improved and population salt awareness must be further increased through educational campaigns. The GIRCSI Working Group is committed to pursue these objectives.