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Few studies have examined dietary patterns in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in Asian populations, particularly in India. The present study was undertaken to explore dietary patterns in a general urban Bengalee population of women in West Bengal, India, and their association with cardiovascular risk factors. We performed a cross-sectional study of 701 women (aged 35 years and above) selected by cluster sampling from twelve different wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Kolkata, India). The following three major dietary patterns were identified: the 'vegetable, fruits and pulses' pattern (characterised by higher intakes of dark-yellow and green leafy vegetables, sweets, fruits, pulses, nuts, poultry and eggs, and lower intake of mustard oil); the 'hydrogenated and saturated fat and vegetable oil' pattern (characterised by higher intakes of butter, hydrogenated oil, ghee, vegetable oil, mustard oil, condiments, sweets, fish, high-fat dairy and refined grain); the 'red meat and high-fat dairy' pattern (characterised by higher intakes of red meat, high-fat dairy products, whole grain, high-energy drinks and condiments, and lower intakes of fish, refined grain and low-fat dairy products). The vegetable, fruits and pulses pattern was inversely associated with serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations (P, 0·05 for all). The hydrogenated and saturated fat and vegetable oil pattern was positively associated with BMI, waist circumference (WC) and HDL-C concentration (P,0·05 for all). In this Bengalee population, these three major dietary patterns were observed, and the dietary patterns were independently associated with BMI, WC and serum TC concentrations in women.

The present study demonstrates for the first time the protective role of two common flavonoids, quercetin and its glycone rutin, against high cholesterol diet (2%) induced hepatotoxicity and inflammation. Swiss albino mice were given either a standard laboratory diet (control), high cholesterol diet (HCD) or high cholesterol diet along with quercetin or rutin (100 mg kg(-1) body weight) in their respective groups. The HCD mice exhibited a gain in body weight, significant rise in serum and hepatic level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, liver function enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05). Histopathological studies showed hepatic fat accumulation and tissue disintegration. There was significant depletion of major hepatic antioxidants (P < 0.05). Immunoblot studies revealed a high expression of redox sensitive transcription factors NF-κB and TNF-α. A subsequent rise in the mRNA expression of inflammatory markers like C reactive protein and inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 were also found from the RT-PCR study. Simultaneous treatment with quercetin or rutin along with HCD significantly prevented the gains in body weight, lipid level, liver function enzymes, lipid peroxidation level and expression of inflammatory markers. The restoration of hepatic antioxidant homeostasis and hepatic morphology has also been observed. Hence, the present study illustrates the hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of two similar flavonoids.