Fish Intake and Cardiovascular Risk Among Middle-Aged Japanese in Japan and Brazil

Abstract

Background Studies of immigrant populations are useful for analysis of the effects of environmental factors on cardiovascular disease. We have examined the association between dietary habit of fish intake and cardiovascular risk.Methods Population-based samples of 433 middle-aged Japanese men and women in Japan (Shimane (group JS) and Okinawa (group JO)) and 269 Japanese immigrants in Brazil ( S~O Paulo (group BS) and Campo Grande (group BC)), who had originally moved to Brazil mainly from Shimane and Okinawa, were recruited to the study. They underwent blood pressure measurement, 24-h urine collection, blood tests and electrocardiographic examination, and completed a dietary questionnaire. ResultsThere was a significant gradient through the groups, from J S to JO, BS and BC with respect to the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, increased glycohaemoglobin concentrations and ST-T segment change on the electrocardiogram (prevalences for men and women combined: group JS 2.0%, group JO 3.8%, group BS 3.9% and group BC 9.00/0; P< 0.025). The prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia was noted more frequently in groups BS and BC. Twentyfour-hour urinary taurine excretion in both sexes and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in plasma phospholipids in men were significantly higher in groups JS and JO than in groups B S and BC. A striking negative gradient in the frequency of fish intake per week was found from group JS (medwomen, 4.7/4.8) to groups JO (3.8/3.6), BS (1.911.6) and BC (0.5/0.5). ConclusionsThis study suggests a possible association between fish intake and reduced cardiovascular risk, through the beneficial effects of taurine and n-3 PUFA and a habitual low intake of calories and fat.

The Search for Antiaging Interventions: From Elixirs to Fasting Regimens

“…One of the best correlations between CR and improvement in healthspan and prolonged life in humans is the long-lived population in Okinawa, Japan (Mizushima et al, 1997). In comparison to the rest of the Japanese population, Okinawan people usually combine an above-average amount of daily exercise with a below-average food intake (Willcox and Willcox, 2014).…”

Losses of taurine, creatine, glycine and alanine from cod (Gadus morhua L.) fillet during processing

“…Taurine plays an important role in several essential processes such as membrane stabilization, osmoregulation, anti-oxidation and development of the central nervous system and the retina (O'Flaherty et al, 1997;Schaffer et al, 2000). Suggestions have been put forward of reduced cardiovascular risk through the combined effects of taurine and n-3 PUFA (Mizushima et al, 1997;Yamori et al, 2001). The anti-oxidative properties of taurine could be of general value, at levels higher than those needed to prevent deficiencies.…”

Mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

“…Many large-scale studies, including primary and secondary prevention clinical trials and metaanalysis of cohorts, have concluded that consumption of fatty fish, fish oils or individual n-3 PUFA is an effective dietary strategy to lower CVD morbidity, mortality, as well as classic and emerging risk factors listed above [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. In addition, n-3 PUFA have been shown to improve a number of cardiac hemodynamic factors such as blood pressure [35,36], left ventricular diastolic filling [37], heart rate [38,39] and endothelial function [40,41].…”