Meal patterns in healthy adults: Inverse association of eating frequency with subclinical atherosclerosis indexes

Composition of Dietary Macronutrient Intake Is Not Associated with Prevalence of Coronary Artery Calcification in Healthy Korean Adults

“…Cross-sectional study reported that dietary micronutrient intakes are associated with markers of inflammation but not with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis [25]. Recent studies demonstrated that eating frequency and amount of fat in dairy products are related with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis [26,27]. In the univariate analysis, the percentages of carbohydrate intake from total energy intake were associated with prevalence CAC in men and women subjects.…”

“…One prospective study in women showed that low carbohydrate intake and high saturated fat intake were associated with increased relative risk (RR) of CAC, but total energy, total fat and protein intake were not significantly related to the presence of CAC [24]. Several studies investigated relationships beetween dietary factors and other markers of subclinical atherosclerosis besides CAC [25,26]. Cross-sectional study reported that dietary micronutrient intakes are associated with markers of inflammation but not with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis [25].…”

Eating frequency predicts new onset hypertension and the rate of progression of blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and wave reflections

“…Although our group and others have previously shown an independent cross-sectional association of eating frequency with hypertension and BP [20][21]23], the clinical utility of meal patterns cannot be further assessed before their predictive value is proven. To the best of our knowledge these are the first prospective results supporting a direct link between eating frequency and development of hypertension and/or target organ damage after a 5-year follow-up period.…”

“…A single controlled trial revealed that isocaloric consumption of 1 meal/day instead of 3 meals/day significantly increased BP in healthy adults [22]. In a recent cross-sectional study from our group, we demonstrated that eating frequency was independently associated with the presence of hypertension and diastolic aortic BP as well as with subclinical atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries [23]. On the other hand, arterial stiffness and reflected waves, which are considered major contributors in the development of hypertension, were not independently correlated with eating frequency [23].…”

“…In a recent cross-sectional study from our group, we demonstrated that eating frequency was independently associated with the presence of hypertension and diastolic aortic BP as well as with subclinical atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries [23]. On the other hand, arterial stiffness and reflected waves, which are considered major contributors in the development of hypertension, were not independently correlated with eating frequency [23]. Taken together, these data suggest that metabolic alterations related to low eating frequency may contribute to higher values of BP and may facilitate target organ damage either directly or indirectly through elevation of BP.…”