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Objective: To examine the effect of a low phenol olive oil and high phenol olive oil on markers of oxidation and plasma susceptibility to oxidation in normolipaemic smokers. Design: Randomized single-blind cross-over trial with two intervention periods. Setting: The Medical School and University Hospital of the University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Subjects: Twenty-five healthy males and females completed the study. Interventions: Each intervention was of three weeks duration and intervention periods were separated by a two week washout. Seventy grams of extra virgin olive oil was supplied to each subject per day in the intervention periods. The olive oils supplied differed in their phenol content by 18.6 mg/day. Two fasting venous blood samples were taken at the end of each intervention period. Results: The markers of antioxidant capacity measured in fasting plasma samples (total plasma resistance to oxidation, concentrations of protein carbonyl as a marker of protein oxidation, malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxides as markers of lipid oxidation and the ferric reducing ability of plasma) did not differ significantly between the low and high phenol olive oil diets. Conclusions: No effect of olive oil phenols on markers of oxidation in smokers was detected. It may be that the natural concentrations of phenols in olive oil are too low to produce an effect in the post-absorptive phase. Possible reasons for period effects and interactions between diet and administration period need attention to aid further cross-over trials of this kind. Sponsorship: Unilever Research Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601444 Keywords: phenols; olive oil; cross-over trial; rate of oxidizability; lipid hydroperoxides; malondialdehyde; protein carbonyls; FRAP; smokers, Introduction It is the classical Mediterranean diet which has been found to be associated with a reduced incidence of coronary artery disease (Serra-Majem et al, 1995; Keys et al, 1986). [...]

Background: High intakes of trans fatty acids (TFA) have been found to exert an undesirable effect on serum lipid profiles, and thus may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Objective: Investigation of the association between TFA intake and serum lipids. Design: Cross-sectional study in eight European countries (Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) among 327 men and 299 women (50-65y). Using a dietary history method, food consumption was assessed and TFA intake was calculated with recent figures on TFA levels of foods, collected in the TRANSFAIR study. Results: Mean ([+ or -] s.d.) TFA intake was 2.40 [+ or -] 1.53g/day for men and 1.98 [+ or -] 1.49g/day for women (0.87 [+ or -] 0.48% and 0.95 [+ or -] 0.55% of energy, respectively), with the highest consumption in Iceland and the lowest in the Mediterranean countries. No associations were found between total TFA intake and LDL, HDL or LDL/HDL ratio after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Additional adjustment for other fatty acid clusters resulted in a significant inverse trend between total TFA intake and total cholesterol ([P.sub.trend] < 0.03).The most abundantly occurring TFA isomer, C18:1 t, contributed substantially to this inverse association. The TFA isomers C14:1 t9, C16:1 t9 and C22:1 t were not associated or were positively associated with LDL or total cholesterol. Conclusions: From this study we conclude that at the current European intake levels of trans fatty acids they are not associated with an unfavourable serum lipid profile. Sponsorship: Unilever Research Laboratorium, the Dutch Dairy Foundation on Nutrition and Health, Cargill BV, the Institute of Food Research Norwich Laboratory, the Nutrition Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the International Fishmeal and Oil Manufacturers&apos; Association, Kraft Foods, NV Vandemoortele Coordination Center, Danone Group, McDonalds Deutschland Inc, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Valio Ltd, Raisio Group. Descriptors: trans fatty acids; dietary intake; cholesterol level; cardiovascular risk factors, Introduction Since controlled experimental human studies have shown that an increase in dietary trans fatty acid (TFA) intake has an undesirable effect on serum lipid profiles (Mensink & Katan, 1990; [...]

Objective: To examine the long-term effects of the &apos;Cretan Health and Nutrition Education Program&apos; on blood pressure. Subjects: A representative population of 176 pupils (85 from the intervention schools and 91 from the control schools). Design: Blood pressure, dietary, anthropometrical and physical activity data were obtained at baseline (academic year 1992-1993) and at follow-up examination (academic year 2001-2002). Results: The findings of the current study revealed that the increase over the 10-year period in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was higher in the control group (CG) than in the intervention group (IG) (P=0.003 and P [less than] 0.001 respectively). Regarding dietary indices, the IG were found to have a significantly higher intake of potassium (P=0.018) and magnesium (P=0.011) compared to the CG. Furthermore, the decrease in body mass index (BMI) z-score observed in the IG was found to differentiate significantly from the increase observed in the CG (P=0.042). On the contrary, the increase in leisure time, moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) observed in the IG, was found to differentiate significantly from the decrease observed in the CG (P=0.032). Intervention&apos;s effect on SBP was mediated by changes in MVPA ([beta]=-0.20, P=0.030) and BMI ([beta]=0.19, P=0.048). Similarly, intervention&apos;s effect on DBP was mediated by changes in MVPA ([beta]=-0.18, P=0.048), BMI ([beta]=0.26, P=0.007) and magnesium intake ([beta]=-0.20, P=0.048). Conclusion: The findings of the current study are encouraging, indicating favorable changes in blood pressure, micronutrients intake, BMI and physical activity over the 10 years of follow-up and 4 years after program&apos;s cessation, thus providing some support for the effectiveness of school-based health education programs in successfully tackling certain chronic disease risk factors early in life. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 837-845; doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602584; published online 10 January 2007 Keywords: health education, children, diet, physical activity, blood pressure, school, Author(s): I Kafatos [1]; Y Manios [1]; J Moschandreas [2]; A Kafatos [2]; and the Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic University of Crete Research Team [2] Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) [...]

Background: Only one study has investigated the relationship of essential fatty acids in the adipose tissue with depression in adults and suggested an inverse relationship between docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) (DHA) and depression. Objective: To examine the relation between adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids especially n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, an index of long-term or habitual fatty acid intake, and depression in adults. Design: Cross-sectional study of healthy adults from the island of Crete. Setting: The Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, University of Crete, Greece. Subjects: A total of 130 healthy adults (59 males, 71 females) aged 22--58 years. The sample was a sub-sample of the Greek ApoEurope study group. Methods: Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in adipose tissue. Information about depression was obtained through the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale. Results: Adipose tissue DHA was inversely related with depression. Multiple linear regression analysis taking into account the possible confounding effect of age, gender, body mass index, smoking and educational level confirmed this association. Conclusions: The inverse relationship between adipose DHA and depression in adults, replicates findings of a previous study. This relationship indicates that a low long-term dietary intake of DHA is associated with an increased risk for depression in adults. Funding: The International Olive Oil Council and the DG XII of the European Union. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 882-888. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602394; published online 8 February 2006 Keywords: psychological, depression, human, n-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic, fish, cytokines, Author(s): G Mamalakis [1]; N Kalogeropoulos [2]; N Andrikopoulos [2]; C Hatzis [1]; D Kromhout [3]; J Moschandreas [1]; A Kafatos [1] Introduction Depression constitutes the most common psychiatric disorder [...]

The current study examines the long-term effects of a school-based &apos;Health and Nutrition Education programme&apos; on body mass index (BMI) changes and the prevalence of overweight. The intervention group consisted of all pupils registered in the first grade of two counties of the island of Crete in 1992, while all pupils registered in a third county formed the control group. For evaluation purposes, a representative sample was examined at baseline (1992) following the 6-y intervention (1998) and 4 y after the programme&apos;s cessation (2002). The data presented here are based on pupils with full anthropometrical data in all three examination periods (284 intervention group pupils and 257 control group pupils). Former intervention group pupils had lower average BMI (by 0.7 kg/m[sup.2], s.e. 0.28, P=0.019) at the 10-y follow-up compared to the control group subjects, while no differences were detected in the prevalence of obesity between the two groups. The findings of the current study indicate that the beneficial effects of the programme on pupils&apos; BMI continue, to an extent, 4 years after its cessation. However, the lack of significant differences in the prevalence of overweight between the two groups indicates that the effects of the intervention may not be equally distributed in the population, with greater effects in certain subgroups and less or none in others. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 1090-1092. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602216; published online 6 July 2005 Keywords: nutrition education, children, obesity, overweight, BMI, school, Author(s): A Kafatos [1]; Y Manios [2]; J Moschandreas [1]; the Preventive Medicine & Nutrition Clinic University of Crete Research Team [1] Introduction Obesity constitutes the most frequent nutrition-related condition [...]

A study evaluated the consumption of trans fatty acids (TFA) and other fatty acids in 14 Western European countries. The study found no cause for concern with regards to the current consumption of TFA in most Western European countries. However, the study suggested the reduction of consumption of all cholesterol-increasing fatty acids, including TFA, as several countries were found to derive a substantial proportion of their energy from saturated fatty acids.