All-cause and cardiovascular mortality worldwide: lessons from geopathology.

Highly significant age-specific differences in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates are reported throughout the world. Male mortality is always higher than female mortality, but the sex ratio of mortality rates decreases with age. In most Western countries, all-cause mortality rates have been decreasing during the last 25 years. This decrease is almost uniquely due to a decrease in cardiovascular mortality. It is of crucial importance to try to determine the causes of these differences in mortality at the population level. Many factors may influence mortality: the level of medical care, genetic factors, nutrition, smoking habits, pollution, stress, socioeconomic factors, level of physical activity, etc. Of all the factors considered, nutritional habits and smoking combined with a high saturated fat intake appear to offer the most logical explanation for the existing differences in mortality. The intake of saturated fat has been linked to both cardiovascular and cancer mortality. Based on the modifications in the intercept and slope of the regression lines derived from the Gompertz equation (log mortality versus age) applied to a given population at a specific time, it has been possible to show that nutritional factors influence the aging process. The Gompertz equations point to the existence of a maximum age for the human race. Caution should be exercised when extrapolating population findings to individual subjects, in whom specific factors, e.g., genetic factors, may prevail.

Regional differences in consumption of 103 fat products in Belgium: a supermarket-chain sales approach.

OBJECTIVE: In Belgium, important regional differences in mortality exist which have been linked to differences in dietary consumption patterns. METHODS: To study regional food consumption in Belgium, sales data of 103 spreading and cooking fat products in 110 branch stores of a major supermarket chain (Colruyt) for 12 months (1991-92) were analyzed. RESULTS: Sale of more ordinary and polyunsaturated spreading margarine and of more polyunsaturated low-fat spread in the north in combination with a greater sale of butter and dairy low-fat spread in the south resulted in a P/S-ratio of 0.99 in the north vs. 0.40 in the south (p < 0.001) and a U/S-ratio of 1.93 vs. 1.10 (p < 0.001) for spreading fats. The P/S- and U/S-ratios of cooking fats were lower in the north (ns). Mortality data correlated positively with the sale of butter and dairy low-fat spread and negatively with sales data of spreading margarine, polyunsaturated spreading margarine, and polyunsaturated low-fat spread (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sales data from supermarket chains provide useful information on regional fat consumption and offer interesting perspectives of trends over time.

Relationship between dietary protein intake and serum urea, uric acid and creatinine, and 24-hour urinary creatinine excretion: the BIRNH Study.

Relationships between dietary protein intake of a large free-living group and serum creatinine (Cr), urea and uric acid levels have been studied, based on data obtained from the BIRNH (Belgian Interuniversity Research on Nutrition and Health) study. Highly significant correlations were found in both sexes for total protein, as well as for animal and vegetable protein intake. In a subgroup, the relationship between dietary protein intake and 24-hour urinary Cr excretion has also been studied. The range of +/- 2 SD of the mean for total protein and animal and vegetable protein daily intakes resulted in a calculated range of 24-hour Cr excretion of 430, 317 and 209 mg/24 hours in men and of 192, 169 and 125 mg/24 hours in women, respectively. The 24-hour urinary Cr excretion was significantly influenced by both dietary protein and polyunsaturated fat intake.