Associations between coronary heart disease, obesity and histological prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates the possible associations between coronary heart disease and histological prostate carcinoma in autopsy material. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The material of our study, were 116 men between 55 years and 98 years of age, who died in the period of August 2002-January 2005. The initial segment of the aorta and the prostate glands of all cadavers were removed while the initial 30 mm of the left and right coronary arteries and the peripheral zone of the prostate gland underwent pathologic examination. RESULTS: Of all subjects examined 71.8% had pathological findings suggesting advanced coronary heart disease. Twenty out of 116 cadavers were found with histological carcinoma in their prostate specimen. Among subjects positive for prostate cancer, 12 had died of cardiovascular diseases, while 16 had macroscopic evidence of advanced coronary artery obstructive disease, a finding that was confirmed on pathologic examination. Although most of the subjects had atheromatous lesions on the coronary arteries, the percentage of men with prostate cancer, which had advanced atheromatosis, was greater when compared to those of subjects without prostate cancer. The relation between the coronary artery obstructive disease severity and the presence of latent prostate cancer was statistically significant (P = 0.02). No statistically significant correlation was obtained between body mass index and the presence of prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that there could be an association between coronary artery obstructive disease and prostate cancer, however due to the relatively low sample further studies are needed in order to confirm such findings.

Dietary intake in immigrant Arabian pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the intake of dietary micronutrients of immigrant Arabian pregnant women in Greece, in order to investigate the possible factors influencing food intake and affecting the overall nutritional profile. METHODS: A dietary assessment of 497 immigrant Arabian pregnant women, admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Outpatient Clinic, Tzaneion General Hospital, Piraeus city, Vyronas Health Center, and Alexandras General Hospital, Athens, Greece was performed between August 2002 and August 2005, along with a comparison of micronutrient intake with the latest dietary recommendations. We carried out blood analysis, and measurements of serum micronutrients in all participants. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-seven out of 497 (94%) women followed the traditional Arabian diet, and did not use drug medication or supplements during gestation. The mean dietary intakes of vitamin E, vitamin B12, vitamin C, zinc, calcium and phosphorus in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were similar to the respective values of the Dietary Reference Intake, while the mean dietary intake of vitamin D was relatively low. The mean intakes of folic acid and iron were lower than the respective values, while the mean intakes of vitamin A and magnesium was slightly higher. The results of the laboratory tests were normal in 470 women (94.5%) except those regarding iron deficiency anemia, which was relatively common. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that apart from iron and folic acid supplementation, no further changes would be necessary in the dietary patterns of immigrant Arabian pregnant women, since their traditional nutritional habits seem to provide all micronutrients in sufficient quantities.