Raquel de Deus Mendonca

Scopus Publications

Validity and reliability of the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS-P) for use in Brazil
Bruna Aparecida Avelar, Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino, Anabele Pires Santos, Larissa Loures Mendes, Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, and Mariana Carvalho de Menezes
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Abstract Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS-P) translated and adapted for use in Brazil. Design: Validation of the NEMS-P questionnaire. The questionnaires were applied to assess validity and reliability, based on exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s α coefficient and intra-class correlation, with a significance level of 95 %. Setting: Brazil. Participants: Adults over 20 years of age diagnosed with hypertension were included in the internal validity and reliability test (n 176) and intra-rater reliability (subsample n 35). Results: Factor analysis obtained satisfactory results. Internal consistency was acceptable for most items, with Cronbach’s α ranging from 0·6 to 0·9. The intra-rater reliability of the subsample was also valid, with intra-class correlation coefficient values ranging from 0·5 to 0·9. Conclusion: This work reveals the usefulness of the instrument to assess the perceived food environment in the Brazilian context, being able to measure what is proposed according to its theoretical model, and reproduces the values when applied to a sample different from its original validation. However, refinement of some questions is suggested. Finally, it demonstrates the possibility of using the entire instrument or each section independently, according to the food environments to be investigated.

Correction to: The Interaction between Education and Sex with Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Two Brazilian Cities (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, (2024), 21, 6, (804), 10.3390/ijerph21060804)
Amanda Popolino Diniz, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, George Luiz Lins Machado-Coelho, and Adriana Lúcia Meireles
MDPI AG
There was an error in the original publication [...]

Perceptions of the neighbourhood food environment and food insecurity of families with children during the Covid-19 pandemic
Irene Carolina Sousa Justiniano, Matheus Santos Cordeiro, Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, and Mariana Carvalho de Menezes
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors and their implications for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study with university students
Bruna Carolina Rafael Barbosa, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Elaine Leandro Machado, and Adriana Lúcia Meireles
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract Background The university years are a critical period for young adults, as they are more exposed to obesogenic behaviors and experience stressful situations that compromise their mental health. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and evaluate the association between the combined occurrence of obesogenic behaviors among university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on students from a public university in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from July to August 2020 using an online questionnaire. The outcome variables (anxiety and depression symptoms) were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors was measured based on irregular consumption of fruits and vegetables, frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity during leisure time, and sedentary behavior. A Venn diagram was used for the exploratory analysis. To verify the association between the outcome and explanatory variables, a directed acyclic graph model was constructed, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Results A total of 1,353 students aged 18–24 years participated in this study. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were present in 46.1% and 54.6% of the participants, respectively. The most prevalent combination of obesogenic behaviors was frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity during leisure time, and sedentary behavior (17.2%). The greater the number of simultaneous obesogenic behaviors, the higher the chance to present symptoms of anxiety [OR: 2.81 (95%CI: 1.77–4.46)] and depression [OR: 3.46 (95%CI: 2.20–5.43)]. Conclusion These findings reinforce the need to take actions to promote mental health in the university environment in conjunction with programs to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve the physical and mental well-being of students.

Consumption of processed meat but not red meat is associated with the incidence of hypertension: ELSA-Brasil cohort
Michelle Izabel Ferreira Mendes, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Carla Moronari de Oliveira Aprelini, and Maria del Carmen Bisi Molina
Elsevier BV

Racial disparities in lifestyle habits and dietary patterns in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ana Cláudia Morito Neves, Luiz Antônio Alves de Menezes Junior, Raquel Canuto, Thaís Calcagno Vidon Bruno, Mariana Carvalho de Menezes, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, and Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Unhealthy and unsustainable diet and syndemic: the role of ultra-processed foods
Bruna Aparecida Avelar, Ana Cláudia Morito Neves, Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro, Mariana Carvalho de Menezes, Mayckel da Silva Barreto, and Raquel de Deus Mendonça
SciELO Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID)

The Interaction between Education and Sex with Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Two Brazilian Cities
Amanda Popolino Diniz, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, George Luiz Lins Machado-Coelho, and Adriana Lúcia Meireles
MDPI AG
This cross-sectional study, carried out between October and December 2020 in two Brazilian cities, aimed to evaluate the joint association of education and sex with habitual and episodic excessive alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Habitual alcohol consumption was defined as drinking any quantity of alcohol at least once per week. Excessive episodic alcohol consumption was defined as the consumption of five or more drinks by men or four or more drinks by women at least once in the last 30 days. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze associations of education and sex with alcohol consumption. Education was not associated with habitual alcohol consumption and excessive episodic alcohol consumption. However, when evaluating the joint effect between education and sex, it can be seen that men with low education were more likely to habitually consume (OR: 5.85; CI95:2.74–14.84) and abuse alcohol (OR: 4.45; IC95:1.54–12.82) and women with high education were more likely to have habitual (OR: 2.16; IC95:1.18–3.95) and abusive alcohol consumption (OR: 2.00; IC95:1.16–3.43). These findings highlight the modifying effect of sex on the relationship between education and alcohol consumption, such that education influenced alcohol consumption differently between sexes during the pandemic.

Fatty acid intake and prevalence of depression among Brazilian graduates and postgraduates (CUME Study)
Thaís da Silva Sabião, Fátima Costa de Oliveira, Josefina Bressan, Adriano Marçal Pimenta, Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff, Fernando Luiz Pereira de Oliveira, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, and Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro
Elsevier BV

Repercussions of the humanitarian crises on the health of adolescents and young people with HIV/AIDS
Camila Piran, Angela Jara, Leslie Yañez, Andrés Carmona, Raquel Mendonça, Marcela Furtado, and Mayckel Barreto
Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing

Anxiety Symptoms Influence Food Consumption Differently Depending on Nutritional Status During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study with University Students
Ana Cláudia Morito Neves, Luiz Antônio Alves de Menezes-Júnior, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, and Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro
Informa UK Limited
BACKGROUND Anxiety symptoms are factors that directly affect eating habits, but this interference can be heterogeneous depending on the nutritional status of the individuals. OBJECTIVES To analyze whether the presence of anxiety symptoms at the beginning of the pandemic influenced the change in food consumption according to its purpose and extent of processing during a one-year follow-up and whether this association occurs equally with excess weight and without excess weight university students. METHODS This longitudinal study was carried out with 583 university students from a public Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Brazil. The Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) was used to verify whether anxiety symptoms were associated with changes in food consumption over time. RESULTS The results showed that previous moderate/severe anxiety symptoms were associated with an increased frequency of consumption of both fresh or minimally processed foods (β: 0.2 95%CI: 0.1; 0.7 p = 0.013) and ultra-processed foods (β: 5.6 95%CI: 1.8; 17.7 p = 0.003), but with different magnitudes. In university students who were not excess weight, previous moderate/severe anxiety symptoms were associated with a reduction in the frequency of consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods (β: -2.0 95%CI: -3.5; -0.5 p = 0.008), while in those who were excess weight, there was an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (β: 4.5 95%CI: 2.2; 6.8 p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study confirms the influence of anxiety symptoms on food consumption according to the extent and purpose of processing. In addition, these results emphasize the role of psychological distress in the university population, and that this factor can affect excess weight and without excess weight individuals differently.

The ethical conduct of nutrition undergraduates at a public university in Brazil
Raphaela Cruz Vasconcelos Sousa, Natália Caldeira de Carvalho, and Raquel de Deus Mendonça
Centro Universitario Sao Camilo - Sao Paulo

Ultra-processed food intake and food allergy in children and adolescents
Elaine Cristina de Almeida Kotchetkoff, Fabiola Isabel Suano-Souza, Daniela Neri Gama de Almeida, Talita Lemos Neves Barreto, Raquel Bicudo Mendonça, and Roseli Oselka Saccardo Sarni
Informa UK Limited
Abstract This study aimed to describe the dietary intake of ultra-processed foods (UPF) by children and adolescents with food allergy (FA) and to verify a possible association between the UPF intake with clinical characteristics and nutritional status in this group. This cross-sectional study included 110 children and adolescents with single or multiple FA IgE and non-IgE mediated. We evaluated food intake using the NOVA classification through the three 24-h recalls. The average contribution of UPF to total energy intake (calories) ranges from 21% in the first quartile to 43% in the last quartile (mean UPF intake 33.9 ± 14.9%). After binary logistic regression, an association was verified between dietary intake of UPF (>4th quartile) as a percentage of total energy intake and having multiple food allergies (OR 4.102; 95% CI − 1.331 to 12.643; p = .014). We concluded that children and adolescents with FA consumed a higher amount of UPF.

Low polyphenol intake among highly scholarity population: CUME cohort
Amanda Popolino Diniz, Josefina Bressan, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro, Adriano Marçal Pimenta, Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff, and Adriana Lúcia Meireles
Hogrefe Publishing Group
Abstract: In the absence of a recommendation for daily intake of phenolic compounds, to compare the intake of the main dietary polyphenols between populations is a really challenge. This study aimed to estimate the total dietary intake of polyphenols, classes and their food sources among Brazilian graduates and postgraduates. This was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project). Food consumption was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 144 food items. Polyphenol intake was estimated from the Phenol-Explorer and US Department of Agriculture database, and previous studies that evaluated the phenolic content of specific foods. A total of 4130 individuals of both sexes with a median age of 34 (18–86) years old were finally included. The median intake of total polyphenols adjusted for energy was 753.41 mg/day (interquartile range – IQR=461.80; p<0.001), and the most consumed classes were phenolic acids and flavonoids, with median intakes of 552.30 mg/d (IQR=429.78; p<0.001) and 154.70 mg/day (IQR=108.70; p<0.001), respectively. The main food sources of polyphenols were coffee, peanuts, beans, and fruits. A lower intake of total polyphenols and their classes was observed in a population with similar characteristics to those from developed countries. The results demonstrate the importance of disseminating nutritional information about foods, so that the consumption of natural foods is prioritized. New studies that evaluate the consumption of polyphenols and their impact on human health are recommended to establish a daily recommendation for the consumption of such compounds.

The combined consumption of fresh/minimally processed food and ultra-processed food on food insecurity: COVID Inconfidentes, a population-based survey
Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Luiz Antônio Alves de Menezes-Júnior, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, George Luiz Lins Machado-Coelho, and Mariana Carvalho de Menezes
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
AbstractObjective:To investigate whether the combined consumption of fresh/minimally processed and ultra-processed food is associated with food insecurity (FI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design:Cross-sectional observational study was derived from a survey using a population-based search of a complex sample. FI was assessed using the validated Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Food consumption was assessed using a qualitative FFQ and the NOVA classification for fresh/minimally processed food and ultra-processed food. A scoring system was used to evaluate combined food consumption according to the extent and purpose of processing, considering the weekly consumption of the two groups (according to the NOVA classification). Higher punctuation reflects worse diet quality (higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and lower consumption of fresh/minimally processed foods). A theoretical causality model was constructed using a directed acyclic graph, and multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression to test the association between FI and food consumption.Setting:Ouro Preto and Mariana, Brazil, between October and December 2020.Participants:An epidemiological household survey was conducted with 1753 individuals selected through a stratified and clustered sampling design in three stages.Results:Those with food consumption scores in the fourth quartile had a 60 % higher prevalence ratio (PR) for FI (PR: 1·60 and 95 % CI: 1·06 - 2·40). Also, the increased consumption of fresh/minimally processed foods and low consumption of ultra-processed foods presented a 45 % lower prevalence ratio of FI (PR: 0·55 and 95 % CI: 0·40 – 0·80).Conclusion:These results indicate an inverse association between FI and diet quality.

Editorial: Ultra-processed foods and human and planetary health
Gustavo Cediel, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, Maria Alvim Leite, Maria F. Gombi-Vaca, and Fernanda Rauber
Frontiers Media SA
COPYRIGHT © 2023 Cediel, Mendonça, Meireles, Leite, Gombi-Vaca and Rauber. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Ultra-processed foods and human and planetary health

COVID-Inconfidentes-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in two Brazilian urban areas in the fourth quarter 2020: study protocol and initial results
Adriana Lúcia Meireles, Luciano Garcia Lourenção, Luiz Antônio Alves de Menezes-Júnior, Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Irene Carolina Sousa Justiniano, Samara Silva de Moura, Amanda Popolino Diniz, Thaís Da Silva Sabião, Ana Maria Sampaio Rocha, Aline Priscila Batista,et al.
Universidad de Costa Rica
Objective: To describe study protocol and initial results of research project COVID-Inconfidentes. Method: This paper described the methodological procedures adopted and the prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population. A household survey was conducted between October and December 2020, in two historic cities of Brazil's mining region. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody was detected using the Wondfo® rapid test. The face-to-face interview consisted of administration of a questionnaire containing registration data, sociodemographic and economic variables, living habits, general health condition, mental health, sleep habits, and eating and nutrition. Results: We evaluated 1,762 residents, of which 764 (43.4 %) were in Mariana and 998 (56.6 %) in Ouro Preto. For both cities, 51.9 % of the interviewees were female, with a predominance of the age range 35 to 59 years old (47.2 %). The prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection was 5.5 % in both cities, 6.2 % in Ouro Preto, and 4.7 % in Mariana (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: The study was effective to estimate the seroprevalence of infection by the virus and its findings will enable further analyses of the health conditions of the population related to social isolation and the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Habitual polyphenol intake of foods according to NOVA classification: implications of ultra-processed foods intake (CUME study)
Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Josefina Bressan, Amanda Popolino Diniz, Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff, Adriano Marçal Pimenta, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, and Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro
Informa UK Limited
Abstract We aimed to evaluate the intake of dietary total polyphenols and their classes according to NOVA classification among adults of a Brazilian cohort study. This is a cross-sectional study, in which food consumption was assessed using an Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and polyphenol content (total and their classes) was estimated at Phenol-Explorer for each food category and presented as mean and 95% confidence interval. Adjusted linear regression was used to describe the trend of the association between the quintiles of polyphenols intake (dependent variable) and NOVA group of food consumption (independent variable). The higher consumption of fresh/minimally processed foods is accompanied by a higher intake of total polyphenols and all their classes, while the higher consumption of ultra-processed foods represented the lower intake of total polyphenols and their classes. Fresh foods are the greatest sources of polyphenols, and their daily consumption should be encouraged, while ultra-processed foods are deficient in such bioactive compounds. GRAPHICAL ABTSRACT

Total Polyphenol Intake, Polyphenol Subtypes, and Prevalence of Hypertension in the CUME Cohort
Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Josefina Bressan, Amanda Popolino Diniz, Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff, Adriano Marçal Pimenta, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, and Júlia Cristina Cardoso Carraro
Informa UK Limited
Objective:Epidemiological studies have shown associations between polyphenol consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess the association between polyphenol intake and the prevalence of hypertension.Methods:This cross-sectional study was performed on data from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME) project. Participants completed an online food frequency questionnaire, and polyphenol intake was assessed using the Phenol-Explorer database and articles. Hypertension was determined by a medical diagnosis, having a blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg/80 mmHg, or using antihypertensive drugs. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the prevalence of hypertension.Results:The prevalence of hypertension was 39.57%, and the average intake of total polyphenols was 860.79 mg/day. The highest (5th quintile) intake of flavonoids (mean: 368.46mg/day; OR: 0.83; 95%CI 0.70; 0.97), hydroxybenzoic acids (mean: 379.38mg/day; OR: 0.77; 95%CI: 0.66;0.91), and flavonols (mean: 44.13mg/day; OR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.67; 0.93) was inversely associated with hypertension prevalence, compared to the lowest intake (1st quintile).Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that the intake of flavonoids, hydroxybenzoic acids, and flavonols is associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension.

Effects of minimally and ultra-processed foods on blood pressure in Brazilian adults: A two-year follow up of the CUME Project
Katiusse Rezende-Alves, Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff, Aline Elizabeth da Silva Miranda, Josefina Bressan, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Fernando Luiz Pereira de Oliveira, and Adriano Marçal Pimenta
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Aim: To assess the association of food consumption according to degree of processing with changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in adult participants of a Brazilian cohort. Methods: Longitudinal study with 2496 adult participants of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME Project). Food consumption was categorized by food groups according to degree of processing following the NOVA grading system: unprocessed/minimally processed foods/culinary ingredients (U/MPF&CI), processed foods (PFs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). unprocessed/minimally processed foods/culinary ingredients (U/MPF&CI), processed foods (PFs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Changes in SBP and DBP were categorized (decreased, maintained, increased). Independent associations between exposure and outcomes were verified using multiple generalized ordered logistic models adjusted for potential confounders. Results: After a two-year follow-up, the consumption of U/MPF&CI (% daily caloric intake) reduced the chance of increasing DBP (P for trend = 0.014), with a more evident effect among participants within the 5th quintile of this food group (odds ratio (OR) = 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34–0.97]. On the other hand, the consumption of UPFs (% daily caloric intake) raised the chance of increasing DBP (P for trend = 0.005) and was more evident among participants within the quintiles of higher consumption (4th quintile – OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.25–3.10; 5th quintile – OR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.12–2.86). No associations were found between food consumption according to degree of processing and changes in SBP. Conclusion: Higher consumption of U/MPF&CI and UPFs were independently associated to lower and greater chances of increased DBP in adult participants from CUME Project.

Multiple health risk behaviors, including high consumption of ultra-processed foods and their implications for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Hillary Nascimento Coletro, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Adriana Lúcia Meireles, George Luiz Lins Machado-Coelho, and Mariana Carvalho de Menezes
Frontiers Media SA
Background and aimThe growing increase in diet- and behavior-related illnesses has drawn the attention of many epidemiologists who attribute such changes to the epidemiological and nutritional transition. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the association between the combined occurrence of health risk behaviors, such as sedentary lifestyles, high weekly consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and non-daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, and symptoms of anxiety or depression in adults.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study based on an epidemiological survey in two Brazilian cities. The outcome, anxiety, and depression symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Food consumption was assessed using a qualitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with reference to consumption in the last 3 months and categorized into the consumption of fruits and vegetables and the consumption of UPFs according to the NOVA classification. Sedentary behavior was assessed by considering the amount of sitting or reclining time per day reported by participants and categorized as less than 9 h of sitting or reclining and 9 h or more. For the analysis, adjusted Poisson regression (PR) was used to estimate the prevalence ratio and the 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsThose with the health risk behaviors, non-daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, and high consumption of UPFs had a 2.6 higher prevalence ratio for symptoms of mental disorder (PR: 2.6 and 95%CI: 1.1–6.5), as well as those with all three health risk behaviors, had a 2.8 higher prevalence ratio for symptoms of mental disorder (PR: 2.8 and 95%CI: 1.3–6.1).ConclusionThis study revealed that the existence of a combination of two and three health risk behaviors led to a higher prevalence of symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Correction to: The intake of flavonoids, stilbenes, and tyrosols, mainly consumed through red wine and virgin olive oil, is associated with lower carotid and femoral subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary calcium (European Journal of Nutrition, (2022), 61, 5, (2697-2709), 10.1007/s00394-022-02823-0)
Henry Montero-Salazar, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Martín Laclaustra, Belén Moreno-Franco, Agneta Åkesson, Pilar Guallar-Castillón, and Carolina Donat-Vargas
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Food insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression disorder during the COVID- 19 pandemic: COVID-Inconfidentes, a population-based survey
Thaís S. Sabião, Raquel D. Mendonça, Adriana L. Meireles, George L.L. Machado-Coelho, and Júlia C.C. Carraro
Elsevier BV

The intake of flavonoids, stilbenes, and tyrosols, mainly consumed through red wine and virgin olive oil, is associated with lower carotid and femoral subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary calcium
Henry Montero Salazar, Raquel de Deus Mendonça, Martín Laclaustra, Belén Moreno-Franco, Agneta Åkesson, Pilar Guallar-Castillón, and Carolina Donat-Vargas
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract Purpose It is suggested that polyphenols back the cardiovascular protection offered by the Mediterranean diet. This study evaluates the association of specific types of dietary polyphenols with prevalent subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged subjects. Methods Ultrasonography and TC were performed on 2318 men from the Aragon Workers Health Study, recruited between 2011 and 2014, to assess the presence of plaques in carotid and femoral arteries and coronary calcium. Polyphenol intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative 136-item food frequency questionnaire. The Phenol Explorer database was used to derive polyphenol class intake. Logistic and linear regressions were used to estimate the cross-sectional association of polyphenols intake with femoral and carotid subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary calcium. Results A higher intake of flavonoids (third vs. first tertile) was associated with a lower risk of both carotid (OR 0.80: CI 95% 0.62–1.02; P trend 0.094) and femoral (0.62: 0.48–0.80, P trend < 0.001) subclinical atherosclerosis. A higher intake of stilbenes was associated with a lower risk of femoral subclinical atherosclerosis (0.62: 0.46–0.83; P trend 0.009) and positive coronary calcium (0.75: 0.55–1.03; P trend 0.131). A higher intake of tyrosols was also associated with a lower risk of positive coronary calcium (0.80: 0.62–1.03; P trend 0.111). The associations remained similar when adjusted for blood lipids and blood pressure. Conclusion Dietary flavonoids, stilbenes, and tyrosols, whose main sources are red wine and virgin olive oil, are associated with lower prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged subjects.

Raquel de Deus Mendonca

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Scopus Publications