Nutrition, environment and cardiovascular health (NESCAV): protocol of an inter-regional cross-sectional study.

in BMC Public Health (2010), 10(1), 698

BACKGROUND: Despite the remarkable technological progress in health care and treatment, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of premature death, prolonged hospitalization and disability in ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Despite the remarkable technological progress in health care and treatment, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of premature death, prolonged hospitalization and disability in most European countries. In the population of the Greater Region (Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Wallonia in Belgium, and Lorraine in France), the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and disease is among the highest in Europe, warranting the need for a better understanding of factors contributing to this pattern. In this context, the cross-border "Nutrition, Environment and Cardiovascular Health-NESCAV" project is initiated by an inter-regional multi-disciplinary consortium and supported by the INTERREG IV A program "Greater Region", 2007-2013, to fight synergically and harmoniously against this major public health problem. METHODS/DESIGN: The objectives of the three-year planned project are to assess, in a representative sample of 3000 randomly selected individuals living at the Greater Region, 1) the cardiovascular health and risk profile, 2) the association between the dietary habits and the cardiovascular risk, 3) the association of occupational and environmental pollution markers with the cardiovascular risk, 4) the knowledge, awareness and level of control of cardiovascular risk factors, 5) the potential gaps in the current primary prevention, and finally, to address evidence-based recommendations enabling the development of inter-regional guidance to help policy-makers and health care workers for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. DISCUSSION: The findings will provide tools that may enable the Greater Region's decision-makers and health professionals to implement targeted and cost-effective prevention strategies. [less ▲]

L'excès pondéral et l'obésité chez l'enfant, un défi pour la santé publique

in Enfant et nutrition. Guide à l'usage des professionnels. (2009)

Glance on preliminary nutritional data ORISCAV-LUX Survey

Conference (2009)

Alcohol consumption and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

in Atherosclerosis (2009), 204(2), 624-35

BACKGROUND: In the past two decades, the metabolic syndrome has given rise to much clinical and research interest. The broad overlap of alcohol consumption with different components of metabolic syndrome ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: In the past two decades, the metabolic syndrome has given rise to much clinical and research interest. The broad overlap of alcohol consumption with different components of metabolic syndrome makes alcohol-metabolic syndrome relationship a controversial topic. OBJECTIVES: To support the evidence available about the relationship between alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome as a comprehensive clinical entity, as well as to identify the gender-specific dose-response, by performing a meta-analysis based on information from published data. METHODS: Manual and computer searches in different bibliographic databases were performed to identify the relevant scientific publications, on the relation between alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome. Alcohol intake was converted into a same unit (g/day) and then categorized using standard classification in order to provide relevant comparisons. Fixed and random effects models were used to aggregate individual odds ratios and to derive pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Fourteen relevant publications were identified on the relation between alcohol consumption and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. 7 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that alcohol consumption of less than 40 g/day in men and 20 g/day in women significantly reduced the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: "Responsible alcohol intake" appears to be associated with a reduced prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Favorable metabolic effect seemed to be restricted to alcohol consumption of less than 20 g/day among women, and of less than 40 g/day among men. These findings support the actual recommendations regarding alcohol consumption among apparently healthy people. [less ▲]

Etude préparatoire à la mise en place d’un système d’information sanitaire en Communauté française et en Région wallonne, Rapport de recherche 2008

Report (2008)

Evaluation du programme organisé de dépistage du cancer du sein chez les femmes âgées de 50 à 69 ans de la province de Luxembourg. Données 2002 à 2006

Report (2007)

Formation de base en nutrition pour les PME - Phase pilote - Projet Cluster Nutrition

Report (2005)

L'excès pondéral et l'obésité chez l'enfant

in ONE (Ed.) Prévention et petite enfance : guide de médecine préventive du nourrisson et du jeune enfant (2004)

Conception d'un support télématique à la mise en place du programme de dépistage du cancer du sein.

Poster (2003)

Differences in associations of familial and nutritional factors with serum lipids between boys and girls: the Luxembourg Child Study.

in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000), 72(2), 384-8

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in the effects of genetic and environmental factors on circulating lipids have been examined mainly in adults, in whom the influences of sex steroid hormones are well known ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in the effects of genetic and environmental factors on circulating lipids have been examined mainly in adults, in whom the influences of sex steroid hormones are well known. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the effect of sex on genetic and environmental influences on serum lipids in prepubertal boys and girls. DESIGN: Children aged 6-8, 8-10, and 10-12 y (n = 1028) were selected at random in the Belgian province of Luxembourg, a region in Europe with a high prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Blood glucose and serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and insulin concentrations were measured, and anthropometric data and blood pressure were recorded. Familial data were obtained from standardized questionnaires. Nutritional status was obtained from a 3-d record. Participation was 70.3% of the primary cohort. RESULTS: Cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and insulin values were among the highest recorded in studies of children. In girls, cholesterol correlated positively with the energy density of intake of saturated fat (r = 0.13, P = 0.001), cholesterol (r = 0.11, P = 0.006), and protein (r = 0.12, P = 0.007) and negatively with the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat intake (r = -0.14, P = 0.001) and the energy density of carbohydrate intake (r = -0.11, P = 0.019). In boys, no such relations were found. Triacylglycerol was not significantly related to nutritional factors. Consistent, independent relations were found between reported elevated cholesterol concentrations in the parental and grandparental generation and cholesterol (r = 0.101, P = 0.011) and triacylglycerol (r = 0.09, P = 0.03) in boys. No such associations were found in girls. CONCLUSION: Environmental and genetic factors may have different effects on serum cholesterol in girls and boys. [less ▲]