Associations of the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet with cardiac remodeling in the community: the Framingham Heart Study

Authors: WALKER, MAURA - Boston University; O'DONNELL, ADRIENNE - Boston University; HIMALI, JAYANDRA - Boston University; RAJENDRAN, INIYA - Boston University; VAN LENT, DEBORA - University Of Texas; ATAKLTE, FEVEN - Boston University; JACQUES, PAUL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; BEISER, ALEXA - Boston University; SESHADRI, SUDHA - Boston University; VASAN, RAMACHANDRAN - Boston University; XANTHAKIS, VANESSA - Boston University

Submitted to: British Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2021
Publication Date: 2/23/2021
Citation: Walker, M.E., O'Donnell, A.A., Himali, J.J., Rajendran, I., van Lent, D.M., Ataklte, F., Jacques, P.F., Beiser, A.S., Seshadri, S., Vasan, R.S., Xanthakis, V. 2021. Associations of the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet with cardiac remodeling in the community: the Framingham Heart Study. British Journal of Nutrition. 126(12):1888-1896. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114521000660.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114521000660

Interpretive Summary: Previous research suggests that two healthier dietary patterns, the Mediterranean (Med) diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets may be associated with better function of the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to vital body organs. The MIND diet is based on components of both the Med and DASH diets but further emphasizes foods that may benefit neurocognitive health. Using echocardiogram, we examined various indices of heart structure and function to examine whether the MIND diet is associated with better cardiac health. Our results suggested that the relationship between adherence to a MIND diet and heart health were not straightforward and differed among different indices of cardiac function and structure. Future research is needed to better understand the association between the MIND diet and cardiac health.

Technical Abstract: Normal cardiac function is directly associated with the maintenance of cerebrovascular health. Whether the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, designed for the maintenance of neurocognitive health, is associated with cardiac remodelling is unknown. We evaluated 2512 Framingham Offspring Cohort participants who attended the eighth examination cycle and had available dietary and echocardiographic data (mean age 66 years; 55 % women). Using multivariable regression, we related the cumulative MIND diet score (independent variable) to left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, left atrial emptying fraction, LV mass (LVM), E/e' ratio (dependent variables; primary), global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain (GCS), mitral annular plane systolic excursion, longitudinal segmental synchrony, LV hypertrophy and aortic root diameter (secondary). Adjusting for age, sex and energy intake, higher cumulative MIND diet scores were associated with lower values of indices of LV diastolic (E/e' ratio: logB = -0.03) and systolic function (GCS: B = -0.04) and with higher values of LVM (logB = 0.02), all P <= 0.01. We observed effect modification by age in the association between the cumulative MIND diet score and GCS. When we further adjusted for clinical risk factors, the associations of the cumulative MIND diet score with GCS in participants >=66 years (B = -0.06, P = 0.005) and LVM remained significant. In our community-based sample, relations between the cumulative MIND diet score and cardiac remodelling differ among indices of LV structure and function. Our results suggest that favourable associations between a higher cumulative MIND diet score and indices of LV function may be influenced by cardiometabolic and lifestyle risk factors.