To assess possible differences in plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C, VLDLC, Index of arteriosclerosis and Established risk factor for arteriosclerosis and 10 year risk of coronary disease between veterans with combat experience with PTSD and veterans with combat experience without PTSD. To compare and analyze differences between groups in socio-demographic characteristics, trauma exposure, coping strategies and quality of life.

Plasma lipid parameters were determined and risk factors calculated for 50 subjects in the PTSD group and 50 subjects in the non-PTSD group. Groups were homogenized in gender, age, BMI, smoking status and somatic or psychiatric co-morbid disorders or the use of medications influencing blood lipid levels. Trauma exposure, coping strategies and quality of life were assessed with referenced psychometric instruments, socio-demographic characteristics with use of questionnaire.

Subjects in the PTSD group had significantly higher levels of all plasma lipid parameters except for HDL-C that was significantly lower. Risk factors were significantly higher in PTSD group. There was no significant difference in indices of exposure to combat trauma. Secondary traumatization was significantly more frequent in PTSD group. There were significant differences in socio-economic parameters, quality of life assessment and repertoire of coping strategies.

The results of this study provide further evidence for the onnection of chronic PTSD and blood lipids abnormalities and cardiovascular risk factors. The results indicate the importance of posttraumatic environment factors and coping strategies for the occurrence and persistence of PTSD.

To compare cardiovascular risk factors between vegetarians and non-vegetarians in black individuals living in the USA.

A cross-sectional analysis of a sub-set of 592 black women and men enrolled in the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2) cohort of Seventh-day Adventists.

Members of the AHS-2 cohort, who lived in all states of the USA and provinces of Canada.

Black/African-American members of two sub-studies of AHS-2 where blood and physiological measurements were obtained.

Of these women and men, 25 % were either vegan or lacto-ovo-vegetarians (labelled ‘vegetarian/vegans’), 13 % were pesco-vegetarian and 62 % were non-vegetarian. Compared with non-vegetarians, the vegetarian/vegans had odds ratios for hypertension, diabetes, high blood total cholesterol and high blood LDL-cholesterol of 0·56 (95 % CI 0·36, 0·87), 0·48 (95 % CI 0·24, 0·98), 0·42 (95 % CI 0·27, 0·65) and 0·54 (95 % CI 0·33, 0·89), respectively, when adjusted for age, gender, education, physical activity and sub-study. Corresponding odds ratios for obesity in vegetarian/vegans and pesco-vegetarians, compared with non-vegetarians, were 0·43 (95 % CI 0·28, 0·67) and 0·47 (95 % CI 0·27, 0·81), respectively; and for abdominal obesity 0·54 (95 % CI 0·36, 0·82) and 0·50 (95 % CI 0·29, 0·84), respectively. Results for pesco-vegetarians did not differ significantly from those of non-vegetarians for other variables. Further adjustment for BMI suggested that BMI acts as an intermediary variable between diet and both hypertension and diabetes.

As with non-blacks, these results suggest that there are sizeable advantages to a vegetarian diet in black individuals also, although a cross-sectional analysis cannot conclusively establish cause.

To evaluate the relationship between dietary diversity score (DDS) and cardiovascular risk factors in Tehranian adults.

In this population-based cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 581 subjects (295 males and 286 females) aged over 18 years, residents of Tehran, participated. Hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose concentration ≥ 126 mg dl−1 or 2-h post challenge glucose concentration ≥ 200 mg dl−1. Hypertension was defined on the basis of the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Dietary diversity was defined according to the Diet Quality Index revised.

Mean (±standard deviation) DDS was 6.15 ± 1.02. The probability of having diabetes (odds ratio (OR) among quartiles: 1.45, 1.26, 1.11 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.04) and hypertriglyceridaemia (OR = 1.41, 1.23, 1.05 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.04) decreased with increasing quartile of the diversity score for whole grains. The probability of having obesity (OR among quartiles: 1.39, 1.06, 1.03 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.03), hypercholesterolaemia (OR = 1.46, 1.28, 1.11 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.03), hypertension (OR = 1.32, 1.17, 1.13 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.03) and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR = 1.25, 1.12, 1.07 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.04) decreased with increasing quartile of the diversity score for vegetables. The probability of having hypercholesterolaemia, high LDL-C, hypertension and diabetes decreased with quartile of the DDS. But the probability of being obese increased with quartile of the DDS (P for trend = 0.03).

DDS was inversely associated with cardiovascular risk factors in this cross-sectional study. Increased diversity scores of diets, to increase the variety score for vegetables, may be emphasised in programmes attempting to bring about changes in lifestyle.