Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vascular Function, Aging, and the Impact of Diet

  • Chapter
Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

  • 323 Accesses

Abstract

Although aging and disease are often regarded as independent processes, they are intertwined. Customary age-related changes in the walls and endothelium of blood vessels progressively increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. The growing awareness of these relationships leads to potential opportunities to modify aging patterns and thereby better preserve youthful physiology and natural resistance to disease. Lifestyle changes, including diet, are among the preventive measures that can bring about better maintenance of health. In this overview, we discuss some of the mechanisms underlying vascular senescence and the related rationale for dietary modification. Both general dietary recommendations and several specific diet-related categories, including cholesterol, salt, dietary antioxidants, and nutrients involved in homocysteine metabolism, are reviewed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Hajdu MA, et al. Effects of aging on mechanics and composition of cerebral arterioles in rats. Circ Res 1990; 66: 1747–1754.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Safar M. Ageing and its effects on the cardiovascular system. Drugs 1990: 39 (suppl 1): 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Gerhard M, et al. Aging progressively impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation in forearm resistance vessels of humans. Hypertension 1996; 27: 849–853.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jacob JM, Dorheim MA, Grammas P. The effect of age and injury on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in facial motor neurons in F344 rats. Mech Ageing Dev 1999; 107: 205–218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Taddei S, et al. Age-related reduction of NO availability and oxidative stress in humans. Hypertension 2001; 38: 274–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Pugh KG, Wei JY. Clinical implications of physiological changes in the aging heart. Drugs Aging 2001; 18: 263–276.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lakatta E. Aging effects on the vasculature in health: risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Am J Geriatr Cardiol 1994; 3: 11–17.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zeiher AM, et al. Coronary atherosclerotic wall thickening and vascular reactivity in humans. Elevated high-density lipoprotein levels ameliorate abnormal vasoconstriction in early atherosclerosis. Circulation 1994; 89: 2525–2532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Robert L. Aging of the vascular-wall and atherosclerosis. Exp Gerontol 1999; 34: 491–501.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Reaven PD, et al. Lipoprotein modification and atherosclerosis in aging. Exp Gerontol 1999; 34: 527–537.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Orlandi A, Marcellini M, Spagnoli LG. Aging influences development and progression of early aortic atherosclerotic lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2000; 20: 1123–1136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wei JY. Age and the cardiovascular system. N Engl J Med 1992; 327: 1735–1739.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Karamanoglu M, et al. Functional origin of reflected pressure waves in a multibranched model of the human arterial system. Am J Physiol 1994; 267: H1681 - H1688.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Vaitkevicius PV, et al. Effects of age and aerobic capacity on arterial stiffness in healthy adults. Circulation 1993; 88: 1456–1462.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. O’Rourke MF. Mechanical principles. Arterial stiffness and wave reflection. Pathol Biol (Paris) 1999; 47: 623–633.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lakatta EG. Catecholamines and cardiovascular function in aging. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1987; 16: 877–891.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Colucci WS. The effects of norepinephrine on myocardial biology: implications for the therapy of heart failure. Clin Cardiol 1998; 21 (12 suppl 1): I20–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Singh K, et al. Adrenergic regulation of myocardial apoptosis. Cardiovasc Res 2000; 45: 713–719.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Applegate WB. Systolic hypertension in older persons. Adv Intern Med 1992; 37: 37–54.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Staessen J, Fagard R, Amery A. Isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly: implications of Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) for clinical practice and for the ongoing trials. J Hum Hypertens 1991; 5: 469–474.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Nagai Y, et al. Increased carotid artery intimal-medial thickness in asymptomatic older subjects with exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. Circulation 1998; 98: 1504–1509.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Laurent S, et al. Arterial compliance is not diminished in hypertensive patients when compared at the same level of blood pressure. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 1994; 87: 1069–1072.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Laurent S, et al. Carotid artery distensibility and distending pressure in hypertensive humans. Hypertension 1994; 23: 878–883.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Laurent S. Arterial wall hypertrophy and stiffness in essential hypertensive patients. Hypertension 1995; 26: 355–362.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Celermajer DS, et al. Aging is associated with endothelial dysfunction in healthy men years before the age-related decline in women. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994; 24: 471–476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sorensen KE, et al. Impairment of endothelium-dependent dilation is an early event in children with familial hypercholesterolemia and is related to the lipoprotein(a) level. J Clin Invest 1994; 93: 50–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Muntinga JH, et al. Age-related differences in elastic properties of the upper arm vascular bed in healthy adults. J Vasc Res 1997; 34: 137–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Position of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition, aging, and the continuum of care. J Am Diet Assoc 2000;100:580–595.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kumanyika S. Validating dietary guidance. J Am Coll Nutr 1995; 14: 215–216.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Marshall TA, et al. Inadequate nutrient intakes are common and are associated with low diet variety in rural, community-dwelling elderly. J Nutr 2001; 131: 2192–2196.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Lee J, Frongillo E. Nutritional and health consequences are asocated with food insecurity among US elderly persons. J Nutr 2001; 131: 1503–1509.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Cid-Ruzafa J, et al. Nutrition intakes and adequacy among an older population on the eastern shore of Maryland: the Salisbury eye evaluation. J Am Diet Assoc 1999; 99: 564–571.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Posner BM, et al. Nutritional risk in New England elders. J Gerontol 1994; 49: M123 - M132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Grove NC, Spier BE. Motivating the well elderly to exercise. J Comm Health Nurs 1999; 16: 179–189.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Johnson RK, Kennedy E. The 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: what are the changes and why were they made? The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. J Am Diet Assoc 2000; 100: 769–774.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. The Food Guide Pyramid, In: Home and Garden Bull. US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Expert Committee of Nutrition and Health for Older Americans. The Nutrition and Health Campaign for Older Americans Toolkit. American Dietetic Association, Chicago, IL, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Nestle M. Mediterranean diets: science and policy implications. Am J Clin Nutrition 1995; 61: 6S.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Willet W. Diet and Health: What should we eat? Science 1994; 264: 532–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Lorgeril MD, et al. Mediterranean diet, traditional risk factors, and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction: final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study. Circulation 1999; 99: 779–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Healthy People 2010. US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, 1999. http://web.health.gov/healthypeople.

  42. StampferMJ, Willett WC. Homocysteine and marginal vitamin deficiency. The importance of adequate vitamin intake. JAMA 1993; 270: 2726–2727.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Vitamin preparations as dietary supplements and as therapeutic agents. Council on Scientific Affairs. JAMA 1987; 257: 1929–1936.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Nutrition recommendations and principles for people with diabetes mellitus. American Diabetes Association. Tenn Med 2000; 93: 430–433.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Das SK, et al. An underfeeding study in healthy men and women provides further evidence of impaired regulation of energy expenditure in old age. J Nutr 2001; 131: 1833–1838.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Wood RJ, Suter PM, Russell RM. Mineral requirements of elderly people. Am J Clin Nutr 1995; 62: 493–505.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Blumberg, J., Nutritional needs of seniors. J Am Coll Nutr 1997; 16: 517–523.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Monsen ER. The 10th edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances: what’s new in the 1989 RDAs? J Am Diet Assoc 1989; 89: 1748–1752.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Food and nutrition board, National Academy of Sciences, Recommended Dietary Allowances, 10 ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Yates AA. Process and development of dietary reference intakes: basis, need, and application of recommended dietary allowances. Nutr Rev 1998; 56: 55 - S9.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Yates AA. Overview of key nutrients: energy and macronutrient aspects. Nutr Rev 1998; 56: S29 - S33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride, in Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B 12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline, in Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  54. McCabe B, Dorey J. Health promotion and disease prevention in the elderly, In: Geriatric Nutrition. Chernoff R (ed.), Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, MD, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Millen B, Levine E. A continuum of nutrition services for older Americans, In: Geriatric Nutrition: A Health Professional’ s Handbook, Chernoff R (ed.), Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, MD, 1999, pp. 435–467.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Nutrition Screening Initiative. Report of Nutrition Screening 1. Toward a Common View. NSI, Washington, DC, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Liberalized diets for older adults in long-term care Position of ADA. J Am Diet Assoc 1998; 98: 201–204.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Tripp F. The use of dietary supplements in the elderly: current issues and recommendations. J Am Diet Assoc 1997; 97 (10 Suppl 2): 5181–5183.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Mokdad AH, et al. The spread of the obesity epidemic in the United States, 1991–1998. JAMA 1999; 282: 1519–1522.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Must A, Strauss RS. Risks and consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999;23(Supp1)2:S2–S11.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Jensen GL, Rogers J. Obesity in older persons. J Am Diet Assoc 1998; 98: 1308–1311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Expert Panel on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Executive summary of the clinical guidelines of the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. J Am Diet Assoc 1998; 98: 1178–1191.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Sundquist J, Winkleby MA, Pudaric S. Cardiovascular disease risk factors among older black, Mexican-American, and white women and men: an analysis of NHANES III, 1988–1994. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Am Geriatr Soc 2001; 49: 109–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Zimetbaum P, et al. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins and the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the very elderly. The Bronx Aging Study. Arterioscler Thromb 1992; 12: 416–423.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Frost PH, et al. Serum lipids and incidence of coronary heart disease. Findings from the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Circulation 1996; 94: 2381–2388.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Corti MC, et al. HDL cholesterol predicts coronary heart disease mortality in older persons. JAMA 1995; 274: 539–544.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Kronmal RA, et al. Total serum cholesterol levels and mortality risk as a function of age. A report based on the Framingham data. Arch Intern Med 1993; 153: 1065–1073.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Krumholz HM, et al. Lack of association between cholesterol and coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity and all-cause mortality in persons older than 70 years. JAMA 1994; 272: 1335–1340.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Schatz IJ, et al. Cholesterol and all-cause mortality in elderly people from the Honolulu Heart Program: a cohort study. Lancet 2001; 358: 351–355.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Corti MC, et al. Clarifying the direct relation between total cholesterol levels and death from coronary heart disease in older persons. Ann Intern Med 1997; 126: 753–760.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Grundy SM, et al. Cholesterol lowering in the elderly population. Coordinating Committee of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Arch Intern Med 1999; 159: 1670–1678.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Manolio TA, et al. Cholesterol and heart disease in older persons and women. Review of an NHLBI workshop. Ann Epidemiol 1992; 2: 161–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Brown BG, et al. Lipid lowering and plaque regression. New insights into prevention of plaque disruption and clinical events in coronary disease. Circulation 1993; 87: 1781–1791.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Randomised trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Lancet 1994;344:1383–1389.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Miettinen TA, et al. Cholesterol-lowering therapy in women and elderly patients with myocardial infarction or angina pectoris: findings from the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Circulation 1997; 96: 4211–4218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Sacks FM, et al. The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocardial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial investigators. N Engl J Med 1996; 335: 1001–1009.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Lewis SJ, et al. Effect of pravastatin on cardiovascular events in older patients with myocardial infarction and cholesterol levels in the average range. Results of the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) trial. Ann Intern Med 1998; 129: 681–689.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Prevention of cardiovascular events and death with pravastatin in patients with coronary heart disease and a broad range of initial cholesterol levels. The Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) Study Group. N Engl J Med 1998; 339: 1349–1357.

    Google Scholar 

  79. Hunt D, et al. Benefits of pravastatin on cardiovascular events and mortality in older patients with coronary heart disease are equal to or exceed those seen in younger patients: Results from the LIPID trial. Ann Intern Med 2001; 134: 931–940.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Shepherd J, Blauw GJ, Murphy MB, et al. on behalf of the PROSPER study group. Pravastatin in elderly individuals at risk of vascular disease (PROSPER): a randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2002; 360: 1623–1630.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Shepherd J, et al. Prevention of coronary heart disease with pravastatin in men with hypercholesterolemia. West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Group. N Engl J Med 1995; 333: 1301–1307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Downs JR, et al. Primary prevention of acute coronary events with lovastatin in men and women with average cholesterol levels: results of AFCAPS/TexCAPS. Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study. JAMA 1998; 279: 1615–1622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Schartl M, et al. Use of intravascular ultrasound to compare effects of different strategies of lipid-lowering therapy on plaque volume and composition in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation 2001; 104: 387–392.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  84. Treasure CB, et al. Beneficial effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy on the coronary endothelium in patients with coronary artery disease. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 481–487.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Anderson TJ, et al. The effect of cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant therapy on endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 488–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Hebert PR, et al. Cholesterol lowering with statin drugs, risk of stroke, and total mortality. An overview of randomized trials. JAMA 1997; 278: 313–321.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Sacco RL, et al. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and ischemic stroke in the elderly: the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study. JAMA 2001; 285: 2729–2735.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Simons M, et al. Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease: is there a link? Neurology 2001; 57: 1089–1093.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Scott HD, Laake K. Statins for the reduction of risk of Alzheimer’ s disease ( Cochrane Review ). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001: 3.

    Google Scholar 

  90. Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA 2001; 285: 2486–2497.

    Google Scholar 

  91. Krauss RM, et al. AHA Dietary Guidelines: revision 2000: A statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association. Circulation 2000; 102: 2284–2299.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Service HNI. US Department of Health and Human Services, Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, US Department of Agriculture, Hyattsville, MD, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  93. Sutton-Tyrrell K, et al. Aortic stiffness is associated with visceral adiposity in older adults enrolled in the study of health, aging, and body composition. Hypertension 2001; 38: 429–433.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  94. Appel LJ, et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 1997; 336: 1117–1124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Hebert PR, et al. Recent evidence on drug therapy of mild to moderate hypertension and decreased risk of coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med 1993; 153: 578–581.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  96. Whelton PK, et al, Sodium reduction and weight loss in the treatment of hypertension in older persons: a randomized controlled trial of nonpharmacologic interventions in the elderly (TONE). TONE Collaborative Research Group. JAMA 1998; 279: 839–846.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Avolio AP, et al. Effects of aging on arterial distensibility in populations with high and low prevalence of hypertension: comparison between urban and rural communities in China. Circulation 1985; 71: 202–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  98. Khaw KT, Barrett-Connor E. Dietary potassium and blood pressure in a population. Am J Clin Nutr 1984; 39: 963–968.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Fujiwara N, et al. Study on the relationship between plasma nitrite and nitrate level and salt sensitivity in human hypertension: modulation of nitric oxide synthesis by salt intake. Circulation 2000; 101: 856–861.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Cubeddu LX, et al. Nitric oxide and salt sensitivity. Am J Hypertens 2000; 13: 973–979.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  101. The sixth report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure. Arch Intern Med 1997; 157: 2413–2446.

    Google Scholar 

  102. Alderman MH, et al., Association of the renin-sodium profile with the risk of myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension. N Engl J Med 1991; 324: 1098–1104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  103. Poulter NR. Dietary sodium intake and mortality: NHANES. The Faculty 31st International Society and Federation of Cardiology 10-day Teaching Seminar in Cardiovascular Disease, Epidemiology and Prevention. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Lancet 1998; 352: 987–988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  104. He J, et al. Dietary sodium intake and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease in overweight adults. JAMA 1999; 282: 2027–2034.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  105. B ertino M, Beauchamp GK, Engelman K. Long-term reduction in dietary sodium alters the taste of salt. Am J Clin Nutr 1982; 36: 1134–1144.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  106. Stamler J. Dietary salt and blood pressure. Ann NY Acad Sci 1993; 676: 122–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  107. Cutler JA. Progress in life-style intervention for prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. Ann Epidemiol 1995; 5: 165–167.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  108. Hennekens CH, et al. Antioxidant vitamin-cardiovascular disease hypothesis is still promising, but still unproven: the need for randomized trials. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;62(suppl 6):1377S–138OS.

    Google Scholar 

  109. Freedman JE. Antioxidant versus lipid-altering therapy some answers, more questions. N Engl J Med 2001; 345: 1636–1637.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  110. Tribble DL. AHA Science Advisory. Antioxidant consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: emphasison vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene: A statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association. Circulation 1999; 99: 591–595.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  111. Stampfer MJ, Malinow MR. Can lowering homocysteine levels reduce cardiovascular risk? N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 328–329.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  112. Malinow M, Boston A, Krauss R. Homocyst(e)ine, diet, and cardiovascular disease: A statement for healthcare professionals from the nutrition committee, American Heart Association. Circulation 1999; 99: 178–182.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  113. Koehler KM, et al. Association of folate intake and serum homocysteine in elderly persons according to vitamin supplementation and alcohol use. Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 73: 628–637.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  114. Verhoef P, Stampfer MJ, Rimm EB. Folate and coronary heart disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 1998; 9: 17–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  115. Selhub J, et al. Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA 1993; 270: 2693–2698.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  116. Koehler KM, et al. Some vitamin sources relating to plasma homocysteine provide not only folate but also vitamins B-12 and B-6. J Nutr 1997; 127: 1534–1536.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  117. Selhub J, et al. Assocation between homocysteine concentrations and extracranial carotid-artery steno-sis. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 286–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  118. Boushey CJ, et al. A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. Probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA 1995; 274: 1049–1057.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  119. Jacques PF, et al. The effect of folic acid fortification on plasma folate and total homocysteine concentrations. N Engl J Med 1999; 340: 1449–1454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  120. Holven KB, et al. Effect of folic acid treatment on endothelium-dependent vasodilation and nitric oxide-derived end products in hyperhomocysteinemic subjects. Am J Med 2001; 110: 536–542.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  121. Fraser GE. Diet and coronary heart disease: beyond dietary fats and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr 1994; 59 (suppl 5): 11175–11235.

    Google Scholar 

  122. Weinberger MH, et al. Salt sensitivity, pulse pressure, and death in normal and hypertensive humans. Hypertension 2001; 37: 429–432.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  123. Franklin SS. Cardiovascular risks related to increased diastolic, systolic and pulse pressure. An epidemiologist’s point of view. Pathol Biol (Paris) 1999; 47: 594–603.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  124. O’Leary DH, et al. Thickening of the carotid wall. A marker for atherosclerosis in the elderly? Cardiovascular Health Study Collaborative Research Group. Stroke 1996; 27: 224–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  125. Ferneres J, et al. Carotid intima-media thickness and coronary heart disease risk factors in a low-risk population. J Hypertens 1999; 17: 743–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  126. Safar ME, et al. Stiffness of carotid artery wall material and blood pressure in humans: application to antihypertensive therapy and stroke prevention. Stroke 2000; 31: 782–790.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Daniel E. Forman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paula A. Quatromoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giulia L. Sheftel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Durham VA Medical Center and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Connie Watkins Bales PhD, RD, FACN

  2. Louisville VA Medical Center and University of Louisville Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Louisville, KY, USA

    Christine Seel Ritchie MD, MSPH

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Forman, D.E., Quatromoni, P.A., Sheftel, G.L. (2004). Vascular Function, Aging, and the Impact of Diet. In: Bales, C.W., Ritchie, C.S. (eds) Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-391-0_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-391-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-5355-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-391-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation