Project Number: 1950-51530-007-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Oct 01, 2006
End Date: Sep 30, 2011

Objective:
LAB:Nutritional Epidemiology Determine, using epidemiologic approaches, the independent influence of different aspects of nutrition on the prevention of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and CVD. Test with epidemiologic methods whether age-related cataract and maculopathy can be prevented or delayed with higher intake of antioxidant nutrients, healthier dietary patterns and higher intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Examine the effect of homocysteine lowering with B vitamin therapy on change in cognitive function. Identify the causes and consequences of mild hyperhomocysteinemia to test whether 1) homocysteine, nutrients, and genetic mutations related to one-carbon metabolism affect risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia; 2) homocysteine and vitamin B12 levels have a high degree of heritability; and 3) homocysteine concentrations of adult offspring can predict risk of CVD and dementia in their parents. Measure the amount of folic acid in enriched grain products to determine the amount provided by fortification and assess the safety by examining the relation of folic acid intake to a) circulating unmetabolized folic acid, b) vitamin B12 status, and c) cognitive function. Assess the prevalence of high vitamin E levels and examine the use of vitamin E supplements is associated with risk of CVD to exmine the hypothesis that vitamin E supplements are associated with a reduced incidence of CVD among individuals free of CVD and diabetes, but CVD events, including death, is not associated with vitamin E supplement use among individuals with existing CVD or diabetes. Develop an index to assess adherence to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and test the hypothesis that adherence to the Dietary Guidelines is associated with less age-related chronic disease. Examine the role of diet, starting with both data-defined and policy-based dietary patterns and working from foods to nutrients, in development of cardiovascular diseases using intermediate markers of CVD risk including brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Using an epidemiologic approach, investigate the role of whole grains, selected nutrients, other bioactive food components, and healthy dietary patterns in preventing the development of age-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, cancer and musculoskeletal disorders.

Approach:
LAB:Nutritional Epidemiology Development of public health nutrition guidelines and interventions to reduce economic and societal costs associated with age-related disabilities and premature death from chronic disease requires a greater understanding of the presumptive role that nutrition plays in delaying the development of these conditions. This project will focus on two major two overall goals to address these issues: 1) to identify environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors that influence the nutritional status and requirements of the elderly, and 2) to determine the role of nutritional status in healthy aging and the development of chronic disease and age-related impairments such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cataract, and maculopathy. These goals will be achieved through the application of epidemiological methods and community-based investigation of aging population samples. Our approach will provide knowledge on the role of nutrition in preventing a number of age-related disabilities that can be readily applied to the development of nutrition guidelines and interventions.