Skipping breakfast hardens the arteries

According to latest research, skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, or the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to a build-up of plaque. Eating a healthy breakfast makes heart healthy, improves healthier weight and cholesterol while skipping breakfast can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

 Researchers examined male and female volunteers who were free from cardiovascular or chronic kidney disease. A computerized questionnaire was used to estimate the usual diet of the participants, and breakfast patterns were based on the percentage of total daily energy intake consumed at breakfast.

Some participants consumed less than five percent of their total energy intake in the morning- skipped breakfast and only had coffee, juice or other non-alcoholic beverages); some consumed more than 20 percent of their total energy intake in the morning (breakfast consumers); and those consuming between five and 20 percent (low-energy breakfast consumers).

Atherosclerosis was observed more frequently among participants who skipped breakfast and was also higher in participants who consumed low-energy breakfasts compared to breakfast consumers.

Cardiometabolic risk markers were more prevalent in those who skipped breakfast and low-energy breakfast consumers compared to breakfast consumers. Participants who skipped breakfast had the greatest waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids and fasting glucose levels.

Participants who skipped breakfast were more likely to have an overall unhealthy lifestyle, including poor overall diet, frequent alcohol consumption and smoking. They may be hypertensive and obese. Breakfast skippers are generally attempting to lose weight, they often eat more unhealthy foods. Skipping breakfast can cause hormonal imbalances and alter circadian rhythms.
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Diabetes and heart disease are related

Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, CHD Researchers examined the
genome sequence information of some people and discovered 16 new diabetes genetic risk factors, and one new CHD genetic risk factor; showing that the two diseases are related.

They discovered that sites on the genome associated with higher diabetes risk are also associated with higher CHD risk. For eight of these sites, the researchers were able to identify a specific gene variant that influences risk for both diseases.

The shared genetic risk factors affect biological pathways including immunity, cell proliferation, and heart development. Identifying these gene variants linked to both type 2 diabetes and CHD risk in principle opens up opportunities to reduce the risk of both diseases.

The genetic link between the diseases appears to work in one direction, so that risk genes for type 2 diabetes are much more likely to be associated with higher CHD risk than the other way around. Additionally, there could be some pathways where pharmacological lowering of one disease increases the risk of the other.

The researchers also found that diabetes-linked gene variants tend to differ in their apparent effects on CHD risk, depending on their mechanisms. Variants that increase the chance of obesity or high blood pressure, for example, appear to boost CHD risk more strongly than variants that alter insulin or glucose levels.

They discovered that the genomic regions implicated as dual diabetes-CHD risk loci encompass targets of some existing drugs. One such drug is icosapent, an omega-3 fatty acid component of some fish oils, which lowers cholesterol and is sold in concentrated form as a prescription pharmaceutical.
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