Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition
Research group
Group Leader
Montserrat Fitó Colomer
The Mediterranean diet, its foods and the interaction of its nutrients, have healthy effects on morbidity and mortality related to chronic degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. In this context, the main objective of our research is to determine the benefit of a healthy diet pattern and some characteristic foods (including olive oil and wine) on different cardiovascular risk factors. We also focus on lifestyle habits including diet and physical activity on obesity (both in children and adults), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The health effects of bariatric surgery are also among our aims.
Based on the knowledge of underlying mechanisms beyond the diet benefits, progress is being made in research of the classical and emerging risk factors for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. One of our main research lines is focused on HDL- and ApoB-containing particles. Firstly, it is becoming increasingly more accepted that the biological functions of HDL are more indicative of the cardioprotective role of these particles than the quantity of HDL cholesterol. Reduced values of the most relevant HDL function (its ability to pick up cholesterol from peripheral cells, the cholesterol efflux) have been shown to be linked to a high risk of sub-clinical atherosclerosis and high incidence of coronary events. Our group was the first to report the protective effect of a healthy dietary pattern (a Mediterranean Diet enriched in virgin olive oil) and real-life doses of virgin olive oil on HDL functions (Hernáez A et al., Circulation 2017). Secondly, we are also interested in the residual risk factor linked to the atherogenicity of ApopB-containing particles such as LDL and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.
Members
David Benaiges Boix (Researcher)
Olga Castañer Niño (Researcher)
Juan José Chillarón Jordán (Researcher)
Juana Antonia Flores Le Roux (Researcher)
Albert Goday Arno (Researcher)
Gemma Llauradó Cabot (Researcher)
Helmut Schröder (Researcher)
Montserrat Villatoro Moreno (Researcher)
Albert Sanllorente Melenchón (PhD Student)
Dolors Muns Cornellas (Technician)
Daniel Muñoz Aguayo (Technician)
Karla Alejandra Pérez Vega (Technician)
María Dolores Zomeño Fajardo (Technician)
Anna Maria Blasco Lapuente (Research Assistant)
Main Publications
• Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvadó J, Covas MI, Corella D, Arós F, Gómez-Gracia E, Ruiz-Gutiérrez V, Fiol M, Lapetra J, Lamuela-Raventós RM, Serra-Majem L, Pintó X, Basora J, Muñoz MA, Sorlí JV, Martínez JA, Fitó M, Gea A, Hernán MA, Martínez-González MA, PREDIMED Study Investigators. Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts. New Engl J Med 2018; 378(25): e34. IF 79.258. D1.
• Schröder H, Cárdenas-Fuentes G, Martínez-González MA, Corella D, Vioque J, Romaguera D, Alfredo Martínez J, Tinahones FJ, López-Miranda J, Estruch R, et al. Effectiveness of the physical activity intervention program in the PREDIMED-Plus study: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2018; 15(1): 110. IF 5.548. D1.
• Pedro-Botet J, Benaiges D. Neurotensin and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Beyond Obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2018; 26(2): 251. IF 4.042. Q1.
• Climent E, Benaiges D, Flores JA, Ramón-Moros JM, Pedro-Botet J, Goday A. Changes in the lipid profile 5 years after bariatric surgery: laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2018; 14(8): 1099-1105. IF 3.9. D1.
• Goday A, Castañer O, Benaiges D, Busquets-Pou A, Ramón-Moros JM, Iglesias M, Barranco L, Flores JA. Can Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment Modify the Metabolic Response to Bariatric Surgery?. Obes Surg 2018; 28(8): 2386-2395. IF 3.895. D1.
• Cárdenas-Fuentes G, Bawaked RA, Martínez-González MÁ, Corella D, Subirana I, Salas-Salvadó J, Estruch R, Serra-Majem L, Ros E, Lapetra J, Fiol M, Rekondo J, Gómez-Gracia E, Tur JA, Pintó X, Babio N, Ortega C, Martínez JA, Schröder H. Association of physical activity with body mass index, waist circumference and incidence of obesity in older adults. Eur J Public Health 2018; 28(5): 944-950. IF 2.782. Q1.
Ongoing Research Projects
• Integridad neurovascular y desarrollo de demencia: Efecto neuroprotector de las lipoproteínas de alta densidad y marcadores asociados
- Financing institution: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (PI17/00214)
- Period: from 2018 to 2020
- Principal investigator: Castañer Niño, Olga
• Caracterización y desarrollo de procesos de elaboración de productos panificables con impacto positivo en la salud humana: Estudio en modelos humanos de inflamación y disbiosis intestinal. Retos colaboración 2017
- Financing institution: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (RTC-2017-6467-2)
- Period: from 2018 to 2020
- Principal investigator: Fitó Colomer, Montserrat
• Efecte HALO de l’estudi PREDIMED PLUS
- Financing institution: Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya (SLT002/16/00132)
- Period: from 2017 to 2019
- Principal investigator: Goday Arno, Albert
• Efecto de una pérdida de peso con dieta mediterránea hipocalórica y promoción de la actividad física en la prevención primaria cardiovascular: Estudio PREDIMED-PLUS
- Financing institution: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (PI16/00533)
- Period: from 2017 to 2019
- Principal investigator: Goday Arno, Albert
• Novel predictors of coronary heart disease: endothelial microparticles, HDL functionality, and fatty acid composition of cell membranes
- Financing institution: Fundació La Marató de TV3 (20151231)
- Period: from 2016 to 2019
- Principal investigator: Fitó Colomer, Montserrat
• Funcionalidad de la HDL en la predicción de eventos cardiovasculares en una cohorte a 5 años en población general. Estilo de vida como factor modulador
- Financing institution: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (PI15/00047)
- Period: from 2016 to 2019
- Principal investigator: Fitó Colomer, Montserrat
Participation in Research Networks
• CIBEROBN: Fisiopatología de la obesidad y nutrición
- Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (CB06/03/0028)
- Principal investigator: Fitó Colomer, Montserrat
• CIBERESP: Epidemiología y salud pública
- Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (CB06/02/0029)
- Principal investigator: Schröder, Helmut
Clinical Trials Signed in 2018
• Estudio prospectivo, observacional de una alimentación por sonda con alto contenido calórico y proteico, con carbohidratos de liberación lenta y ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (AGMI), en una población malnutrida con diabetis
- Register: DA14
- Principal investigator: Villatoro Moreno, Montserrat
Theses
• Bawaked, RA. Childhood Obesity: Interrelation among Diet Quality, Lifestyle Factors, and Obesity. Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
- Director: Schröder, Helmut
- Date of defense: 08/10/2018
• Climent, E. Efectes de la cirurgia bariàtrica sobre el perfil lipídic. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
- Directors: Benaiges Boix, David; Goday Arno, Albert; Pedro-Botet, J.
- Date of defense: 23/11/2018
• Prados, M. Alteración del metabolismo de la glucosa y del perfil lipídico en el seguimiento postparto de mujeres con antecedentes de diabetes gestacional en un entorno multiétnico. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
- Directors: Pedro-Botet, J.; Flores Le Roux, Juana Antonia
- Date of defense: 20/07/2018
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