Publications by authors named "Jeremy D Furtado"

Background: Existing evidence for associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with blood lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins (apo), and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is limited and inconsistent. This study aims to explore associations between plasma PFASs, blood lipoprotein subspecies defined by apolipoproteins, and CHD risk.

Methods: A case-control study of CHD was conducted in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS) and Nurses' Health Study (NHS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Humans spend much of the day in the postprandial state. However, most research and clinical guidelines on plasma lipids pertain to blood drawn after a 12-hour fast. We aimed to study the metabolic differences of apoB lipoproteins between the fasting and postprandial states.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims/hypothesis: A type 2 diabetes-risk-increasing variant, MTNR1B (melatonin receptor 1B) rs10830963, regulates the circadian function and may influence the variability in metabolic responses to dietary carbohydrates. We investigated whether the effects of carbohydrate quantity and dietary glycaemic index (GI) on glycaemic response during OGTTs varied by the risk G allele of MTNR1B-rs10830963.

Methods: This study included participants (n=150) of a randomised crossover-controlled feeding trial of four diets with high/low GI levels and high/low carbohydrate content for 5 weeks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are promising targets for predicting and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), as they mediate removal of excess cholesterol from lipid-laden macrophages that accumulate in the vasculature. This functional property of HDLs, termed cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), is inversely associated with ASCVD. HDLs are compositionally diverse, associating with >250 different proteins, but their relative contribution to CEC remains poorly understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects and could be beneficial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Higher dietary intake and plasma levels of PUFAs, in particular alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), have been associated with a lower risk of ALS in large epidemiologic cohort studies, but data on disease progression in patients with ALS are sparse. We examined whether plasma levels of ALA and other PUFAs contributed to predicting survival time and functional decline in patients with ALS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rationale: The relationship between many fatty acids and respiratory outcomes remains unclear, especially with regard to mechanistic actions. Altered regulation of the process of lung repair is a key feature of chronic lung disease and may impact the potential for pulmonary rehabilitation, but underlying mechanisms of lung repair following injury or inflammation are not well-studied. The epidermal growth factor receptor agonist amphiregulin (AREG) has been demonstrated to promote lung repair following occupational dust exposure in animals.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Alcohol consumption increases circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), but HDL protein cargo may better reflect HDL function. This study examined the associations between alcohol intake and HDL subspecies containing or lacking apoC3, apoE, and apoJ in a well-phenotyped cohort. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2092 Cardiovascular Health Study participants aged 70 or older with HDL subspecies measured in stored specimens from 1998 to 1999.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) play key roles in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether macronutrient content differences affect NEFA concentrations in a randomized crossover trial.

Methods: Total NEFAs were measured from postintervention specimens of participants in the OMNI Heart trial (Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial to Prevent Heart Disease).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Context: Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), because of their preferential muscle vs prostate selectivity, are being developed for muscle-wasting conditions. Oral SARMs suppress high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) but their effects on functional capacity and atherogenic potential of HDL particles are unknown.

Objective: To determine the effects of an oral SARM (OPK-88004) on cholesterol efflux capacity, HDL particle number and size, apolipoprotein particle number and size and HDL subspecies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Plasma total HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is a heterogeneous mix of many protein-based subspecies whose functions and associations with coronary heart disease vary. We hypothesize that increasing HDL by CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) inhibition failed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, in part, because it increased dysfunctional subspecies associated with higher risk such as HDL that contains apoC3. Approach and Results: We studied participants in 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of a CETP inhibitor on a background of atorvastatin treatment: ACCENTUATE (The Addition of Evacetrapib to Atorvastatin Compared to Placebo, High Intensity Atorvastatin, and Atorvastatin With Ezetimibe to Evaluate LDL-C Lowering in Patients With Primary Hyperlipidemia; 130 mg evacetrapib; n=126) and ILLUMINATE (Phase 3 Multi Center, Double Blind, Randomized, Parallel Group Evaluation of the Fixed Combination Torcetrapib/Atorvastatin, Administered Orally, Once Daily [Qd], Compared With Atorvastatin Alone, on the Occurrence of Major Cardiovascular Events in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease or Risk Equivalents; 60 mg torcetrapib; n=80).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the connection between different subtypes of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the risk of vascular brain injury in elderly individuals.
  • Researchers found that higher levels of apoA1 and lower levels of apoE in certain HDL subtypes were linked to a reduced likelihood of brain infarcts, suggesting that these proteins play important roles in vascular health.
  • The findings indicate that HDL subspecies defined by their apolipoprotein content could serve as significant biomarkers for both covert (hidden) and overt (visible) brain injuries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Carotenoids are antioxidant nutrients with the potential to provide protection against oxidative stress. Plasma carotenoid concentrations are lower in newborn infants compared to their mothers; however, limited information is available regarding how concentrations differ by gestational age. The objective of this research is to assess maternal and umbilical cord plasma carotenoid concentrations and maternal-umbilical cord plasma ratios across five groups of birth gestational age.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There is emerging evidence linking fruit and vegetable consumption and cognitive function. However, studies focusing on the nutrients underlying this relationship are lacking. We aim to examine the association between plasma nutrients and cognition in a population at risk for cognitive decline with a suboptimal diet.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Plant-based diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been associated with lower risk of dementia, but the specific role of antioxidants, a key class of bioactive phytochemicals, has not been well ascertained.

Methods: We measured antioxidants in a case-cohort study nested within the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. We included 996 randomly selected participants and 521 participants who developed dementia, of which 351 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) during a median of 5.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Phospholipids are biomarkers of dietary fat intake and metabolism, linked to several cardiometabolic disorders. Few prospective studies have assessed plasma phospholipids in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between a decrease in linoleic acid accompanied with an increase in other fatty acids and cognitive function and dementia risk.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-PUFAs) were found to correlate with a lower risk of cardiovascular death, particularly sudden cardiac death, among patients with acute coronary syndrome.
  • In a study of over 2,000 patients, higher levels of long-chain ω3-PUFAs were associated with significantly reduced odds of cardiovascular death, with the highest levels showing up to 63% lower odds.
  • The study noted a weaker correlation for α-linolenic acid, and no significant links were found between ω3-PUFAs and other causes of cardiovascular death unrelated to sudden events like myocardial infarction or atrial fibrillation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Context: High density lipoprotein (HDL) in humans is composed of a heterogeneous group of particles varying in protein composition as well as biological effects.

Objective: We investigated the prospective associations between HDL subspecies containing and lacking apolipoprotein (apo) C-III at baseline and insulin sensitivity at year 3.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A prospective cohort study of 864 healthy volunteers drawn from the relationship between insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease (RISC) study, a multicenter European clinical investigation, whose recruitment initiated in 2002, with a follow-up of 3 years.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Perinatal inflammation adversely affects health. Therefore, aims of this IRB-approved study are: (1) compare inflammatory compounds within and between maternal and umbilical cord blood samples at the time of delivery, (2) assess relationships between inflammatory compounds in maternal and cord blood with birth characteristics/outcomes, and (3) assess relationships between blood and placental fat-soluble nutrients with blood levels of individual inflammatory compounds.

Methods: Mother-infant dyads were enrolled (n = 152) for collection of birth data and biological samples of maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and placental tissue.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

To assess whether pre-diagnostic lipid levels are associated with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk. We conducted a matched case-control study nested in five large prospective US cohorts (the Nurses' Health Study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, the Multiethnic Cohort Study, and the Women's Health Initiative), and identified 275 individuals who developed ALS during follow-up and had provided blood samples before disease diagnosis. For each ALS case, we randomly selected two controls who were alive at the time of the case diagnosis and matched on cohort, birth year (±1 year), sex, race/ethnicity, fasting status, and time of blood draw.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: HDL (high-density lipoprotein) contains functional proteins that define single subspecies, each comprising 1% to 12% of the total HDL. We studied the differential association with coronary heart disease (CHD) of 15 such subspecies. Approach and Results: We measured plasma apoA1 (apolipoprotein A1) concentrations of 15 protein-defined HDL subspecies in 4 US-based prospective studies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Importance: The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and lower apolipoprotein E (apoE) protein levels in plasma are risk factors for Alzheimer disease, but the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. Half of plasma apoE circulates on high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Higher apoE levels in plasma HDL were previously found to be associated with lower coronary heart disease risk, but the coexistence of another apolipoprotein, apoC3, modified this lower risk.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The associations of perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure with blood lipids and lipoproteins are inconsistent, and existing studies did not account for metabolic heterogeneity of lipoprotein subspecies. This study aimed to examine the associations between plasma PFAS concentrations and lipoprotein and apolipoprotein subspecies.

Methods: The study included 326 men and women from the 2-year Prevention of Obesity Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS) Lost randomized trial.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Whether HDL is associated with dementia risk is unclear. In addition to apoA1, other apolipoproteins are found in HDL, creating subspecies of HDL that may have distinct metabolic properties. We measured apoA1, apoC3, and apoJ levels in plasma and apoA1 levels in HDL that contains or lacks apoE, apoJ, or apoC3 using a modified sandwich ELISA in a case-cohort study nested within the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To examine the association between prediagnostic plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids levels (PUFA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: We identified 275 individuals who developed ALS while enrolled in 5 US prospective cohorts, and randomly selected 2 controls, alive at the time of the case diagnosis, matched on cohort, birth year, sex, ethnicity, fasting status, and time of blood draw. We measured PUFA, expressed as percentages of total fatty acids, using gas liquid chromatography and used conditional logistic regression to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between PUFA and ALS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF