Author
Alberto Ascherio
Other affiliations: University of Costa Rica, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Bio: Alberto Ascherio is an academic researcher from Harvard University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Risk factor & Relative risk. The author has an hindex of 136, co-authored 462 publications receiving 69578 citations. Previous affiliations of Alberto Ascherio include University of Costa Rica & Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: Evidence is provided of an association between a high intake of vitamin E and a lower risk of coronary heart disease in men, and public policy recommendations with regard to the use ofitamin E supplements should await the results of additional studies.
Abstract: Background The oxidative modification of low-density lipoproteins increases their incorporation into the arterial intima, an essential step in atherogenesis. Although dietary antioxidants, such as vitamin C, carotene, and vitamin E, have been hypothesized to prevent coronary heart disease, prospective epidemiologic data are sparse. Methods In 1986, 39,910 U.S. male health professionals 40 to 75 years of age who were free of diagnosed coronary heart disease, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia completed detailed dietary questionnaires that assessed their usual intake of vitamin C, carotene, and vitamin E in addition to other nutrients. During four years of follow-up, we documented 667 cases of coronary disease. Results After controlling for age and several coronary risk factors, we observed a lower risk of coronary disease among men with higher intakes of vitamin E (P for trend = 0.003). For men consuming more than 60 IU per day of vitamin E, the multivariate relative risk was 0.64 (95 percent confidence in...
2,365 citations
TL;DR: The results of this study suggest that high circulating levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis.
Abstract: ContextEpidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that high levels of vitamin D, a potent immunomodulator, may decrease the risk of multiple sclerosis. There are no prospective studies addressing this hypothesis.ObjectiveTo examine whether levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with risk of multiple sclerosis.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsProspective, nested case-control study among more than 7 million US military personnel who have serum samples stored in the Department of Defense Serum Repository. Multiple sclerosis cases were identified through Army and Navy physical disability databases for 1992 through 2004, and diagnoses were confirmed by medical record review. Each case (n = 257) was matched to 2 controls by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and dates of blood collection. Vitamin D status was estimated by averaging 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of 2 or more serum samples collected before the date of initial multiple sclerosis symptoms.Main Outcome MeasuresOdds ratios of multiple sclerosis associated with continuous or categorical levels (quantiles or a priori–defined categories) of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D within each racial/ethnic group.ResultsAmong whites (148 cases, 296 controls), the risk of multiple sclerosis significantly decreased with increasing levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (odds ratio [OR] for a 50-nmol/L increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.97). In categorical analyses using the lowest quintile (<63.3 nmol/L) as the reference, the ORs for each subsequent quintile were 0.57, 0.57, 0.74, and 0.38 (P = .02 for trend across quintiles). Only the OR for the highest quintile, corresponding to 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels higher than 99.1 nmol/L, was significantly different from 1.00 (OR, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.75; P = .006). The inverse relation with multiple sclerosis risk was particularly strong for 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels measured before age 20 years. Among blacks and Hispanics (109 cases, 218 controls), who had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels than whites, no significant associations between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis risk were found.ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that high circulating levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis.
1,753 citations
TL;DR: The authors consider the feasibility and potential implications of reducing or eliminating the consumption of trans fatty acids from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in the United States.
Abstract: The intake of trans fat has been associated with coronary heart disease, sudden death from cardiac causes, and diabetes. This article reviews the evidence for physiological and cellular effects of trans fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids with at least one double bond in the trans configuration. The authors consider the feasibility and potential implications of reducing or eliminating the consumption of trans fatty acids from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in the United States.
1,582 citations
TL;DR: Findings support the hypothesis that diets with a high glycemic load and a low cereal fiber content increase risk of NIDDM in men and suggest that grains should be consumed in a minimally refined form to reduce the incidence of N IDDM.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE Intake of carbohydrates that provide a large glycemic response has been hypothesized to increase the risk of NIDDM, whereas dietary fiber is suspected to reduce incidence. These hypotheses have not been evaluated prospectively. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined the relationship between diet and risk of NIDDM in a cohort of 42,759 men without NIDDM or cardiovascular disease, who were 40–75 years of age in 1986. Diet was assessed at baseline by a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. During 6-years of follow-up, 523 incident cases of NIDDM were documented. RESULTS The dietary glycemic index (an indicator of carbohydrate9s ability to raise blood glucose levels) was positively associated with risk of NIDDM after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking, physical activity, family history of diabetes, alcohol consumption, cereal fiber, and total energy intake. Comparing the highest and lowest quintiles, the relative risk (RR) of NIDDM was 1.37 (95% CI, 1.02–1.83, P trend = 0.03). Cereal fiber was inversely associated with risk of NIDDM (RR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51–0.96, P trend = 0.007; for > 8.1 g/day vs. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that diets with a high glycemic load and a low cereal fiber content increase risk of NIDDM in men. Further, they suggest that grains should be consumed in a minimally refined form to reduce the incidence of NIDDM.
1,465 citations
TL;DR: A 1-serving/d increase in fruit or vegetable intake was associated with a 6% lower risk for ischemic stroke, after controlling for standard cardiovascular risk factors, and analyses limited to confirmed cases yielded results very similar to those obtained when all cases were included.
Abstract: Consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables and vitamin C–rich fruits and vegetables, appears to have a protective effect against coronary heart disease.
1,437 citations
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TL;DR: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease as discussed by the authors, and it is a major cause of death in the United States, Europe, and much of Asia, despite changes in lifestyle and use of new pharmacologic approaches to lower plasma cholesterol concentrations.
Abstract: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Because high plasma concentrations of cholesterol, in particular those of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, are one of the principal risk factors for atherosclerosis,1 the process of atherogenesis has been considered by many to consist largely of the accumulation of lipids within the artery wall; however, it is much more than that. Despite changes in lifestyle and the use of new pharmacologic approaches to lower plasma cholesterol concentrations,2,3 cardiovascular disease continues to be the principal cause of death in the United States, Europe, and much of Asia.4,5 In fact, the lesions of atherosclerosis represent . . .
19,881 citations
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TL;DR: The role of vitamin D in skeletal and nonskeletal health is considered and strategies for the prevention and treatment ofitamin D deficiency are suggested.
Abstract: Once foods in the United States were fortified with vitamin D, rickets appeared to have been conquered, and many considered major health problems from vitamin D deficiency resolved. But vitamin D deficiency is common. This review considers the role of vitamin D in skeletal and nonskeletal health and suggests strategies for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.
11,849 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Despite changes in lifestyle and the use of new pharmacologic approaches to lower plasma cholesterol concentrations, cardiovascular disease continues to be the principal cause of death in the United States, Europe, and much of Asia.
9,749 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors estimated deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs; sum of years lived with disability [YLD] and years of life lost [YLL]) attributable to the independent effects of 67 risk factors and clusters of risk factors for 21 regions in 1990 and 2010.
9,324 citations
TL;DR: An analytical strategy is introduced, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, designed to detect modest but coordinate changes in the expression of groups of functionally related genes, which identifies a set of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation whose expression is coordinately decreased in human diabetic muscle.
Abstract: DNA microarrays can be used to identify gene expression changes characteristic of human disease. This is challenging, however, when relevant differences are subtle at the level of individual genes. We introduce an analytical strategy, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, designed to detect modest but coordinate changes in the expression of groups of functionally related genes. Using this approach, we identify a set of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation whose expression is coordinately decreased in human diabetic muscle. Expression of these genes is high at sites of insulin-mediated glucose disposal, activated by PGC-1α and correlated with total-body aerobic capacity. Our results associate this gene set with clinically important variation in human metabolism and illustrate the value of pathway relationships in the analysis of genomic profiling experiments.
7,997 citations