Frank B. Hu

Bio: Frank B. Hu is an academic researcher from Harvard University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Type 2 diabetes & Diabetes mellitus. The author has an hindex of 250, co-authored 1675 publications receiving 253464 citations. Previous affiliations of Frank B. Hu include Southwest University & Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Plasma Ceramides, Mediterranean Diet, and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the PREDIMED Trial (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea).

Abstract: Background:Although in vitro studies and investigations in animal models and small clinical populations have suggested that ceramides may represent an intermediate link between overnutrition and ce

Association of Type and Duration of Diabetes With Erectile Dysfunction in a Large Cohort of Men

Abstract: OBJECTIVE —Differences in risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) by characteristics of diabetes among older men are not well understood. We examined the association of type and duration of diabetes with erectile function in men >50 years of age in a large prospective cohort study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Subjects included 31,027 men aged 53–90 years in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study cohort. On a questionnaire mailed in 2000, participants rated their ability (without treatment) in the past 5 years to have and maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse. Men who reported poor or very poor function were considered to have ED. Diabetes information was ascertained via self-report and documented with supplementary medical data. RESULTS —Men with diabetes had an age-adjusted relative risk (RR) of 1.32 (95% CI 1.3–1.4) for having ED compared with men without diabetes. In multivariable regression analyses, men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were at a significantly higher risk for ED (type 1 diabetes RR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.5–5.9; type 2 diabetes RR = 1.3, 1.1–1.5) than nondiabetic men. Men with type 2 diabetes had an increasingly greater risk of ED with increased duration since diagnosis (trend test P value 20 years previously). CONCLUSIONS —For men over age 50 years, increasing duration of diabetes was positively associated with increased risk of ED relative to nondiabetic subjects. This association persisted despite the higher prevalence of other comorbid conditions. ED prevention and diabetes management efforts are likely to go hand-in-hand.

Association of Dietary Patterns With Cancer Recurrence and Survival in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer

Abstract: While dietary factors have been implicated in the risk of developing colon cancer, it is not clear whether diet influences the outcome in patients who have established disease This question was addressed in a prospective observational study of 1009 patients with stage III colon cancer who enrolled in a randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy in 1999-2001 Participants were asked to complete a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire midway in the course of chemotherapy and again about 6 months after adjuvant therapy ceased Two major dietary patterns emerged: a prudent pattern with high intakes of fruits and vegetables, poultry, and fish; and a Western pattern with high intakes of meat, fat, refined grains, and deserts The median follow-up interval was 53 years Recurrent disease developed during follow-up in 324 patients, and 223 of them died with recurrent disease Another 28 patients died without documented recurrent disease Higher intake of a Western dietary pattern following diagnosis of colon cancer was associated with significantly worse disease-free survival Compared with patients in the lowest quintile of the Western pattern, those in the highest quintile had an adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) for disease-free survival of 325 (95% confidence interval [CI], 204-519) The AHR for recurrence-free survival was 285 (95% CI, 175-463) For overall survival, the AHR associated with intake of a Western dietary pattern was 232, with a 95% CI of 136-396 The reduced disease-free survival associated with a Western diet was not significantly altered when adjusted for gender, age, lymph node stage, body mass index, level of physical activity, performance status at baseline, or treatment group The prudent dietary pattern, in contrast, was not significantly associated with recurrent cancer or cancer mortality The AHR for disease-free survival, comparing the highest and lowest quintiles of the prudent dietary pattern, was 120 (95% CI, 083-175) There also was no relationship between the prudent pattern and either recurrence-free survival or overall survival The investigators believe this to be the first study in a potentially cured group of colon cancer survivors to analyze the effects of diet Further studies hopefully will identify those elements of a Western dietary pattern that are most closely associated with an adverse outcome

Vitamin D Deficiency

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.

Diagnosis and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome An American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Scientific Statement

Abstract: The metabolic syndrome has received increased attention in the past few years. This statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is intended to provide up-to-date guidance for professionals on the diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome in adults. The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin— metabolic risk factors —that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).1 Patients with the metabolic syndrome also are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Another set of conditions, the underlying risk factors , give rise to the metabolic risk factors. In the past few years, several expert groups have attempted to set forth simple diagnostic criteria to be used in clinical practice to identify patients who manifest the multiple components of the metabolic syndrome. These criteria have varied somewhat in specific elements, but in general they include a combination of both underlying and metabolic risk factors. The most widely recognized of the metabolic risk factors are atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and elevated plasma glucose. Individuals with these characteristics commonly manifest a prothrombotic state and a pro-inflammatory state as well. Atherogenic dyslipidemia consists of an aggregation of lipoprotein abnormalities including elevated serum triglyceride and apolipoprotein B (apoB), increased small LDL particles, and a reduced level of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). The metabolic syndrome is often referred to as if it were a discrete entity with a single cause. Available data suggest that it truly is a syndrome, ie, a grouping of ASCVD risk factors, but one that probably has more than one cause. Regardless of cause, the syndrome identifies individuals at an elevated risk for ASCVD. The magnitude of the increased risk can vary according to which components of the syndrome are …