In this recent article published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, scientists in Oporto, Portugal conducted a study "To evaluate the modification effect of sex in the association between lifestyles and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Population-based case-control study."

"Trained interviewers collected information using a standard structured questionnaire. Associations were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. The effect modification by sex was evaluated in the regression models, testing interaction terms between lifestyles and sex. Porto, Portugal. Portuguese Caucasian adults, aged >= 18 years. were patients consecutively admitted with an incident AMI during 1999-2003 (n 918) and controls were a representative sample of ono-institutionalized inhabitants of Porto with no evidence of previous clinical or silent infarction (n 2316). Cigarette smoking was positively associated with AMI in both men and women (smokers >15 cigarettes/d v. never smokers: OR = 9.11, 95% CI 4.83, 17.20 for women; OR = 3.92, 95% CI 2.75, 5.58 for men; interaction term P value = 0.001). A significant protective effect of moderate alcohol intake oil AMI Occurrence was found in women (0.1-15.0 g/d v. non-drinkers: OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.31, 0.74), but not in men. Fruit and vegetable intake, vitamin and mineral supplement use and leisure-time physical activity practice Were found to decrease AMI risk, with similar effects between sexes. A strong positive association between smoking and AMI Was found in women. Also, I protective effect of moderate alcohol intake was only found among females," wrote A. Oliveira and colleagues, University of Porto, Medical Department (see also Heart Attack).

The researchers concluded: "Fruit and vegetable intake, vitamin and mineral supplement use and leisure-time physical activity practice were found to decrease AMI risk in both sexes."

Oliveira and colleagues published their study in Public Health Nutrition (Gender heterogeneity in the association between lifestyles and non-fatal acute myocardial infarction. Public Health Nutrition, 2009;12(10):1799-1806).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting A. Oliveira, University of Porto, School Medical, Dept. of Hyg & Epidemiology, Alameda Prof Hernani Monteiro, P-4200319 Oporto, Portugal.

The publisher of the journal Public Health Nutrition can be contacted at: Cambridge University Press, Edinburgh Bldg, Shaftesbury Rd., CB2 8RU Cambridge, England.

Keywords: Portugal, Oporto, Alternative Medicine, Clinical Trial Research, Gender Health, Gender Medicine, Heart Attack, Myocardial Infarction, Public Health, Therapy, Treatment, Women's Health, University of Porto, Medical Department.

This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com.

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