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Serge Hercberg

Publications and source records attributed to Serge Hercberg.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Common polymorphisms in the USF1 gene are not associated with type 2 diabetes in French Caucasians.

Upstream transcription factor 1 (USF1) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper family that has been shown to regulate the expression of a raft of key genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. The USF1 gene is located at chromosome 1q22-q23, within the most consistently replicated type 2 diabetes susceptibility locus in the human genome. In this study, we have examined the contribution of eight common USF1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to type 2 diabetes susceptibility in the French Caucasian population. None of the USF1 SNPs genotyped, including two SNPs previously associated with familial combined hyperlipidemia (rs2073658 and rs3737787), showed evidence of association with type 2 diabetes. In addition, USF1 SNPs were not associated with plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, or apolipoproteins A1 or B in normoglycemic subjects. A total of four common USF1 haplotypes were identified, accounting for >99% of chromosomes. There was no significant difference in the USF1 haplotype distribution of the case and control subjects. In conclusion, we report here that we were unable to find any evidence to support the hypothesis that genetic variation in the USF1 gene makes a significant contribution to type 2 diabetes susceptibility in the French Caucasian population.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A synonymous coding polymorphism in the alpha2-Heremans-schmid glycoprotein gene is associated with type 2 diabetes in French Caucasians.

alpha2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein (AHSG) is an abundant plasma protein synthesized predominantly in the liver. The AHSG gene, consisting of seven exons and spanning 8.2 kb of genomic DNA, is located at chromosome 3q27, a susceptibility locus for type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. AHSG is a natural inhibitor of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, and AHSG-null mice exhibit significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity. These observations suggested that the AHSG gene is a strong positional and biological candidate for type 2 diabetes susceptibility. Direct sequencing of the AHSG promoter region and exons identified nine common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a minor allele frequency > or =5%. We carried out a detailed genetic association study of the contribution of these common AHSG SNPs to genetic susceptibility of type 2 diabetes in French Caucasians. The major allele of a synonymous coding SNP in exon 7 (rs1071592) presented significant evidence of association with type 2 diabetes (P = 0.008, odds ratio 1.27 [95% CI 1.06-1.52]). Two other SNPs (rs2248690 and rs4918) in strong linkage disequilibrium with rs1071592 showed evidence approaching significance. A haplotype carrying the minor allele of SNP rs1071592 was protective against type 2 diabetes (P = 0.014). However, our analyses indicated that rs1071592 is not associated with the evidence for linkage of type 2 diabetes to 3q27.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Iron deficiency in France: prevalence and prevention].

Although iron is one of the most abundant metals in the Earth's crust, humans are often deficient in this element. This is mainly due to inefficient absorption of ferric ions, the main naturally occurring form. The risk of deficiency is lower in industrialized countries, yet a large proportion of these populations, and especially infants, pregnant women and young women, have poor ferritin status. The consequences of non anemic iron deficiency are unclear Conversely, excessive iron stores can be harmful, owing to the pro-oxidant imbalance they create.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
PubMed2004

The SU.VI.MAX Study: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the health effects of antioxidant vitamins and minerals.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that a low dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins and minerals increases the incidence rate of cardiovascular disease and cancer. To date, however, the published results of randomized, placebo-controlled trials of supplements containing antioxidant nutrients have not provided clear evidence of a beneficial effect. We tested the efficacy of nutritional doses of supplementation with a combination of antioxidant vitamins and minerals in reducing the incidence of cancer and ischemic cardiovascular disease in the general population. METHODS: The Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants (SU.VI.MAX) study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled primary prevention trial. A total of 13 017 French adults (7876 women aged 35-60 years and 5141 men aged 45-60 years) were included. All participants took a single daily capsule of a combination of 120 mg of ascorbic acid, 30 mg of vitamin E, 6 mg of beta carotene, 100 mug of selenium, and 20 mg of zinc, or a placebo. Median follow-up time was 7.5 years. RESULTS: No major differences were detected between the groups in total cancer incidence (267 [4.1%] for the study group vs 295 [4.5%] for the placebo group), ischemic cardiovascular disease incidence (134 [2.1%] vs 137[2.1%]), or all-cause mortality (76 [1.2%] vs 98 [1.5%]). However, a significant interaction between sex and group effects on cancer incidence was found (P = .004). Sex-stratified analysis showed a protective effect of antioxidants in men (relative risk, 0.69 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.91]) but not in women (relative risk, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.85-1.29]). A similar trend was observed for all-cause mortality (relative risk, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.42-0.93] in men vs 1.03 [95% CI, 0.64-1.63] in women; P = .11 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS: After 7.5 years, low-dose antioxidant supplementation lowered total cancer incidence and all-cause mortality in men but not in women. Supplementation may be effective in men only because of their lower baseline status of certain antioxidants, especially of beta carotene.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Effects of long-term daily low-dose supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals on structure and function of large arteries.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data exist from randomized trials evaluating, noninvasively, the impact of antioxidant supplementation on vascular structure and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a substudy of the SU.VI.MAX Study, which is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cardiovascular and cancer primary prevention trial. Eligible participants (free of symptomatic chronic diseases and apparently healthy) were randomly allocated to daily receive either a combination of antioxidants (120 mg vitamin C, 30 mg vitamin E, 6 mg beta carotene, 100 microg selenium, and 20 mg zinc) or placebo and followed-up over an average of 7.2+/-0.3 years. At the end-trial examination, the carotid ultrasound examination and carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurement were performed blindly in 1162 subjects aged older than 50 years and living in the Paris area. The percentage of subjects with carotid plaques was higher in the intervention group compared with the placebo group (35.2% versus 29.5%, P=0.04). Common carotid intima-media thickness (mean+/-SD) was not different between the 2 groups (0.70+/-0.08 versus 0.70+/-0.08 mm, P=0.38). Mean PWV tended to be lower (indicating less stiff aortic arteries) in the intervention group but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest no beneficial effects of long-term daily low-dose supplementation of antioxidant vitamins and minerals on carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2004

Impact of cancer occurrence on health-related quality of life: a longitudinal pre-post assessment.

BACKGROUND: Investigations focusing and implementing on the impact of cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by the way of a mean comparison between cancer patients and subjects from the general population, are scarce and usually cross-sectional. Longitudinal application of HRQoL instruments to a general, initially healthy population allows for change to be assessed as an event occurs, rather than afterwards. The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of new cancer on HRQoL. METHODS: The 36-item Short Form (SF-36) and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were applied to the French SU.VI.MAX cohort in 1996 and 1998. A controlled longitudinal study was used to determine the impact on HRQoL of newly diagnosed cancer: 84 patients with cancer that occurred between the 2 HRQoL measures were compared with 420 age- and sex-matched cancer-free controls. RESULTS: Initial HRQoL level was similar in the two groups. A new cancer had a particularly marked effect on the SF-36 Physical functioning, Role-physical and General health dimensions (more than 6.6-point difference in change in HRQoL evolution on a 0-100 scale). The Bodily pain and Vitality dimensions were less severely affected (difference in change varying from 4.4 to 6.3 points), and there was no effect on either the GHQ-12 score or the SF-36 Mental health, Role-emotional and Social functioning dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The negative impact of cancer on the lives of patients was assessed in terms of HRQoL. The aspects most likely to be affected were those with a physical component, and general health perceptions. These results can thus help quantify the impact of a new cancer on HRQoL evolution and potentially facilitate early intervention by identifying the most affected HRQoL domains.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Drinking patterns in French adult men--a cluster analysis of alcoholic beverages and relationship with lifestyle.

BACKGROUND: Establishing patterns of alcohol consumption may be useful for investigating the relationship between alcohol and diseases. METHODS: We used a hierarchical agglomerative clustering method to describe the intake of eight types of alcoholic beverages and to determine drinking patterns in a cohort of 1797 men enrolled in a French 8-year intervention study involving nutritional doses of vitamins and minerals, the SU.VI.MAX study. RESULTS: Cluster 1, referred to as 'abstainers', was defined a priori and included 329 men who drank less than 5 g of alcohol per day. Six drinking patterns were defined in alcohol drinkers, with increasing mean alcohol intake: cluster 2, 'low drinkers', included 670 subjects, who drank little of any type of alcoholic beverage; cluster 3, 'high quality wines', included 584 men with a high intake of champagne, high quality wines, and high-alcohol aperitifs; cluster 4, 'beer and cider', included 190 subjects with a high intake of beer and cider; cluster 5, 'digestives', included 54 men with a specifically high consumption of digestive beverages; cluster 6, 'local wines', included 238 subjects with a high intake of local wines and low-alcohol aperitifs; cluster 7, 'table wines', included 61 men with a high intake of table wines and high-alcohol aperitifs. These clusters were significantly associated with socioeconomic and lifestyle variables such as place of residence, occupation, mean caloric intake and distribution of energy intake throughout the day, body mass index, and smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: They will be useful in future studies of the relationship between alcohol intake and medical conditions or risk factors.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2004

Dietary intakes and food sources of n-6 and n-3 PUFA in French adult men and women.

The intake of individual n-6 and n-3 PUFA has been estimated in 4,884 adult subjects (2,099 men and 2,785 women), volunteers from the French SU.VI.MAX intervention trial. The food intakes of each subject were recorded in at least ten 24-h record questionnaires completed over a period of 2.5 yr, allowing the estimation of the daily intake of energy; total fat; and linoleic, alpha-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), n-3 docosapentaenoic (DPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. The mean total fat intake corresponded to 94.1 g/d (36.3% of total energy intake) in men and 73.4 g/d (38.1% of energy) in women. The intake of linoleic acid was 10.6 g/d in men and 8.1 g/d in women, representing 4.2% of energy intake; that of alpha-linolenic acid was 0.94 g/d in men and 0.74 g/d in women, representing 0.37% of energy intake, with a mean linoleic/alpha-linolenic acid ratio of 11.3. The mean intakes of long-chain PUFA were: arachidonic acid, 204 mg/d in men and 152 mg/d in women; EPA, 150 mg/d in men and 118 mg/d in women; DPA, 75 mg/d in men and 56 mg/d in women; DHA, 273 mg/d in men and 226 mg/d in women; long-chain n-3 PUFA, 497 mg/d in men and 400 mg/d in women. Ninety-five percent of the sample consumed less than 0.5% of energy as alpha-linolenic acid, which is well below the current French recommendation for adults (0.8% of energy). In contrast, the mean intakes of long-chain n-6 and n-3 PUFA appear fairly high and fit the current French recommendations (total long-chain PUFA: 500 mg/d in men and 400 mg/d in women; DHA: 120 mg/d in men and 100 mg/d in women). The intakes of alpha-linolenic acid, and to a lesser extent of linoleic acid, were highly correlated with that of lipids. Whereas the main source of linoleic acid was vegetable oils, all food types contributed to alpha-linolenic acid intake, the main ones being animal products (meat, poultry, and dairy products). The main source of EPA and DHA (and of total long-chain n-3 PUFA) was fish and seafood, but the major source of DPA was meat, poultry, and eggs. Fish and seafood consumption showed very large interindividual variations, the low consumers being at risk of insufficient n-3 PUFA intake.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Antioxidant vitamins and blood pressure.

Synthesis of free radicals might play a role in the cellular process of atherosclerosis. This process can be stopped by antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, or vitamin E, which will inactivate the effects of free radicals. Although antioxidant vitamins have not been proven to prevent cardiovascular diseases through the modulation of lipid peroxidation, it has been suggested that peroxidation might be a pathway to such prevention, mediated through the effects of antioxidants on blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness. Several observational epidemiologic studies and some clinical trials have suggested an inverse association between dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, and BP. An inverse link between serum levels of vitamin C and BP has also been determined in observational epidemiologic settings. Some relations between other antioxidant vitamins (retinol and beta-carotene) and BP are reported; they confer the same inverse association. However, results from clinical trials testing the effect of a single, or a combination of antioxidants at high pharmacologic doses have revealed inconsistent BP findings. So far, no evidence confirms that oral antioxidant supplementation is effective in preventing or treating high BP. Additional large studies should be conducted to determine the effect on BP of antioxidant supplementation at nutritional doses.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2004

Relationship between serum, red cell, urinary and dietary magnesium in a middle-aged French adult population.

Magnesium (Mg) is the second most common intracellular electrolyte; in the body. Few data are available in general population studies on the assessment of Mg status and its relationship to dietary intake. We explored the relationship between several biological Mg surrogates (serum, red cell, and urinary), Mg intake, age, alcohol intake, and mean energy intake in a large sample of French adults issued from the SUVIMAX study. Serum Mg was positively correlated with red cell Mg in men and women (r = 0.17; p < 0.001) whereas no association was found between urinary Mg and red cell Mg nor between urinary Mg and serum Mg. Age was positively correlated with serum and red cell Mg in women (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with urinary Mg in both genders (p < 0.001). Finally, a negative correlation was found between dietary intake and red cell Mg in women (r = -0.06; p < 0.05). Among the biological Mg surrogates, an association was found between serum Mg and red cell Mg. Further investigations should be conducted in order to determine the role played by dietary Mg intake in the relationship between health status and several biological Mg measurements.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Consumption of foods rich in flavonoids is related to a decreased cardiovascular risk in apparently healthy French women.

A high consumption of flavonoids may lower cardiovascular risk through their antioxidant capacity. This study evaluated the relation between consumption of foods rich in flavonoids and estimated cardiovascular risk. A cross-sectional analysis was performed in 1286 women and 1005 men of the SU.VI.MAX Study (an 8-y trial evaluating the effect of antioxidant supplementation on the incidence of major chronic diseases). Dietary intakes were estimated using six 24-h dietary records collected during the year between the clinical measurement of blood pressure, weight and height and the biological measurement of total serum cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose. The relation between flavonoid rich food consumption and cardiovascular risk factors was evaluated with analyses of covariance and the effect on cardiovascular risk with logistic regression analyses. In women, flavonoid-rich food consumption was inversely related to systolic blood pressure (P = 0.005). No relation between risk factors and flavonoid-rich food consumption was seen in men. Women in the highest tertile of flavonoid-rich food consumption were at lower risk for cardiovascular disease [odds ratio (OR): 0.31; 95%CI: 0.14, 0.68], whereas a positive tendency was seen in men (OR: 1.38; 95%CI: 0.96, 2.00). These results indicate that in women, a high consumption of flavonoid-rich foods may prevent cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Sociodemographic and geographic correlates of meeting current recommendations for physical activity in middle-aged French adults: the Supplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux Antioxydants (SUVIMAX) Study.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the characteristics of French subjects meeting current public health recommendations for physical activity. METHODS: We assessed leisure-time physical activity cross-sectionally in 7404 adults aged 45 to 68 years with applied logistic regression models. RESULTS: Meeting the recommended physical activity levels was more likely in subjects aged 60 years and older and in women with higher education levels or living in rural areas and was less likely in smokers. No association was found with time spent watching television. The contribution of vigorous activity to total time spent being active was approximately 2 times higher in subjects meeting recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in some vigorous activity may be viewed as a "facilitator" to attain physical activity recommendations. Relationships with physical environment variables in Europe need further investigation.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Relationship between soup consumption, folate, beta-carotene, and vitamin C status in a French adult population.

The relationship between soup consumption and folic acid, beta-carotene, and vitamin E and C status was assessed in adults who regularly consumed soup compared to those who did not or who were occasional eaters. Data were obtained for 2114 men and 2874 women living in France and participating in the SU.VI.MAX cohort, who reported twelve 24-hour dietary records during a two-year follow-up period. Six-point-seven percent of women and 8.7% of men were heavy consumers of soup (i.e., they consumed soup from 9-12 days out of 12 days). Respectively, 46 and 42.5% were regular soup consumers (3-8 days out of 12), and 47.3 and 48.8% were occasional or non-soup consumers (0-2 days or less out of 12). Total energy intake did not differ between soup consumers and non-consumers. In both genders, heavy consumers of soups had significantly higher intakes of carbohydrates and lower lipid intakes. Heavy consumers of soup had higher dietary intakes of folates, beta-carotene, vitamin C and, in men, of vitamin E. In heavy consumers, soups contributed 12.5% of total dietary intake of beta-carotene in men and 13% in women. For vitamin C, vitamin E, and folates, soups contributed to 4-5% of total vitamin intake. In heavy soup consumers, mean serum vitamin C levels were higher, but not significantly, than in occasional or non-soup consumers. This trend was also observed for red blood cell folate in women only. The present data suggest that consumption of soup may be beneficial in promotional programs to increase vegetable consumption, and may contribute to a balanced diet and a healthy nutritional status, and especially vitamin status, in the overall population.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Dietary fibre intake and clinical indices in the French Supplementation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) adult cohort.

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between dietary fibre intake and some clinical indices, blood biochemical variables and the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancers in France, taking advantage of an ongoing cohort, the Supplementation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) intervention study. This preliminary report provides data on dietary fibre intake in this French adult population group of 4080 subjects (2168 men and 1912 women) aged 45-65 years at inclusion. The data obtained for fibre intake indicate that most men and women have low to moderate intakes of total dietary fibre (mean 21.0 and 17.1 g/d respectively), with only 21 % of the men and 7 % of the women having total dietary fibre intakes at the recommended level (i.e. > 25 g/d) and soluble fibre accounting for 19 % of the total dietary fibre intake for both genders. The main food sources of dietary fibre are cereals (30-35 % total), vegetables (20-24 % total) and fruit (19-22 % total). No marked regional differences were observed within France. The highest dietary fibre intakes have been found to be associated with a lower BMI, blood systolic pressure, plasma triacylglycerols and plasma glucose in men and lower BMI in women. Overall, these data support the concept of a beneficial effect of a high dietary fibre intake on cardiovascular disease risk.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Changes in serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, carotenoids, xinc and selenium after micronutrient supplementation during alcohol rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of a 21-day supplementation with moderate doses of antioxidant nutrients on biochemical indicators of vitamin, carotenoid and trace element levels in alcohol-dependent patients during a program of alcohol rehabilitation. DESIGN: A randomized double-blind trial was performed comparing two groups receiving daily either a combination of micronutrients (beta-carotene: 6 mg, vitamin C: 120 mg, vitamin E: 30 mg, zinc: 20 mg, selenium: 100 micro g) or a placebo. SUBJECTS: 106 alcohol-dependent patients 20 to 60 years of age without severe liver disease, hospitalized for a 21-day rehabilitation program. Measure of Outcome: Vitamin C, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, zeaxanthin/lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, zinc and selenium were measured in serum, initially and after supplementation. RESULTS: (1) In the placebo group, after 21 days of rehabilitation, serum concentrations of vitamin C and all five carotenoids significantly increased, whereas retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations decreased; zinc and selenium levels were unaffected. (2) At the end of the hospital stay, serum indicators were significantly improved in the supplement group as compared to the placebo group for vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium; conversely, lycopene changes were higher in the placebo group than in supplement group. (3) Of the serum antioxidants measured at entrance, only vitamin C was significantly depleted in heavy smokers, and, after the supplementation period, vitamin C was efficiently repleted in this later group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a short-term supplementation with physiological doses of antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids and trace elements during alcohol rehabilitation clearly improves micronutrient status indicators. Heavy smokers in particular seem to respond to vitamin C supplementation.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Relation between homocysteine concentrations and the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages: the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on the effects of alcohol consumption on total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations showed contradictory results. The conflicting results may derive in part from confounding by the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate in a predominantly wine-drinking French population whether the relation between alcohol consumption and homocysteine concentrations is dependent on the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. DESIGN: In 1996, a cross-sectional study measuring tHcy and red blood cell folate concentrations was conducted in 1196 middle-aged women and men from the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study. Intakes of alcohol, energy, coffee, and B vitamins were assessed by 6 separate 24-h dietary records from the previous year. RESULTS: tHcy concentrations were positively associated with wine intake (P = 0.01) in the women and with beer intake in the men (P = 0.002). No association with the consumption of spirits was observed. The association between beer consumption and tHcy concentrations in the men was modified by the consumption of wine; the association was positive in wine drinkers, whereas an inverse trend was seen in those who drank no wine. CONCLUSION: Wine consumption may increase tHcy concentrations, whereas beer consumption seems to have no effect (or even an inverse effect) on tHcy.

Adult↗