News in brief: GLP-1 RA cardiovascular benefits from visceral fat loss; Doctor wins $450k damages for malicious reviews; Vitamin K-rich  diet may reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

24 Aug 2021

GLP-1 RA cardiovascular benefits from visceral fat loss

The GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide may help achieve weight loss with cardiovascular benefits through selective loss of  visceral fat, a US study shows.

In a 40 week study in 128 adults with overweight and obesity at high cardiovascular disease risk,  a once-daily dose of 3mg liraglutide resulted in significantly greater loss of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and ectopic (liver) fat compared with a placebo, when used as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity counselling.

Notably, the effects of liraglutide on fat reduction were two times greater for visceral adipose tissue and six times greater in the liver than seen on overall bodyweight, the authors noted

The findings supported a hypothesis that the cardiovascular disease risk reduction previously seen with the GLP-1 receptor agonist may be  mediated via modification of dysfunctional adiposity characterised by visceral and ectopic fat, they concluded in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.


Doctor wins $450k damages for malicious reviews

A Sydney surgeon has been awarded $450,000 in defamation damages from a woman who mounted a campaign of online abuse and false claims against him after he refused to operate on her.

Dr Warwick Nettle, a Bondi-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon, became the target of virulent abuse, falsehoods and negative reviews from Catherine Cruse in 2018 when he declined to perform surgery on her, based on warnings from another surgeon who had previously treated her.

Dr Nettle took his case to the Federal Court of Australia, which found that his behaviour was professionally appropriate and justifiable, and that the online comments and maliciously false reviews reviews had seriously damaged both his professional reputation and his thriving practice.

As a results of Ms Cruse posting negative reviews, Dr Nettle’s “Google rating” fell from 5 to 3.5 stars and his workload declined significantly.

The court awarded damages of $450,000 to Dr Nettle and granted permanent injunctions barring Ms Cruse from posting further false and defamatory material about him. However Ms Cruse did not take part in the proceedings and could not be traced, having apparently deliberately concealed her whereabouts, the court was told.


Vitamin K-rich  diet may reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

People who eat a diet rich in vitamin K have up to a 34% lower risk of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease, Australian research has shown.

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth analysed data from more than 50,000 people taking part in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health study over a 23-year period. They found that people with a higher intake of vitamin K1 food such as green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils were 21% less likely to be hospitalised with cardiovascular disease related to atherosclerosis.

A higher intake of vitamin K2, found in meat, eggs and fermented foods such as cheese, was associated with a 14% lower risk of being hospitalised.

“Current dietary guidelines for the consumption of vitamin K are generally only based on the amount of vitamin K1 a person should consume to ensure that their blood can coagulate,” said senior author Dr Nicola Bondonno.

“However, there is growing evidence that intakes of vitamin K above the current guidelines can afford further protection against the development of other diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Although more research is needed to fully understand the process, we believe that vitamin K works by protecting against the calcium build-up in the major arteries of the body leading to vascular calcification,” she said.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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