The IMMIDIET Project

 
Fifth Framework Programme della CE (Dietary Habit Profile in European Communities with Different Risk of Myocardial Infarction: the Impact of Migration as a Model of Gene/Environment Interaction; grant QLK1-CT -2000-00100 -Key Action 1).





The risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is lower in Southern than in Northern European countries. The lower rate of MI in the Mediterranean regions of Europe suggested a potential role of the traditional Mediterranean diet in the prevention of MI. Unfortunately, in the last 20 years, a tendency to adopt Westernised food habits even in Southern regions of Europe is reflected by an increase in the prevalence of obesity. Therefore the impact of diet on MI risk profile among European populations needs to be reconsidered.
Genetic risk factors have also been implicated in the development of MI. Genes, indeed, continuosly interact with  environmental factors in determining the pathogenesis of MI.

The aims of the IMMIDIET study are to evaluate:
    1. the present dietary habits and the risk profile of three European communities at different risk of MI;
    2. The impact of migration on risk factors for MI.

Dietary habits and genetic polymorphisms will be evaluated in an Italian , Belgian and English population sample.  The historical Italian migration to Belgium and the integration through mixed marriage will be considered as a  model of gene/environment interaction. As an index of MI risk profile, factors that are most likely under the combined influence of both dietary and genetic determinants will be investigated.

Nutr Metabol Cardiovasc Dis, 2001; 11 (suppl.4): 122-26
 

European Collaborative Group of the IMMIDIET Project

Project Co-ordinator
Licia Iacoviello 1

Scientific Committee
Jef Arnout 2
Frank Buntinx 3
Franco Cappuccio 4
Pieter Dagnelie 5
Michel de Lorgeril 6
Maria Benedetta Donati 1
Vittorio Krogh 7
Alfonso Siani 8

Co-ordinating secretariat
Rosanna D'Amario 1
Carla Dirckx 3

Data management and statistics:
Augusto Di Castelnuovo 1

Dietary Assessment
Martien van Dongen 5

Communication and dissemination:
Anna Anconitano 1
Alexandra Cianci 1

Recruitment:
Carla Dirckx 3
Pit Rink 4
Michela Vischetti 1

External advisory committee:
Giovanni de Gaetano, Campobasso, Italy; Mario Mancini, Napoli, Italy; Marc Verstraete, Leuven, Belgium

The IMMIDIET group, collaborative centres and their activities and associated investigators

1. Department of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy (Maria Benedetta Donati, Licia Iacoviello, Anna Anconitano, Alexandra Cianci, Rosanna D'Amario, Augusto Di Castelnuovo, Andria D'Orazio, Michela Vischetti, Franco Zito)
2. Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Jef Arnout)
3. Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Frank Buntinx, Carla Dirckx, Jan Heyrman)
4. Department of General Practice & Primary Care, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom (Franco Cappuccio, Pit Rink)
5. Department of Epidemiology, NUTRIM Subdivision of Nutritional Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (Peter Dagnelie, Martien van Dongen, Dirk Lemaître)
6. Laboratoire du Stress Cardiovasculaire et Pathologies Associées, UFR de Médecine et Pharmacie, La Tronche, France
7. Unit of Epidemiology, National Cancer Institute. Milan, Italy (Vittorio Krogh, Sabrina Sieri, Manuela Belligotti, Daniela Del Sette Cerulli)
8. Epidemiology & Population Genetics, Institute of Food Science & Technology, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy (Alfonso Siani, Gianvincenzo Barba, Paola Russo, Claudia Grimaldi, Antonella Venezia)