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Relation between socioeconomic deprivation and death from a first myocardial infarction in Scotland: population based analysis

BMJ 2001; 322 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7295.1152 (Published 12 May 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;322:1152

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Deprivation, myocardial infarction and milk intake

Macintyre and colleagues call for a focus on primary prevention of
heart disease that addresses socioeconomic inequalities.[1] However,
worldwide, the more deprived people are not the most vulnerable to
ischaemic heart disease (IHD); for example, in 36 countries of global
distribution, IHD mortality correlated positively with GDP per capita
(r=0.76).[2]

The greater vulnerability to IHD of the socially deprived in the
developed ‘western’ countries could be due to a higher intake of lactose,
a possible IHD risk factor,[3] because milk is a cheap source of
nutrition. During World War II, in Britain milk intake and IHD mortality
increased, whereas in Sweden, Finland and Norway milk consumption and IHD
mortality decreased, [3] though the war adversely affected living
conditions for everyone.

Macintyre and colleagues should compare the intakes of dairy foods
and nutrients in socioeconomic categories in Scotland.

Jeffrey Segall

London NW2 2PX

References:

1] Macintyre K, Stewart S, Chalmers J, et al. Relation between
socioeconomic deprivation and death from a first myocardial infarction in
Scotland: population based analysis. BMJ 2001;322:1152-3.

2] Segall JJ. Lactose. In: Freed DLJ, ed. Health hazards of milk. London:
Bailliere Tindall, 1984: 229-239.

3] Segall JJ. Dietary lactose as a possible risk factor for ischaemic
heart disease: review of epidemiology. Int J Cardiol 1994; 46: 197-207.

Competing interests: No competing interests

15 May 2001
Jeffrey J Segall
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