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Nutrition, Vitamins, Supplements for Seniors
Hardening of Arteries Significantly Reduced by
Vegetable Diet
Study of vegi-fed mice results in 38 percent
atherosclerosis risk reduction
 June 17, 2006 – Hardening of the arteries
(atherosclerosis) is one of the conditions most feared by senior
citizens, who are the most frequent victims. This artery-clogging
condition significantly increases the risk of heart attack and severe
pain. Although experts have long advocated a diet of whole grains,
fruits, and vegetables, and low in salt and saturated fat, a new study
says it may be possible to reduce the risk by 38 percent with a
vegetable diet.
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Nutrition, Vitamins, Supplements |
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A study in mice found that a mixture of five common
vegetables reduced hardening of the arteries by 38 percent compared to
animals eating a non-vegetable diet.
"While everyone knows that eating more vegetables
is supposed to be good for you, no one had shown before that it can
actually inhibit the development of atherosclerosis," said Michael
Adams, D.V.M., lead researcher. "This suggests how a diet high in
vegetables may help prevent heart attacks and strokes."
The study used specially bred mice that rapidly
develop atherosclerosis, the formation on blood vessel walls of fatty
plaques that eventually protrude into the vessel's opening and can
reduce blood flow. The mice have elevated low-density lipoprotein ( LDL),
or "bad" cholesterol, which is also a risk factor for atherosclerosis in
humans.
Half of the mice in the study were fed a
vegetable-free diet and half got 30 percent of their calories from a
mixture of freeze-dried broccoli, green beans, corn, peas and carrots.
These five vegetables are among the top-10 vegetables in the United
States based on frequency of consumption.
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American Heart Association identifies cholesterol
as a major risk factors and says, "To control your cholesterol, get a
cholesterol screening, eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol,
maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and follow all your
healthcare professional's recommendations." |
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More About Atherosclerosis |
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There are two types of this disease:
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is
a condition in which fatty deposits (called plaque) build up
along the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the arms and
legs.
Coronary artery disease means
narrowing of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood
to the heart).
Read more below news story. |
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After 16 weeks, the researchers measured two forms
of cholesterol to estimate the extent of atherosclerosis. In mice that
were fed the vegetable diet, researchers found that plaques in the
vessel were 38 percent smaller than those in the mice fed vegetable-free
diets. There were also modest improvements in body weight and
cholesterol levels in the blood.
The estimates of atherosclerosis extent involved
measuring free and ester cholesterol, two forms that accumulate in
plaques as they develop. The rate of this accumulation has been found to
be highly predictive of the actual amount of plaque present in the
vessels.
Adams said it is not clear exactly how the
high-vegetable diet influenced the development of plaques in the artery
walls.
"Although the pathways involved remain uncertain,
the results indicate that a diet rich in green and yellow vegetables
inhibits the development of hardening of the arteries and may reduce the
risk of heart disease," said Adams.
He said that a 37 percent reduction in a certain
marker of inflammation in mice suggests that vegetable consumption may
inhibit inflammatory activity.
"It is well known that atherosclerosis progression
is intimately linked with inflammation in the arteries," Adams said.
"Our results, combined with other studies, support the idea that
increased vegetable consumption inhibits atherosclerosis progression
through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways."
Numerous studies in humans have shown that a
high-vegetable diet is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular
disease, as well as with reductions in blood pressure and increases in
"good" cholesterol. This is believed to be the first study to address
the effect of increased vegetable consumption on the development or
progression of atherosclerosis.
Despite compelling evidence supporting the health
benefits of increased vegetable consumption, intake remains low, Adams
said. The mean consumption is 3.2 servings per days, with about 40
percent coming from starchy vegetables such as potatoes.
Editor's Notes:
The research was funded by the General Mills
Company, which supplied the freeze-dried vegetables.
Co-researchers were Deborah Golden, B.S., Haiying
Chen, Ph.D., Thomas Register, Ph.D., all with Wake Forest, and Eric T.
Gugger, Ph.D., with the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, General
Mills Company. The cholesterol analysis was performed by the Core
Lipoprotein Laboratory of the Department of Pathology/Lipid Sciences at
Wake Forest.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is
an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital
and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the
university's School of Medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranks Wake
Forest University School of Medicine 18th in family medicine, 20th in
geriatrics, 25th in primary care and 41st in research among the nation's
medical schools. It ranks 32nd in research funding by the National
Institutes of Health. Almost 150 members of the medical school faculty
are listed in Best Doctors in America.
About
Atherosclerosis
By Journal of the American Medical Association
Peripheral
Arterial Disease
Arteries carry blood from the heart to all areas of
the body and, when healthy, have a smooth lining that promotes blood
flow and helps to prevent blood clots. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
is a condition in which fatty deposits (called plaque) build up along
the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs. This is
also known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The arteries
slowly narrow and may even become blocked, affecting blood circulation,
especially in the legs and feet. The February 1, 2006, issue of JAMA
includes 2 articles about PAD. This Patient Page is based on one
previously published in the September 19, 2001, issue of JAMA.
SYMPTOMS OF PAD
●
Painful cramping of the leg or hip muscles during walking, in some cases
severe enough to hinder walking, that stops during rest; or numbness,
weakness, or a feeling of heaviness in the legs with no pain
●
Cooling of the skin in specific areas of the legs or feet
●
Color changes in the skin, particularly in the arms or legs
●
Toe and foot sores that do not heal promptly
●
Burning or aching in the feet and toes while at rest and particularly
while lying flat (this is a sign of more severe PAD)
RISK FACTORS OF PAD
●
Smoking is the number one risk factor for PAD and will interfere with
treatment of the disease. Individuals with PAD should stop smoking
completely because even 1 or 2 cigarettes daily can affect treatment.
●
Older age is a predictor for PAD—it occurs more frequently in those
individuals 60 years of age or older.
●
Diabetes is a significant risk factor for PAD. Individuals with diabetes
should keep strict control of their blood sugar to avoid serious
problems resulting from PAD.
●
High blood pressure
●
High cholesterol levels
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Tests
for PAD include comparing the blood pressure in the ankle with the blood
pressure in the arm. Measurement of ankle blood pressure is assisted by
a Doppler device, which amplifies the sound of blood flow.
Your
doctor can test you for PAD and recommend the best treatment to stop or
even reverse the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Individuals with PAD
should quit smoking, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet low in
fat and salt. Medications to control high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, high blood sugar, and blood clotting are often important.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease means narrowing of the
coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart). This
narrowing is due to a buildup in the walls of the arteries of plaque
(deposits made up of cholesterol, other fats, and calcium)—a process
called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). If a plaque becomes
delicate and breaks, a blood clot will quickly form that can block blood
flow in the artery and may lead to a myocardial infarction (death of the
heart muscle area supplied by the blocked artery), often referred to as
a heart attack.
SYMPTOMS
●
Coronary artery disease can develop slowly without any symptoms.
●
Angina—chest pain that can radiate to (or sometimes is limited to) the
shoulders, arms, or jaw. Angina usually lasts several minutes and may be
related to activity, exercise, large meals, cold, or stress. If angina
lasts more than 15 minutes, there is a risk that a heart attack may be
occurring.
●
Heart attack symptoms include severe chest pain, shortness of breath,
sweating, and nausea. Symptoms can be different in men and women, with
women more likely to experience unusual fatigue after activity rather
than chest pain.
If
you or anyone you know experiences heart attack symptoms, call
immediately for emergency medical evaluation.
DIAGNOSIS
Several tests can be performed in an emergency
department to determine if a heart attack is occurring. Blood tests can
detect certain substances in the blood that are released during a heart
attack. An electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) can reveal heart attacks and
heart rhythm problems.
TREATMENT
●
Nitrate medication (such as nitroglycerin) can be taken to help stop
angina attacks.
●
Blood—thinning drugs, such as aspirin, can help reduce the risk of blood
clots.
●
Statins (a kind of cholesterol-lowering drug) and beta-blockers (a kind
of blood pressure—lowering drug) can prevent heart attacks and premature
deaths.
●
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)—a thin balloon is threaded into
the blocked artery and inflated, pressing the plaque and widening the
artery to increase blood flow; a stent (a small flexible tube) is then
placed in the artery to keep it open.
●
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery—uses a vein from another
part of the body to bypass a severely blocked coronary artery.
PREVENTION
●
Don't smoke.
●
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
●
Keep high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes under control with
diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medications.
●
Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and low in
saturated fat.
● A
daily aspirin can reduce the risk of heart attack, especially among men
older than 50 years.
INFORM YOURSELF
>> To find this and other JAMA Patient Pages, go to
the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at
http://www.jama.com.
For more information:
>> American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
>> Vascular Disease Foundation
http://www.vdf.org
>> Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)- Journal of
American Medical Association
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/295/5/584
>>
Legs for Life (Society of Interventional Radiology)
>>
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
>>
P.A.D. Coalition (Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition)
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