|
|
|
Home >
Health Conditions > Heart Disease
Heart Disease
Related Topics:
Popular Supplements:
Alternative News:
-
The effects of folic acid
supplementation on endothelial function in adults: a systematic review and
dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - Nutr J 2023
Feb 24 - "Endothelial dysfunction serves as an early
marker for the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); therefore, it is an
attractive site of therapeutic interventions to reduce the risk of CVD ...
flow-mediated dilation (FMD%) ... These findings suggest that folic acid
supplementation may improve endothelial function by increasing FMD and FMD%
levels" - See folic acid products at Amazon.com.
-
The effects of saffron
supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review
and dose-response meta-analysis - Front Nutr 2022 Dec 8 -
"That seems saffron could effectively improve TG, TC, LDL, FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR,
SBP, CRP, TNF-α, WC, MDA, TAC, and ALT" - See
saffron supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Associations of dietary
flavonoids and subclasses with total and cardiovascular mortality among 369,827
older people: The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study - Atherosclerosis 2022 Dec
17 - "high intakes of flavonoids were linked to lower
total and CVD mortality among older people. Our results extended the current
evidence that frequent consumption of flavonoids could be a practical approach
to improving cardiovascular health during aging" - See
flavonoids at Amazon.com.
-
Several Supplements May Give the Heart a Boost - WebMD, 12/8/22 -
"Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, vegetable oils,
nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds, flaxseed oil, and leafy vegetables ...
Omega-6 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fats found in vegetable oils, nuts, and
seeds ... L-arginine, an amino acid that helps the body build protein. It can be
found in protein-rich foods like fish, red meat, poultry, soy, whole grains,
beans, and dairy products ... L-citrulline, a nonessential amino acid found in
watermelon ... Folic acid, a form of vitamin B9 used for deficiency and to
prevent pregnancy complications. It is added to cold cereals, flour, breads,
pasta, bakery items, cookies, and crackers, as required by federal law. Foods
that are naturally high in folate include leafy vegetables, okra, asparagus,
certain fruits, beans, yeast, mushrooms, animal liver and kidney, orange juice,
and tomato juice ... Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present
in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Fatty
fish (such as trout, salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and fish liver oils are among
the best sources ... Magnesium, which keeps blood pressure normal, bones strong,
and your heart rhythm steady. In addition to supplements, magnesium can be found
in green leafy vegetables like spinach, nuts, beans, peas, and soybeans, as well
as whole-grain cereals ... Zinc, found in chicken, red meat, and fortified
breakfast cereals ... Alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant made naturally in the
body and also found in foods. It is in red meat, carrots, beets, spinach,
broccoli, and potatoes ... Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant found in cold-water fish
like tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines; vegetable oils; and meats ...
Melatonin ... Plant-based polyphenols such as catechin, curcumin, flavanol,
genistein, and quercetin"
-
Antioxidant Properties and
Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects of a Natural Extract of Pomegranate in Healthy
Volunteers: A Randomized Preliminary Single-Blind Controlled Study -
Antioxidants (Basel) 2022 Oct 28 - "Pomegranates are
known to possess anti-hypertensive, anti-atherogenic and cardioprotective
effects mainly due to their pleiotropic effects on various cellular pathways,
especially those triggered by oxidative stress ... Urinary total phenolics
excretion and antioxidant capacity were significantly increased after 14 and 28
days of PE intake. At day 28, there were also statistically significant
decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), pulse wave velocity,
body fat and fat mass, as well as an increase in lean body mass. Significant
changes in the placebo group were not found. Glucocorticoid levels showed a
significant decrease in saliva cortisol at day 28 (morning) in the PE group, and
cortisol/cortisone ratio was significantly decreased following 28 days of PE
intake at morning, noon, and evening. Urine free cortisol was significantly
reduced at day 14. These findings suggest that pomegranate extract intake may
improve antioxidant and oxidative stress status and play a beneficial role in
the attenuation of some cardiovascular risk factors" - See
pomegranate extract at
Amazon.com.
-
Effect of Coffee Consumption
on Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of
Prospective Cohort Studies - Am J Cardiol 2022 Nov 2 -
"Previous prospective studies have reported inconsistent
findings on the association between coffee consumption and the risk of coronary
heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to investigate their association using a
meta-analysis of prospective studies ... In the main meta-analysis of all
studies, no significant association between coffee consumption and the risk of
CHD was observed (relative risk [RR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97 to
1.14, I2 = 64.9%). In the subgroup meta-analyses by gender, coffee consumption
significantly increased the risk of CHD in men (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.35, n
= 17), whereas a nonsignificantly decreased risk of CHD was observed in women
(RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.08, n = 11). Also, in the subgroup meta-analyses by
follow-up period, coffee consumption significantly increased the risk of CHD in
the follow-up of 20 years or longer (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.27, n = 4)
regardless of gender. In conclusion, in the current meta-analysis of prospective
studies, we found that, overall, no significant association between coffee
consumption and the risk of CHD was observed. However, coffee consumption showed
a differential effect by gender, with an increased risk of CHD in men and a
potentially decreased risk in women"
-
Comparing the effects of
docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids on cardiovascular risk factors:
Pairwise and network meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials - Nutr
Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2022 Sep 28 - "Our findings suggest
that both EPA and DHA act similarly on the markers under study, with slight
changes in plasma glucose, insulin, and LDL-C" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com and
docosahexaenoic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Berberine plays a
cardioprotective role by inhibiting macrophage Wnt5a/β-catenin pathway in the
myocardium of mice after myocardial infarction - Phytother Res 2022 Oct 11 -
"Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the diseases with
high fatality rate. Berberine (BBR) is a monomer compound with various
biological functions. And some studies have confirmed that BBR plays an
important role in alleviating cardiomyocyte injury after MI ... In summary, BBR
effectively improved cardiac function of mice after MI, and the potential
protective mechanism was associated with the regulation of inflammatory
responses and the inhibition of macrophage Wnt5a/β-catenin pathway in the
infarcted heart tissues. Importantly, these findings supported BBR as an
effective cardioprotective drug after MI" - See
berberine at Amazon.com.
-
One-year longitudinal
association between changes in dietary choline or betaine intake association
with cardiometabolic variables in the PREDIMED-Plus trial - Am J Clin Nutr
2022 Sep 16 - "The greatest one-year increase in dietary
choline or betaine intake (Q4) was associated with improved serum glucose (-3.39
and -2.72 mg/dL for choline or betaine, respectively) and glycated hemoglobin
levels (-0.10% for Q4 of either choline or betaine intake increase). Other
significant changes associated with the greatest increase in choline or betaine
intake were: reduced body weight (-2.93 and -2.78 Kg, respectively), BMI (-1.05
and -0.99 Kg/m2, respectively), waist circumference (-3.37 and -3.26 cm,
respectively), total cholesterol (-4.74 and -4.52 mg/dL, respectively) and LDL
cholesterol (-4.30 and -4.16 mg/dL, respectively). Urine creatinine was reduced
in Q4 of one-year increase in choline or betaine intake (-5.42 and -5.74 mg/dL,
respectively)" - See
citicholine at Amazon.com and betaine
anhydrous (TMG) at Amazon.com.
-
The effects of astaxanthin
supplementation on expression of microRNAs involved in cardiovascular diseases:
a systematic review of current evidence - Int J Food Sci Nutr 2022 Sep 17 -
"MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have biological roles in controlling
oxidative stress. Astaxanthin (AST) may regulate circulating miRNAs in
cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) ... The findings indicate that AST regulated
different pathways of miRNAs implicated in various conditions. Therefore AST as
a new therapeutic strategy could be essential in preventing and controlling
CVDs" - See astaxanthin at Amazon.com.
-
Associations of dietary
folate, vitamin B6 and B12 intake with cardiovascular outcomes in 115664
participants: a large UK population-based cohort - Eur J Clin Nutr. 2022 Sep
13 - "After multivariate adjustment, higher dietary
folate intake was inversely associated with CVDs with hazard ratios of 0.99,
0.92, and 0.88 in groups 2-4 compared with group 1 (the lowest group); inversely
associated with stroke with hazard ratios of 0.94, 0.90, and 0.86 groups 2-4
compared to group 1 (lowest group); inversely associated with MI with hazard
ratios of 1.01, 0.90 and 0.86 groups 2-4 compared to group 1 (lowest group);
inversely associated with CVD mortality with hazard ratios of 0.95, 0.80 and
0.74 Groups 2-4 compared to group 1 (lowest group). Each tablespoon/day higher
intake of raw vegetable intake, pieces/day higher intake of fresh fruit intake
bowls/week higher intake of cereal intake, and g/day higher intake of dietary
fiber were associated with higher intakes of folate every 0.02,0.06,0.05, and
0.08 SD, respectively"
- See folic acid products at Amazon.com.
-
Rewinding the clock on aging blood
vessels - YouTube, Harvard Medical School (Dr. David Sinclair on NMN) - See
NMN at Amazon.com.
-
Cellular senescence and
cardiovascular diseases: moving to the "heart" of the problem -
Physiol Rev 2022 Sep 1 - "Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)
constitute the prime cause of global mortality with an immense impact on patient
quality of life and disability. Clinical evidence has revealed a strong
connection between cellular senescence and worse cardiac outcomes in the
majority of CVDs concerning both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.
Cellular senescence is characterized by cell cycle arrest accompanied by
alterations in several metabolic pathways, resulting in morphological and
functional changes. Metabolic rewiring of senescent cells results in marked
paracrine activity, through a unique secretome, often exerting deleterious
effects on neighboring cells. Here, we recapitulate the hallmarks and key
molecular pathways involved in cellular senescence in the cardiac context and
summarize the different roles of senescence in the majority of CVDs. In the last
few years, the possibility of eliminating senescent cells in various
pathological conditions is being increasingly explored, giving rise to the field
of senotherapeutics"
-
Resveratrol supplementation
efficiently improves endothelial health: A systematic review and meta-analysis
of randomized controlled trials - Phytother Res 2022 Jul 14 -
"the results of this study suggest that resveratrol
supplementation can improve endothelial function which could be important,
especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D status, genetic
factors, and risk of cardiovascular disease among individuals with type 2
diabetes: a prospective study - Am J Clin Nutr 2022 Jun 30 -
"Higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly
associated with lower risks of total CVD and IHD among patients with T2D,
regardless of genetic susceptibility and genetic variants in VDR. Risk
reductions tended to plateau at serum 25(OH)D levels around 50 nmol/L. These
findings suggest that maintaining adequate vitamin D status and avoiding
deficiency may help to prevent CVD complications among patients with T2D"
- See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Omega-3 fatty acids,
subclinical atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular events: Implications for primary
prevention - Atherosclerosis 2022 Jun 20 - "coronary
artery calcium (CAC) ... In an ethnically diverse population free of clinical
CVD, higher plasma omega-3 fatty acid levels were associated with fewer
long-term CVD events. The absolute decrease in CVD events with higher omega-3
fatty acid levels was more apparent at higher CAC scores" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Associations between plasma
tryptophan and indole-3-propionic acid levels and mortality in patients with
coronary artery disease - Am J Clin Nutr 2022 Jun 21 -
"CAD patients with the highest quartile of tryptophan
and IPA levels had multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of 0.62 (95% confidence
interval [CI], 0.43, 0.89) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.50, 0.99), respectively, for
cardiovascular mortality and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.50, 0.90) and 0.75 (95%CI 0.57,
0.99), respectively, for all-cause mortality compared with that in CAD patients
in the lowest quartile. After multivariable adjustments, one standard deviation
increase in the continuous plasma tryptophan and IPA levels were respectively
associated with 16% and 14% decreases in the risk of cardiovascular mortality
and with 13% and 14% decreases in the risk of all-cause mortality"
-
3-Indolepropionic acid - Wikipedia -
"3-Indolepropionic acid (IPA), or indole-3-propionic acid, is a potent
neuroprotective antioxidant, plant auxin, and natural product in humans that
is being studied for therapeutic use in Alzheimer's disease.[2][3][4][5] It
is endogenously produced by human microbiota and has only been detected in
vivo when the species Clostridium sporogenes is present in the
gastrointestinal tract.[4][5][6] As of April 2016, C. sporogenes, which uses
tryptophan to synthesize IPA, is the only species of bacteria known to
synthesize IPA in vivo at levels which are subsequently detectable in the
blood plasma of the host" - See tryptophan at Amazon.com.
-
Effects of Collagen Peptide
Supplementation on Cardiovascular Markers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials - Br J Nutr 2022 Jun 6 -
"Previous studies have advocated that collagen peptide
supplementation (CPS) can positively affect cardiovascular health ... Pooled
data revealed that CPS significantly decreased fat mass (-1.21 kg; 95% CI:
-2.13, -0.29; I2 = 0.0%; p = 0.010), and increased fat-free mass, based on body
mass percentage (1.49 %; 95% CI: 0.57, 2.42; I2= 0.0%; p = 0.002). Moreover,
collagen peptide supplementation led to a significant decrease in serum
low-density lipoprotein (-4.09 mg/dl; 95% CI: -8.13, -0.04; I2 = 93.4%; p =
0.048) and systolic blood pressure (-5.04 mmHg; 95 % CI: -9.22, -0.85; I2 =
98.9%; p = 0.018). Our analysis also indicated that CPS did not affect glycemic
markers. Our outcomes indicate that CPS reduces fat mass, low-density
lipoprotein, and systolic blood pressure while increasing fat-free mass. Future
investigations with longer CPS duration are needed to expand on our results"
- See collagen supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Cannabis Use is Associated
with Prevalent Coronary Artery Disease - Am J Med Sci 2022 Apr 12 -
"Ever (versus never) cannabis users had 90% increased
odds of CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.90 (1.24 - 2.93), p = 0.003]. Those who had used
cannabis at least once per month for at least one year had 68% increased odds of
CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.68 (1.02-2.77), p = 0.04]. Current cannabis users had near
98% increased odds of CAD [OR (95% CI): 1.98 (1.11 - 3.54), p = 0.02]. Similar
results were seen with heavy cannabis users [OR (95% CI): 1.99 (1.02 - 3.89), p
= 0.045]. These results were consistent in subgroups stratified by race, gender,
hypertension, obesity, COPD, hyperlipidemia, tobacco smoking status, and
diabetes"
-
'Promising Signals' With
Cocoa Flavanols to Reduce CV Events? - Medscape, 4/12/22 -
"included over 21,000 older adults randomly assigned to
receive either treatment or placebo. It showed that 3.6 years of cocoa flavanol
supplementation was associated with 10% lower rate of total CV events, including
myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, CVD death, revascularization, and unstable
angina, but was not statistically significant ... There was, however, a
statistically significant 27% reduction in CV death, a secondary endpoint"
- See dark Chocolate at Amazon.com.
-
Coenzyme Q10 as Adjunctive
Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension: A Systematic Review - J
Nutr 2022 Mar 28 - "CoQ10 supplementation in patients
with heart failure improved functional capacity, increased CoQ10 serum levels,
and led to fewer major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). CoQ10 had positive
quantifiable effects on inflammatory markers in patients with ischemic heart
disease. Myocardial hemodynamics improved in patients who received CoQ10
supplementation prior to cardiac surgery. Effects on hypertension were
inconclusive" - See ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
100g of
cranberries a day improves cardiovascular health, study finds - Science
Daily, 3/22/22 - "men who consumed whole cranberry
powder equivalent to 100g of fresh cranberries per day (9 g powder) or a placebo
for one month. Those consuming cranberry had a significant improvement in
flow-mediated dilation (FMD), which signals improvement of heart and blood
vessel function. FMD is considered a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular
disease risk and measures how blood vessels widen when blood flow increases"
- See cranberry extract at Amazon.com.
-
Effect of cocoa flavanol
supplementation for prevention of cardiovascular disease events: The COSMOS
randomized clinical trial - Am J Clin Nutr 2022 Mar 16 -
"Participants were randomly assigned to a cocoa extract
supplement (500 mg/d flavanols, including 80 mg (-)-epicatechins) or placebo ...
Cocoa extract supplementation did not significantly reduce total cardiovascular
events among older adults but reduced CVD death by 27%" -
See cocoa at Amazon.com.
-
5-Heptadecylresorcinol
Protects Against Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by
Modulating SIRT3 Signaling: The Possible Beneficial Effects of Whole Grain
Consumption - Mol Nutr Food Res 2022 Mar 17 - "Whole
grain consumption has been proven to be inversely associated with the risk of
cardiovascular diseases. As a biomarker for whole grain dietary intake,
5-heptadecylresorcinol (AR-C17) has attracted increased attention due to its
potential health-improving activity. However, the beneficial effect of AR-C17 on
atherosclerosis prevention and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. High-fat
diet fed ApoE-/- mice were administrated with or without AR-C17 (30 and 150
mg/kg) for 16 weeks. Histological staining was performed for plaque analysis.
Immunofluorescence, western blot and seahorse cell analysis were carried out to
investigate the action of mechanism of AR-C17. The results indicated that AR-C17
supplementation lowered serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL-C and LDL-C
levels. Moreover, the atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root region of mice
heart were significantly reduced by AR-C17 intervention compared with ApoE-/-
control group. In addition, AR-C17 treatment alleviated endothelial cell damage
and apoptosis by improving mitochondrial function via SIRT3 signaling pathway
both in ApoE-/- mice and oxidized-LDL-treated HUVECs. AR-C17 might be applied as
a promising grain-based dietary bioactive ingredient for atherosclerosis
prevention. Meanwhile, as a mitochondrial protective agent, it can offer support
for the suggested health claim of whole grain diet" - Note: My most
frequent meal is whole grain rice noodles using salt free chicken broth with
some chicken, vegetables and Morton Lite salt added. See
brown rice pasta at Amazon.com
 .
-
The Association of
Consumption Time for Food With Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality
Among Diabetic Patients - J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022 Mar 15 -
"Higher intake of potato or starchy vegetable in
forenoon, whole grain in the afternoon, and dark vegetable and milk in the
evening and lower intake of processed meat in the evening was associated with
better long-term survival in people with diabetes"
-
Scientists characterize the imbalanced gut bacteria of patients with myocardial
infarction, angina and heart failure - Science Daily, 2/18/22 -
"However, the early microbiome changes persisted in
patients with heart disease who in addition showed specific heart disease
related alterations in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. Both
at the early dysmetabolic stage and at the later stages of diagnosed heart
disease, the diseased microbiome was characterized by a loss of bacterial cells
and bacterial competences. In addition, the patients showed a shift towards
fewer types of bacteria known to produce health promoting compounds like short
chain fatty acids and more bacteria types producing unhealthy compounds from the
metabolism of certain dietary amino acids, choline and L-carnitine. Analyses of
the blood compounds mirrored the imbalance of the gut microbiome ...
Intervention in both humans and rodents have shown that an imbalanced gut
microbiome at various stages of heart disease development can be modified and
partly restored by eating a more plant-based and energy-controlled diet,
avoidance of smoking and compliance with daily exercise" - See
probiotic supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Ginseng in
vascular dysfunction: A review of therapeutic potentials and
molecular mechanisms - Phytother Res 2022 Jan 13 -
"Vascular dysfunction can lead to a
variety of fatal diseases, including cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancer.
Although a large number of studies have reported the therapeutic
effects of natural compounds on vascular-related diseases,
ginseng is still the focus of research. Ginseng and its active
substances have bioactive effects against different diseases
with vascular dysfunction. In this review, we summarized the key
molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of ginseng, its
different active ingredients or formula in the prevention and
treatment of vascular-related diseases, including
cardiac-cerebral vascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes
complications, and cancer. Moreover, the bidirectional roles of
ginseng in promoting or inhibiting angiogenesis have been
highlighted" - See
ginseng at Amazon.com.
-
Serum Potassium Levels of
4.5 to Less Than 5.0 mmol/L Are Associated with Better Vascular Function
- J Atheroscler Thromb 2021 Dec 23 - "Serum potassium
levels of 4.5-＜5.0 mmol/L are associated with better vascular function
regardless of the presence or absence of treatment with drugs that could alter
serum potassium levels" -
Note: That's the higher third of normal. Mine is at 4.5 so maybe I should
increase it a little. See potassium citrate at Amazon.com.
-
Science Reveals How Red Meat Harms the Heart - WebMD, 12/29/21 -
"Researchers found that particular gut bacteria, more
abundant in red-meat eaters, are key in turning a dietary nutrient called
carnitine into a foe: a chemical known as TMAO, which helps promote
blood-clotting and clogged arteries ... The traditional suspect was saturated
fat, found almost exclusively in animal products. Saturated fat can boost "bad"
LDL cholesterol, which contributes to cardiovascular disease ... But, Hazen
said, research has shown that any ill effects of saturated fat are not enough to
explain the excess heart disease risks linked to heavy red-meat consumption.
There had to be other mechanisms ... Hazen, too, said he is a "big supporter" of
using diet to change the gut microbiome, rather than adding certain bugs via
probiotic supplements ... "Changing your diet changes the soil" that feeds gut
microbes ... The researchers also analyzed stool samples from people who took
part in the 2019 diet study. They found that when participants were eating a lot
of red meat, their stool harbored more of the culprit E. timonensis microbes;
when they switched to non-meat protein sources, those microbial levels dropped
... fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi, which contain certain microbes, can
be good choices. But again, she stressed, overall diet is what's key in
supporting a healthy gut" - What about prebiotics is your goal is to
change the soil?
-
Non-linear Mendelian
randomization analyses support a role for vitamin D deficiency in cardiovascular
disease risk - Eur Heart J 2021 Dec 5 - "There was a
L-shaped association between genetically predicted serum 25(OH)D and CVD risk (Pnon-linear
= 0.007), where CVD risk initially decreased steeply with increasing
concentrations and levelled off at around 50 nmol/L. A similar association was
seen for systolic (Pnon-linear = 0.03) and diastolic (Pnon-linear = 0.07) BP"
- See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Olive oil consumption is
associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke - Clin
Nutr 2021 Nov 15 - "Olive oil is associated with lower
risk of CVD and stroke. The maximum benefit could be obtained with a consumption
between 20 and 30 g/day. The association could be stronger for virgin olive oil
and might operate from the early stages of the disease" - See
olive leaf extract at Amazon.com but it
could just be the omega-9 in olive oil.
-
For
cardiovascular disease patients, more physical activity may be better, research
suggests - Science Daily, 12/2/21 - "the researchers
found no evidence of an upper physical activity limit above which there is no
further health benefit"
-
Fish Intake and MRI Burden
of Cerebrovascular Disease in Older Adults - Neurology 2021 Nov 3 -
"Fish intake may prevent cerebrovascular disease (CVD),
yet the mechanisms are unclear, especially regarding its impact on subclinical
damage ... In this large population-based study, higher frequency of fish intake
was associated with lower CVD burden, especially among participants younger than
75 years, suggesting a beneficial effect on brain vascular health before
manifestation of overt brain disease" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Plant Polyphenols Lignans
and Cardiovascular Disease - Medscape, 10/12/21 -
"The evidence is building that there is an association between polyphenol intake
and chronic disease, especially for CVD. Plant polyphenols may be important
components of healthy plant-based diets that contribute to freedom from chronic
diseases such as CVD, diabetes, and possibly cancer and so are associated with a
reduction in all-cause mortality. However, although the associations are
promising, it would be helpful to have trial data, both for total and individual
polyphenols. At the same time, such trials would be difficult to undertake, and
sustained adherence may not be possible to achieve even over short periods of
time, as seen with the difficulty in increasing fruit and vegetable intake,[15]
let alone adherence over the number of years as required to see chronic disease
events. Perhaps an exception to this concern is the PREDIMED trial, in which
foods were provided that are considered highly desirable, as nuts and olive oil,
for the duration of the trial, and adherence was excellent."
-
Low Iron in Midlife May Boost Risk for Heart Disease - WebMD, 10/19/21 -
"With low iron, the heart must pump harder, which
can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, and a higher risk of heart attacks and
strokes ... people with functional iron deficiency were 24% more likely to get
coronary heart disease during the study. They were also 26% more likely to die
from heart attacks or other cardiovascular causes and 12% more likely to die
from any cause. The researchers found no link between functional iron deficiency
and stroke" - See iron supplements at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Oxidative stress and
inflammation are associated with age-related endothelial dysfunction in men with
low testosterone - J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021 Oct 1 -
"middle-age and older (MA/O) men ... Healthy MA/O men
with low testosterone appear to have greater age-associated endothelial
dysfunction, related in part to greater oxidative stress and inflammation. These
data suggest that low testosterone concentrations may contribute to accelerated
vascular aging in men"
-
Iron
deficiency in middle age is linked with higher risk of developing heart disease
- Science Daily, 10/4/21 - "Approximately 10% of new
coronary heart disease cases occurring within a decade of middle age could be
avoided by preventing iron deficiency ... Functional iron deficiency was
associated with a 24% higher risk of coronary heart disease, 26% raised risk of
cardiovascular mortality, and 12% increased risk of all-cause mortality compared
with no functional iron deficiency. Absolute iron deficiency was associated with
a 20% raised risk of coronary heart disease compared with no absolute iron
deficiency, but was not linked with mortality. There were no associations
between iron status and incident stroke ... The study showed that iron
deficiency was highly prevalent in this middle-aged population, with nearly
two-thirds having functional iron deficiency ... These individuals were more
likely to develop heart disease and were also more likely to die during the next
13 years" - See iron supplements at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Intermittent fasting can help manage metabolic disease - Science Daily,
9/22/21 - "Eating your daily calories within a
consistent window of 8-10 hours is a powerful strategy to prevent and manage
chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease"
-
Lignan Intake and Risk of
Coronary Heart Disease J Am Coll Cardiol 2021 Aug 17 -
"Increased long-term intake of lignans was associated
with a significantly lower risk of total CHD in both men and women. Possible
synergistic effects may exist between lignan and fiber intake in relation to CHD
risk reduction, possibly through enhancing the production of enterolignans"
-
Serum Magnesium Is Inversely
Associated With Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, and Microvascular
Complications in Type 2 Diabetes - Diabetes Care 2021 Aug -
"We investigated whether serum magnesium (Mg2+) was
prospectively associated with macro- or microvascular complications and mediated
by glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]), in type 2 diabetes (T2D) ... The
average baseline serum Mg2+ concentration was 0.80 ± 0.08 mmol/L. During 6.1
years of follow-up, serum Mg2+ was inversely associated with major macrovascular,
0.87 (95% CI 0.76; 1.00); HF, 0.76 (95% CI 0.62; 0.93); and AF, 0.59 (95% CI
0.49; 0.72). Serum Mg2+ was not associated with AMI, CHD, CVA, and PAD. During
5.1 years of follow-up, serum Mg2+ was inversely associated with overall
microvascular events, 0.85 (95% CI 0.78; 0.91); 0.89 (95% CI 0.82; 0.96) for
CKD, 0.77 (95% CI 0.61; 0.98) for diabetic retinopathy, and 0.85 (95% CI 0.78;
0.92) for diabetic foot. HbA1c mediated the associations of serum Mg2+ with HF,
overall microvascular events, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic foot." -
See magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Potential benefits of Berry
Anthocyanins on Vascular function - Mol Nutr Food Res 2021 Aug 3 -
"Cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as hypertension and
atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of global death. Endothelial dysfunction
(ED) is a strong predictor for most CVD making it a therapeutic target for both
drug and nutrition interventions. It has been previously shown that polyphenols
from wine and grape extracts possess vasodilator activities, due to the
increased expression and phosphorylation of the endothelial nitric oxide
synthase (eNOS), and consequent vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) production. This
is vital in the prevention of endothelial dysfunction, as NO production
contributes to the maintenance of endothelial homeostasis. Moreover, polyphenols
have the ability to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can cause
oxidative stress, as well as suppress the upregulation of inflammatory markers
within the endothelium. However, while the majority of the research has focused
on red wine, this has overshadowed the potential of other nutritional components
for targeting ED, such as the use of berries. Berries are high in anthocyanin
flavonoids a subtype of polyphenols with studies suggesting improved vascular
function as a result of inducing NO production and reducing oxidative stress and
inflammation" - See blueberry extract at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Potential protective effects
of Aloe vera gel on cardiovascular diseases: A mini-review - Phytother Res
2021 Aug 5 - "Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) comprise
the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality in both men and women
worldwide. CVDs are associated with several risk factors such as hyperlipidemia,
diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, tobacco smoking and an unhealthy diet.
Currently, in addition to the use of related pharmacological treatments in the
management of CVDs, the investigation of other suitable healthcare approaches
for these disorders such as the identification of herbal medicines has been
considered in the scientific communities. Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is a perennial
medicinal plant. The innermost leaf layer of this plant contains transparent
gel, which is used as food. Pre-clinical studies have shown several biological
activities of A. vera gel (AVG), including antidiabetic, lipid-lowering,
antioxidant, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects.
Other pharmacological activities of AVG such as anti-fibrotic,
anti-hypertensive, and anti-atherosclerotic effects have been reported.
Moreover, several clinical studies have demonstrated the ameliorating effects of
AVG on some markers of CVDs risk factors" - See
aloe vera supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Leucine induces
cardioprotection in vitro by promoting mitochondrial function via mTOR and Opa-1
signaling - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 Jul 10 -
"Coronary heart disease is a major global health concern. Further, severity of
this condition is greatly influenced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)
injury. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have cardioprotective effects against
I/R via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity, wherein Leu is considered
to particularly regulate mTOR activation ... Leu treatment is critical in
rendering a cardioprotective effect exhibited by BCAAs via mTOR signaling"
- See
leucine products at Amazon.com and
leucine at iHerb.
-
Eating
more plant foods may lower heart disease risk in young adults, older women -
Science Daily, 8/4/21 - "People who scored in the top 20% on the long-term diet
quality score (meaning they ate the most nutritionally rich plant foods and
fewer adversely rated animal products) were 52% less likely to develop
cardiovascular disease, after considering several factors (including age, sex,
race, average caloric consumption, education, parental history of heart disease,
smoking and average physical activity) ... In addition, between year 7 and 20 of
the study when participants ages ranged from 25 to 50, those who improved their
diet quality the most (eating more beneficial plant foods and fewer adversely
rated animal products) were 61% less likely to develop subsequent cardiovascular
disease, in comparison to the participants whose diet quality declined the most
during that time."
-
Whole Grains May Lower Risk of Heart Disease in Older Adults - WebMD,
7/13/21 - "An analysis of over 3,000 middle- and
older-age adults over many years found that those who ate at least three
servings of whole grains daily had smaller increases in blood sugar levels,
blood pressure, and waist size, compared to those who ate less than one-half
serving per day ... For each 4-year interval, the researchers found that waist
size increased by about one-half inch in people who had high whole-grain intake,
compared to 1 inch in those who had low intake. Average increases in blood
pressure and blood sugar levels were also lower in high-intake adults"
-
Testosterone Replacement
Shows CV Benefit in Hypogonadal Men - Medscape, 7/12/21 -
"The latest results come from a study of 805 men with
hypogonadism from Germany and Qatar who were followed for nearly a decade. For
those who received parenteral testosterone 1000 mg every 12 weeks, there were
improvements in classical cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, lipid
level, and inflammatory markers, whereas among those who chose not to take
testosterone (control patients), all of these factors worsened ... In addition,
there were only 16 deaths among patients in the TRT group, and none of the
deaths were from myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke ... In contrast, there
were 74 deaths among the control patients, as well as 70 cases of MI and 59
strokes"
-
Meta-analysis Supports
Cardiovascular Benefits of EPA - Medscape, 7/8/21 -
"The meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials found that omega-3 fatty
acids improved cardiovascular outcomes, with a greater reduction in
cardiovascular risk in studies of EPA alone rather than of combined
eicosapentaenoic plus docosahexaenoic (DHA) supplements" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Starchy Snacks, ‘Western-Style’ Lunches May Harm Heart Health - WebMD,
6/28/21 - "Eating a Western lunch (typically containing
refined grains, cheese, and cured meat) was associated with a 44% increased risk
of dying from heart and vascular disease ... Eating a fruit-based lunch was
associated with a 34% reduced risk of dying from heart and vascular disease ...
Eating a vegetable-based dinner was associated with a 23% lower risk of dying
from heart disease and a 31% lower risk of dying from any cause ... Eating a
snack high in starch after any meal was associated with a 50% to 52% increased
risk of dying from any cause and a 44% to 57% increased risk of dying from heart
disease"
-
Coffee consumption and
cardiovascular diseases and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: A
systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies - Nutr
Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 May 24 - "Compared to those
with no coffee consumption, the HRs for consumption of 4 cups/d were 0.79
(95%CI: 0.72, 0.87; n = 10 studies) for all-cause mortality, 0.60 (95%CI: 0.46,
0.79; n = 4) for CVD mortality, 0.68 (95%CI: 0.51, 0.91; n = 3) for coronary
heart disease (CHD) mortality, 0.72 (95%CI: 0.54, 0.98; n = 2) for CHD, and 0.77
(95%CI: 0.61, 0.98; n = 2) for total CVD events. There was no significant
association for cancer mortality and stroke. There was an inverse monotonic
association between coffee drinking and all-cause and CVD mortality, and inverse
linear association for CHD and total CVD events ... Drinking coffee may be
inversely associated with the risk of mortality in patients with type 2
diabetes. However, more research is needed considering type of coffee, sugar and
cream added to coffee, and history of CVD to present more confident results"
-
Curcumin's Effect on
Inflammatory Response following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Adult
Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease - Int J Angiol 2021 Jun -
"Cardiovascular diseases play major roles in the health
problems worldwide especially in Indonesia. Percutaneous coronary intervention
(PCI) is a minimally invasive procedure with relatively low complications.
However, high inflammatory response post-PCI has showed adverse events even
after administration of standard medication. Previous studies showed that
curcumin was able to reduce inflammatory response in adult patients with stable
coronary heart disease (CHD) ... Either curcumin (45 mg/day) or placebo was
given 7 days prior to PCI until 2 days after PCI ... Curcumin significantly
reduce the serum hsCRP ( p = 0.006) and sCD40L ( p = 0.002) 7 days before PCI to
48 hours post-PCI. The decrement of hsCRP (-14.2% vs. -7.4%) and sCD40L (-24.3%
vs. -13.2%) from 24 to 48 hours post-PCI was higher in the curcumin group than
placebo group. The administration of curcumin 45 mg dose daily for 7 days prior
PCI until 48 hours post-PCI is useful in reducing inflammatory response post-PCI
with stable CHD" - See curcumin at Amazon.com.
-
Effect of probiotic
supplementation along with calorie restriction on metabolic endotoxemia, and
inflammation markers in coronary artery disease patients: a double blind placebo
controlled randomized clinical trial - Nutr J 2021 Jun 1 -
"Alterations in the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) has been
associated with increased microbial translocation, leading to chronic
inflammation in coronary artery disease (CAD). It has been proposed that
modulation of gut microbiota by probiotic might modify metabolic endotoxemia ...
These data provide preliminary evidence that probiotic supplementation has
beneficial effects on metabolic endotoxemia, and mega inflammation in
participants with CAD" - See probiotic supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Study
of 70,000 individuals links dementia to smoking and cardiovascular disease -
Science Daily, 5/13/21 - "These results suggest that
smoking and cardiovascular disease impact verbal learning and memory throughout
adulthood, starting as early as age 18 ... Smoking is associated with decreased
learning and memory function in women, while cardiovascular is associated with
decreased learning and memory function in men"
-
One cup
of leafy green vegetables a day lowers risk of heart disease - Science
Daily, 5/4/21 - "Researchers examined data from over
50,000 people residing in Denmark taking part in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and
Health Study over a 23-year period. They found that people who consumed the most
nitrate-rich vegetables had about a 2.5 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and
between 12 to 26 percent lower risk of heart disease ... The greatest reduction
in risk was for peripheral artery disease (26 percent), a type of heart disease
characterised by the narrowing of blood vessels of the legs, however we also
found people had a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure ...
the optimum amount of nitrate-rich vegetables was one cup a day and eating more
than that didn't seem to give any additional benefits"
-
Could Taking Viagra Come
With an Extra Perk? - Medscape, 3/24/21 - "The
researchers identified around 240,000 Swedish men who had a prior myocardial
infarction or revascularization. Of that group, around 20,000 were receiving
medication for ED — mostly PDE5 inhibitors but enough on alprostadil to do the
analysis. ... Topline results: Men taking PDE5 inhibitors for ED were way less
likely to have MIs, coronary revascularization, or heart failure than those
taking alprostadil. In fact, over the course of up to 15 years of follow-up, 14%
of men died of any cause in the PDE5 group compared with 26% in the alprostadil
group" - Related study:
-
Erectile dysfunction drug 'effective' as heart failure treatment -
Science Daily, 5/1/19 - "The study of Tadalafil -- which
is in the same class as Viagra -- proves that the drug is biologically effective
as a treatment for heart failure in sheep ... When the animals had heart failure
-- induced by pace makers -- which was sufficiently advanced to need treatment,
the team administered the drug. Within a short period the progressive worsening
of the heart failure was stopped and, importantly the drug reversed the effects
of heart failure ... And the biological cause of breathlessness in heart
failure- the inability of the heart to respond to adrenaline was almost
completely reversed" - See
tadalafil at reliablerxpharmacy.com.
-
The effects of
co-administration of probiotics and prebiotics on chronic inflammation, and
depression symptoms in patients with coronary artery diseases: a randomized
clinical trial - Nutr Neurosci 2021 Feb 28 - "we are
interested in exploring of anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant effects of
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G (LGG), a probiotic strain, alone or in combination
with a prebiotic, Inulin, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) ...
This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was held on 96 patients with CAD.
Patients were randomly allocated into four different groups: LGG [a capsule/day,
contained 1.9 × 109 colony-forming unit of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G], inulin
(15 g/day), co-supplemented (LGG and inulin), and placebo. Participants consumed
the supplements for two months. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), MacNew
questionnaire and Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-Y) were used
to assess depression, quality of life and anxiety, respectively. Serum levels of
C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor
(TNF)-α, and Interleukin (IL)-10 were also measured ... Co-supplementation of
probiotics and inulin in CAD subjects for eight weeks had beneficial effects on
depression, anxiety, and inflammatory biomarkers. Adding inulin to probiotic
supplements improved psychological outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers more
effectively than two supplements separately" - See
probiotic supplements at Amazon.com
and prebiotic supplements at
Amazon.com.
-
Study
finds two servings of fish per week can help prevent recurrent heart disease
- Science Daily, 3/8/21 - "The critical ingredient is
omega-3 fatty acids, which researchers found was associated with a lower risk of
major CVD events such as heart attacks and strokes by about a sixth in high-risk
people who ate two servings of fish rich in omega-3 each week" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Big Data 'Clinches' Link
Between High Glycemic Index Diets and CVD - Medscape, 2/24/21 -
"This new analysis from PURE — a massive prospective
epidemiological study — shows people with a diet in the highest quintile of
glycemic index had a significant 25% higher rate of combined total deaths and
major CVD events during a median follow-up of nearly 10 years, compared with
those with a diet in the lowest glycemic index quintile"
-
Eating
more refined grains increases risk of heart attack, early death - Science
Daily, 2/19/21 - "The study found that having more than
seven servings of refined grains per day was associated with a 27 per cent
greater risk for early death, 33 percent greater risk for heart disease and 47
per cent greater risk for stroke"
-
Long-term, heavy coffee consumption and CVD risk - Science Daily, 2/18/21 -
"In a world first genetic study, researchers from the
Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Australia
found that that long-term, heavy coffee consumption -- six or more cups a day --
can increase the amount of lipids (fats) in your blood to significantly heighten
your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) ... Cafestol is mainly present in
unfiltered brews, such as French press, Turkish and Greek coffees, but it's also
in espressos, which is the base for most barista-made coffees, including lattes
and cappuccinos ... There is no, or very little cafestol in filtered and instant
coffee, so with respect to effects on lipids, those are good coffee choices"
-
Coffee
lovers, rejoice! Drinking more coffee associated with decreased heart failure
risk - Science Daily, 2/9/21 - "In all three
studies, people who reported drinking one or more cups of caffeinated coffee had
an associated decreased long-term heart failure risk ... In the Framingham Heart
and the Cardiovascular Health studies, the risk of heart failure over the course
of decades decreased by 5-to-12% per cup per day of coffee, compared with no
coffee consumption ... In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, the
risk of heart failure did not change between 0 to 1 cup per day of coffee;
however, it was about 30% lower in people who drank at least 2 cups a day ...
Drinking decaffeinated coffee appeared to have an opposite effect on heart
failure risk -- significantly increasing the risk of heart failure in the
Framingham Heart Study. In the Cardiovascular Health Study however; there was no
increase or decrease in risk of heart failure associated with drinking
decaffeinated coffee. When the researchers examined this further, they found
caffeine consumption from any source appeared to be associated with decreased
heart failure risk, and caffeine was at least part of the reason for the
apparent benefit from drinking more coffee." - Note: It's the
caffeine stupid. The thing about coffee is that the water should go through the
pods at around 200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. There are only two that do that.
One costs over $300, The other is the Touch. The ones that they sell in Costco
only reach 170 degrees which is why the coffee tastes like piss. Coffee
increases SHBG which may not be good. You might
be able to counteract it with Tongkat ali and/or
boron.
-
Whole Wheat Is Better for You Than White Bread - WebMD, 2/4/21 -
"People who reported eating 12 ounces of refined grains
a day were found to have 27% higher odds of early death and a 33% higher risk of
heart disease than those who limited their intake to less than 2 ounces a day
... A diet heavy in refined grains was also linked to higher blood pressure, the
findings showed"
-
Green Tea, Coffee May Help You Avoid a 2nd Heart Attack - WebMD, 2/4/21 -
"Stroke survivors who drank at least seven cups per day
were 62% less likely to die during the study period, versus non-drinkers.
Similarly, the risk was cut by 53% among heart attack survivors who downed that
much tea ... Green tea was not the only beverage tied to longer life. For heart
attack survivors -- as well as people with no cardiovascular problems --
moderate coffee intake was also linked to better survival."
-
Fried
food intake linked to heightened serious heart disease and stroke risk -
Science Daily, 1/18/21 - "they pooled the data from
six, involving 754,873 participants and 85,906 deaths over an average monitoring
period of 9.5 years, to assess the potential link between fried food consumption
and deaths from cardiovascular disease and from any cause ... Their analysis
showed that compared with the lowest category of weekly fried food consumption,
the highest was associated with a 28% heightened risk of major cardiovascular
events; a 22% heightened risk of coronary heart disease; and a 37% heightened
risk of heart failure"
-
Glucosamine may reduce overall death rates as effectively as regular exercise,
study suggests - Science Daily, 12/1/20 - "taking
glucosamine/chondroitin every day for a year or longer was associated with a 39
percent reduction in all-cause mortality ... It was also linked to a 65 percent
reduction in cardiovascular-related deaths" - See
glucosamine chondroitin formulas at Amazon.com
and
iHerb.
-
The Role of the Gut
Microbiota in Coronary Heart Disease - Curr Atheroscler Rep 2020 Oct 16 -
"Studies have shown that the gut microbiota is
associated with obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, which are
risk factors for coronary heart disease. The gut microbiota is involved in
mediating basic metabolic processes, such as cholesterol metabolism, uric acid
metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory reactions, through its
metabolites, which can induce the development of atherosclerosis and coronary
heart disease. Interfering with the composition of gut microbiota, supplementing
probiotics, and fecal donation are active areas of research to potentially
prevent and treat coronary heart disease. Gut microbiota are causally associated
with coronary heart disease. We analyzed the gut microbiota's effects on risk
factors for coronary heart disease and studied the effects of gut microbiota
metabolites on coronary heart disease. Gut microbiota is a potential target for
preventing and treating coronary heart disease." - See
probiotic supplements at Amazon.com
and
iHerb.
-
The Anti-Inflammatory Effect
of Taurine on Cardiovascular Disease - Nutrients 2020 Sep 17 -
"Taurine exerts anti-inflammatory effects that improve
diabetes and has shown benefits to the cardiovascular system, possibly by
inhibition of the renin angiotensin system" - See
taurine at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Authoritative new analysis links increased omega-3 intake to cardioprotection
and improved cardiovascular outcomes - Science Daily, 9/18/20 -
"A new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings
provides the most comprehensive analysis of the role of omega-3 dosage on
cardiovascular prevention to date. The meta-analysis, which is an in-depth
review of 40 clinical trials, provides authoritative evidence for consuming more
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 fats ... The
research concludes that EPA and DHA omega-3 intake is associated with reduced
risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events, the cause of 7.4 million deaths
globally each year, and reduced risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack),
including fatal heart attack ... Specifically, the study found that EPA+DHA
supplementation is associated with a statistically significant reduced risk of:
Fatal myocardial infarction (35 percent) ... Myocardial infarction (13 percent)
... CHD events (10 percent) ... CHD mortality (9 percent) ... People should
consider the benefits of omega-3 supplements, at doses of 1000 to 2000 mg per
day -- far higher than what is typical, even among people who regularly eat
fish" - See omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Curcumin Suppresses
Aldosterone-Induced CRP Generation in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via
Interfering with the ROS-ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway - Evid Based Complement
Alternat Med 2020 Aug 7 - "The results provide new
evidence for the potential anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective
effects of curcumin" - See curcumin at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Flu Vaccine Protective
Against Stroke, CV Events? - Medscape, 7/30/20 -
"Adults over the age of 50 years had a vaccination rate of 1.8% compared with
15.3% in the general population ... But these older adults who were vaccinated
had better outcomes in the year following vaccination, with a 28% lower risk of
MI, a 73% lower risk of death, a 47% lower risk of TIA, and a 73% lower risk of
all-cause mortality ... Among patients with obesity, 2.4% were vaccinated
compared with 9% of those with a healthy weight. And flu vaccination in obese
patients was associated with a 41% reduction in MI, a 55% reduction in TIA, and
a 76% reduction in all-cause mortality"
-
How
good gut bacteria help reduce the risk for heart disease - Science Daily,
7/8/20 - "Eubacterium limosum ... The chemical
linked to the clogged arteries that characterize atherosclerosis is called
trimethylamine, or TMA. It is produced during metabolism when some intestinal
microbes -- generally the bacteria considered unhelpful to humans -- interact
with certain nutrients from food. Among those nutrients is L-carnitine, a
chemical compound found in meat and fish that is also used as a nutritional
supplement to improve recovery after exercise ... Up until now, the only known
gut microbial reactions with L-carnitine involved converting it into its bad
form. We've discovered that a bacterium known to be beneficial could remove a
methyl group and send the resulting product down another pathway without making
any other harmful compounds in the process ... In these interactions,
L-carnitine functions as a growth substrate -- a compound consumed so the
organism can live and grow, and also a target for enzyme activity. In the study,
the researchers fed E. limosum cultures an assortment of potential substrates,
including L-carnitine. Only when offered L-carnitine did the microbe synthesize
the MtcB protein specifically to lop off L-carnitine's methyl group -- in
essence, MtcB is part of the bacteria's natural way to consume the nutrient"
- See probiotic supplements at Amazon.com
and
iHerb.
-
Pyrroloquinoline
quinone can prevent chronic heart failure by regulating mitochondrial function
- Card Diag Ther Jun 2020 - "Myocardial mitochondrial
dysfunction is the leading cause of chronic heart failure (CHF). Increased
reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, disruption of mitochondrial biogenesis and
mitochondrial Ca2+([Ca2+]m) homeostasis and reduction of the mitochondrial
membrane potential (ΔΨm) cause myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction ... These
results show that PQQ can prevent [Ca2+]m overload by increasing NCLX expression
and thereby reducing ROS production and protecting the ΔΨm. At the same time,
PQQ can increase PGC-1α and TFAM expression to regulate mitochondrial
biogenesis. These factors can prevent mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby
reducing cardiac damage caused by pressure overload and preventing the
occurrence of CHF" - [Nutra
USA] - See pyrroloquinoline quinone at Amazon.com
and iHerb.
-
Combined anthocyanins and
bromelain supplement improves endothelial function and skeletal muscle
oxygenation status in adults: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized
crossover clinical trial - Br J Nutr 2020 Jul 14 -
"Anthocyanins and bromelain have gained significant attention due to their
antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Both have been shown to improve
endothelial function, blood pressure (BP), and oxygen utility capacity in
humans, however the combination of these two and the impacts on endothelial
function, BP, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and oxygen utility capacity have
not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate
the impacts of a combined anthocyanins and bromelain supplement (BE) on
endothelial function, BP, TAC, oxygen utility capacity, and fatigability in
healthy adults. Healthy adults (n=18, age 24±4) received BE or placebo in a
randomized crossover design. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), BP,
TAC, resting heart rate, oxygen utility capacity, and fatigability were measured
pre-and post-BE and placebo intake. The BE group showed significantly increased
FMD, reduced systolic BP, and improved oxygen utility capacity compared placebo
group (p<0.05). Tissue saturation and oxygenated hemoglobin significantly
increased following BE intake while deoxygenated hemoglobin significantly
decreased (p<0.05) during exercise. Additionally, TAC was significantly
increased following BE intake" - See
anthocyanins at Amazon.com and
iHerb and bromelain at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Vitamin D 3 Reduces Risk of
Cardiovascular and Liver Diseases by Lowering Homocysteine Levels:
Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial - Br J Nutr 2020 Jun 1
- "Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the
placebo (n = 50) and the vitamin D (n = 50) which received 50,000 IU vitamin D3
per week for 2 months ... the tHcy, CRP, AST, ALT, and eGFR levels after the
second month of vitamin D3 intervention were significantly (p < 0.001) decreased
and the 25(OH)D, urea, and creatinine levels were significantly (p < 0.001)
increased in the treatment group. In the placebo group, no significant changes
were identified throughout the follow up period. In conclusion, vitamin D3
intervention with a treatment dose of 50,000 IU per week for at least 2 months
may help in lowering homocysteine and CRP levels and may improve liver function
tests, which in turn might help in minimizing the risk of CVD and liver diseases
among overweight women but negatively affect kidney function" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com and
vitamin D
at iHerb.
-
Association of Dietary
Vitamin K and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Middle-Age Adults: The Hordaland
Health Study Cohort - BMJ 2020 May 21 - "During a
median follow-up time of 11 years, we documented 112 incident CHD cases. In the
adjusted analyses, there was no association between intake of vitamin K1 and CHD
(HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.92 (95% CI 0.54 to 1.57), p for trend 0.64), while there was a
lower risk of CHD associated with higher intake of energy-adjusted vitamin K2
(HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.52 (0.29 to 0.94), p for trend 0.03). Further adjustment for
potential dietary confounders did not materially change the association for K1,
while the association for K2 was slightly attenuated (HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.58 (0.28 to
1.19)) ... A higher intake of vitamin K2 was associated with lower risk of CHD,
while there was no association between intake of vitamin K1 and CHD" - [Nutra
USA] - See vitamin k2 at Amazon.com and
iHerb.
-
Effect of a Combination of
Citrus Flavones and Flavanones and Olive Polyphenols for the Reduction of
Cardiovascular Disease Risk: An Exploratory Randomized, Double-Blind,
Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Subjects - Nutrients 2020 May 19 -
"A single-center, randomized, double-blind controlled
trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of a food supplement based on a
combination of grapefruit, bitter orange, and olive extracts administered for
eight weeks (n = 51) versus placebo (n = 45) on reduction of cardiovascular risk
in healthy volunteers ... In the active product group, there were statistically
significant within-group differences at eight weeks as compared with baseline in
FMD, systolic and diastolic BP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL-oxidase,
oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio, protein carbonyl, and IL-6. Significant
between-group differences in these variables were also found. Significant
changes in anthropometric variables and quality of life were not observed in the
study groups. Changes in the level of physical activity were not recorded.
Treatment with the active product was well tolerated. All these findings, taken
together, support a beneficial effect of supplementation with a mixture of
grapefruit, bitter orange fruits, and olive leaf extracts on underlying
mechanisms that may interact each other to decrease the cardiovascular risk in
healthy people" - [Nutra
USA] - See citrus extracts at Amazon.com
and
iHerb and olive leaf extract at Amazon.com
and
iHerb.
-
REDUCE-IT: CV Benefit of
Icosapent Ethyl Directly Related to EPA Levels - Medscape, 4/2/20 -
"The REDUCE-IT trial, reported in 2018, enrolled 8179
patients who had elevated cardiovascular risk already treated with statins. It
found that a high dose of icosapent ethyl (4 g daily) reduced the rate of
cardiovascular events by 25% over a median of 4.9 years of follow-up ... Prior
to REDUCE-IT, icosapent ethyl was approved for the treatment of patients with
triglycerides above 500 mg/dL, and it was anticipated that it would bring about
benefits to a broader population of patients at cardiovascular risk primarily by
lowering triglycerides ... However, the current analysis found that the lion's
share of the drug's large cardiovascular benefit is driven by achieved EPA
levels, and not the lowering of triglycerides" - Note:
4 grams per
day of Vascepa runs $355 per month. I doubt if most insurance
companies would cover it. See omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Associations of habitual fish
oil supplementation with cardiovascular outcomes and all cause mortality:
evidence from a large population based cohort study - BMJ 2020;368:m456 -
"A total of 427 678 men and women aged between 40 and 69
who had no CVD or cancer at baseline were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and
followed up to the end of 2018 ... participants answered questions on the
habitual use of supplements, including fish oil ... The multivariable adjusted
hazard ratios for habitual users of fish oil versus non-users were 0.87 (95%
confidence interval 0.83 to 0.90) for all cause mortality, 0.84 (0.78 to 0.91)
for CVD mortality, and 0.93 (0.90 to 0.96) for incident CVD events. For CVD
events, the association seemed to be stronger among those with prevalent
hypertension" - [Nutra
USA] - See omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Analysis predicts purified fish oil could prevent thousands of cardiovascular
events - Science Daily, 3/25/20 - "Researchers from
the University of California, Irvine have conducted a statistical analysis that
predicts more than 70,000 heart attacks, strokes and other adverse
cardiovascular events could be prevented each year in the U.S. through the use
of a highly purified fish oil therapy ... The REDUCE-IT trial showed patients
with known cardiovascular disease or diabetes and multiple risk factors who have
elevated triglyceride levels and are at increased risk for ischemic events
benefitted substantially from icosapent ethyl, a highly purified fish oil
therapy, which lowered cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and
strokes, by 25 percent. Positive results were not found in other trials,
possibly due to mixtures with other omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA, or
inadequate dosages according to Wong ... Icosapent ethyl is a purified stable
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which was recently approved by the Federal Drug
Administration (FDA) in conjunction with maximally tolerated statin therapy to
reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in certain adults with elevated
triglyceride levels"
-
Prescription Fish Oil: 5
Things to Know - Medscape, 1/13/20 - "With its
expanded indication, icosapent ethyl can now be used as an adjunct to statin
therapy to reduce CV events in patients with elevated TG levels (≥150 mg/dL) and
established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or diabetes and at
least two other CV risk factors. This recommendation is based on outcomes from
REDUCE-IT, which demonstrated a 25% reduced risk of major CV events in patients
receiving icosapent ethyl, and a 35% reduced risk reduction in participants with
a history of ASCVD ... The available prescription fish oils are not true fish
oil products, but rather are different formulations of omega-3 fatty acids
derived from fish oil. Five prescription omega-3 PUFA are currently available in
the United States, four of which are approved by the FDA to lower serum TG
levels (Table), and one of which (Vascazen, Pivotal Therapeutics) is an
FDA-regulated medical food for omega-3 deficiency in patients with CVD."
-
Brush
your teeth to protect the heart - Science Daily, 12/2/19 -
"Tooth brushing three or more times a day was associated
with a 10% lower risk of atrial fibrillation and a 12% lower risk of heart
failure during 10.5-year follow up ... While the study did not investigate
mechanisms, one possibility is that frequent tooth brushing reduces bacteria in
the subgingival biofilm (bacteria living in the pocket between the teeth and
gums), thereby preventing translocation to the bloodstream"
-
FDA Panel Recommends
High-Dose EPA for CV Event Reduction - Medscape, 11/14/19 -
"The new indication discussed at the advisory committee
meeting is based on the REDUCE-IT trial, which showed a 25% relative risk
reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events with icosapent ethyl vs placebo
in patients with triglycerides over 135 mg/dL and who had cardiovascular disease
(70% of the study population), or who were high-risk primary prevention patients
with diabetes and one additional risk factor (30% of the study population) ...
While the study showed an overall significant 25% reduction in major adverse
cardiovascular events in the whole study population, the benefit was greater in
those patients with established cardiovascular disease (35% relative risk
reduction). The high-risk primary prevention population showed a nonsignificant
relative risk reduction of 16%" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Fish Oil Supplements May Do Your Heart Good - WebMD, 9/30/19 -
"The most up-to-date review of data from 13 prior
studies found daily omega-3 fish oil supplement use tied to a significant
lowering of risk for heart attack ... Daily use of the supplement -- typically
about 840 milligrams per day -- was also linked to a lower overall risk of dying
from heart disease ... the 13 studies involved data on more than 120,000 adults,
a sample size that is 64% larger than any other yet conducted ... the
researchers pointed out that there was a "dose-response" relationship in the
findings: The more omega-3 fish oil a person took in each day, the greater their
protection against heart disease" - [Science
Daily] - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
D and fish oil show promise in prevention of cancer death and heart attacks
- Science Daily, 9/24/19 - "Nearly 26,000 U.S. men and
women participated in the nationwide VITAL clinical trial. After more than five
years of study and treatment, the results show promising signals for certain
outcomes. For example, while Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) showed only a small,
but nonsignificant, reduction in the primary cardiovascular endpoint of major
CVD events, they were associated with significant reductions in heart attacks.
The greatest treatment benefit was seen in people with dietary fish intake below
the cohort median of 1.5 servings per week but not in those whose intake was
above that level. In addition, African-Americans appeared to experience the
greatest risk reductions. The heart health benefits are now confirmed by recent
meta-analyses of omega-3 randomized trials. ... Similarly, vitamin D
supplementation did not reduce major CVD events or total cancer incidence but
was associated with a statistically significant reduction in total cancer
mortality among those in the trial at least two years. The effect of vitamin D
in reducing cancer death is also confirmed by updated meta-analyses of vitamin D
trials to date." - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com
and
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
E found to prevent muscle damage after heart attack - Science Daily, 9/16/19
- "Unfortunately lasting damage to the heart muscle is
not uncommon following such an event ... As there is currently no drug available
that can reduce the cardiac damage caused by an overshooting inflammation after
reopening of a blocked coronary artery, the potential impact of our finding on
cardiovascular health would be significant" - Here's the abstract:
-
Higher
iron levels may boost heart health -- but also increase risk of stroke -
Science Daily, 7/16/19 - "The results reveal not only
are naturally higher iron levels associated with a lower risk of high
cholesterol levels, they also reduce the risk of arteries becoming furred with a
build-up of fatty substances ... However the research, funded by the Wellcome
Trust, also revealed the potential risks associated with naturally higher iron
levels. These included a higher risk of blood clots related to slow blood flow
blood -- a common cause of stroke -- and a higher risk of bacterial skin
infection ... getting the right amount of iron in the body is a fine balance --
too little can lead to anemia, but too much can lead to a range of problems
including liver damage" - See
iron supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Scales Tip Toward 'Fish
Oil' PUFA Intake for Heart Failure Prevention - Medscape, 7/16/19 -
"The greater the plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a prevalent n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA, also called omega-3 PUFA), the lower the
risk for both forms of HF during a median follow-up of 13 years ... Similar
independent observations were made for plasma levels of docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) and of EPA and DHA combined, suggesting that increased levels of n-3 PUFA
in general may confer cardiovascular (CV) benefits ... This study clearly
demonstrated a significant independent inverse correlation between circulating
levels of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid, and the
occurrence of HF over a long median follow-up period of 13 years ... Fish-oil
supplements would likely be more effective than eating more fish to achieve the
n-3 PUFA levels that may be of benefit ... As both the report and editorial
note, n-3 PUFA supplementation at the fairly low dosage of 1 g/day, added to
standard therapy, was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and HF
hospitalization rates over about 4 years in the 2008 GISSI-HF trial ... In an
analysis adjusted for age, sex, race, body-mass index, smoking status, type 2
diabetes, blood pressure, lipids, lipid-lowering therapy, albuminuria, and types
of PUFA, percent-EPA was inversely associated with risk for HF at a hazard ratio
(HR) of 0.73 for each log-unit difference" - Note: It just burns me
up that doctors will make the blanket statement that supplements don't have any
benefits despite study after study they do. See
Vast
majority of dietary supplements don't improve heart health or put off death,
study finds - Science Daily, 7/16/19, The counter argument is that
though it might not be a majority, there are a huge number of supplements that
do show a benefit for specific diseases plus if that's true, why do the vast
majority of doctors and nurses take supplements? See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com
and
docosahexaenoic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
D and estradiol help guard against heart disease, stroke, and diabetes -
Science Daily, 6/12/19 - "vitamin D has been associated
with several markers of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hyperglycemia,
insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Supplementation with vitamin D
has been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome over a 20-year follow-up
... Because the synergistic benefits of vitamin D and estrogen are already
documented to improve bone health in women, researchers in this newest study
from China hypothesized that the same interaction might affect metabolic
syndrome. The cross-sectional study included 616 postmenopausal women aged 49 to
86 years who were not taking estrogen and vitamin D/calcium supplements at the
beginning of the trial. It concluded there was a positive correlation between
vitamin D and estradiol" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Eating
blueberries every day improves heart health - Science Daily, 5/30/19 -
"They looked at the benefits of eating 150 gram portions
(one cup) compared to 75 gram portions (half a cup). The participants consumed
the blueberries in freeze-dried form and a placebo group was given a purple-coloured
alternative made of artificial colours and flavourings ... We found that eating
one cup of blueberries per day resulted in sustained improvements in vascular
function and arterial stiffness -- making enough of a difference to reduce the
risk of cardiovascular disease by between 12 and 15 per cent ... Unexpectedly,
we found no benefit of a smaller 75 gram (half cup) daily intake of blueberries
in this at-risk group. It is possible that higher daily intakes may be needed
for heart health benefits in obese, at-risk populations, compared with the
general population"
-
A gut
check for heart failure patients - Science Daily, 5/26/19 -
"Heart failure patients had lower biodiversity of
intestinal microbes than healthy controls, with differences in the two main
phyla of bacteria present in the human gut. Patients with heart failure had a
lower ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) compared to controls, and this
difference was even more pronounced when the cause of heart failure was non-ischaemic
... Dietary and outcome analyses were performed in heart failure patients.
Patients who had a heart transplant or died had lower biodiversity and a lower
F/B ratio than controls. Regarding diet, bacterial diversity and Firmicutes
levels were positively associated with fibre intake ... Our findings suggest
that the altered microbiota composition found in patients with chronic heart
failure might be connected to low fibre intake"
-
Why
lack of sleep is bad for your heart - Science Daily, 5/21/19 -
"people who sleep fewer than 7 hours per night have
lower blood levels of three physiological regulators, or microRNAs, which
influence gene expression and play a key role in maintaining vascular health
... MicroRNAs are small molecules that suppress gene expression of certain
proteins in cells. The exact function of circulating microRNAs in the
cardiovascular system, and their impact on cardiovascular health is
receiving a lot of scientific attention, and drugs are currently in
development for a variety of diseases, including cancer, to correct impaired
microRNA signatures ... They are like cellular brakes, so if beneficial
microRNAs are lacking that can have a big impact on the health of the cell
... people with insufficient sleep had 40 to 60 percent lower circulating
levels of miR-125A, miR-126, and miR-146a, (previously shown to suppress
inflammatory proteins) than those who slept enough"
-
Glucosamine
Supplements Linked to Lower CVD Event Risks - Medscape, 5/14/19 -
"Glucosamine use was associated with a 15% lower
risk for total CVD events and a 9% to 22% lower risk for stroke, coronary
heart disease (CHD), and CVD death after adjustment for age, sex, body mass
index, race, lifestyle factors, diet, medications, and other supplements ...
A few other cohort studies have raised this question including the Vitamins
and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort study, in which high glucosamine use (at least
4 days per week for at least 3 years) was associated with a 17% lower
adjusted total mortality risk ... the associations may be driven by the
anti-inflammatory properties of glucosamine or that the popular supplement
may mimic a low carbohydrate diet by decreasing glycolysis and increasing
amino acid catabolism" - See
glucosamine products at Amazon.com.
-
Cardiovascular Benefits
of Fish-Oil Supplementation Against Fine Particulate Air Pollution in China
- J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Apr 30;73(16):2076-2085 - "The
authors observed beneficial effects of fish-oil supplementation on 5 biomarkers
of blood inflammation, coagulation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, and
neuroendocrine stress response in the fish-oil group at a false discovery rate
of <0.05" - [Nutra
USA] - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
An omega-3 fatty acid
plasma index ≥4% prevents progression of coronary artery plaque in patients with
coronary artery disease on statin treatment - Atherosclerosis. 2019 Apr
13;285:153-162 - "EPA and DHA added to statins prevented coronary plaque
progression in nondiabetic subjects with mean LDL-C <80 mg/dL, when an omega-3
index ≥4% was achieved. Low omega-3 index <3.43% identified nondiabetic subjects
at risk of coronary plaque progression despite statin therapy. These findings
highlight the importance of measuring plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids early
and at trial conclusion. Targeting an omega-3 index ≥4% maximizes cardiovascular
benefit" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Omega-3 intake is
associated with attenuated inflammatory response and cardiac remodeling after
myocardial infarction - Nutr J. 2019 May 6;18(1):29 -
"Omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3) bear anti-inflammatory effects, which may
mitigate the inflammatory response during MI ... The intake of ω-3 below the
median (< 1.7 g/day) was associated with a short-term increase in hs-C-reactive
protein [OR:1.96(1.24-3.10); p = 0.004], Interleukin-2 [OR:2.46(1.20-5.04);
p = 0.014], brain-type natriuretic peptide [OR:2.66(1.30-5.44); p = 0.007],
left-ventricle end-diastolic volume [OR:5.12(1.11-23.52)]; p = 0.036] and
decreases in left-ventricle ejection fraction [OR:2.86(1.47-6.88); p = 0.017]
after adjustment for covariates" - See
omega-3 supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Cardioprotective Effect
of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response During Chronic Pressure Overload
- J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Apr 16;73(14):1795-1806 - " Boosting the UPRmt with
nicotinamide riboside (which augments NAD+ pools) in cardiomyocytes in vitro or
hearts in vivo significantly mitigated the reductions in mitochondrial oxygen
consumption induced by these stresses. In mice subjected to pressure overload,
nicotinamide riboside reduced cardiomyocyte death and contractile dysfunction.
Myocardial tissue from patients with aortic stenosis also showed evidence of
UPRmt activation, which correlated with reduced tissue cardiomyocyte death and
fibrosis and lower plasma levels of biomarkers of cardiac damage
(high-sensitivity troponin T) and dysfunction (N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic
peptide)." - [Nutra
USA] - See nicotinomide riboside at Amazon.com.
-
Eat
your vegetables (and fish): Another reason why they may promote heart health
- Science Daily, 11/6/18 - "New research in rats finds
that low-dose treatment with TMAO reduced heart thickening (cardiac fibrosis)
and markers of heart failure in an animal model of hypertension ... TMAO levels
in the blood significantly increase after eating TMAO-rich food such as fish and
vegetables. In addition, the liver produces TMAO from trimethylamine (TMA), a
substance made by gut bacteria ... A new finding of our study is that [a] four-
to five-fold increase in plasma TMAO does not exert negative effects on the
circulatory system. In contrast, a low-dose TMAO treatment is associated with
reduced cardiac fibrosis and [markers of] failing heart in spontaneously
hypertensive rats"
-
Caffeine from four cups of coffee protects the heart with the help of
mitochondria - Science Daily, 6/21/18 - "Caffeine
consumption has been associated with lower risks for multiple diseases,
including type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, but the mechanism
underlying these protective effects has been unclear. A new study now shows that
caffeine promotes the movement of a regulatory protein into mitochondria,
enhancing their function and protecting cardiovascular cells from damage ... the
protective effect was reached at a concentration equivalent to consumption of
four cups of coffee ... Caffeine was protective against heart damage in
pre-diabetic, obese mice, and in aged mice"
-
Gut
microbiome plays an important role in atherosclerosis - Science Daily,
5/2/18 - "patients with unexplained atherosclerosis had
significantly higher blood levels of these toxic metabolites that are produced
by the intestinal bacteria ... "The finding, and studies we have performed
since, present us with an opportunity to use probiotics to counter these
compounds in the gut and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease," said Gregor
Reid, PhD, professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, scientist at Lawson"
- See
probiotic products at Amazon.com.
-
Novel
antioxidant makes old blood vessels seem young again - Science Daily,
4/19/18 - "Half took 20 milligrams per day of a supplement called MitoQ, made by
chemically altering the naturally-occurring antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 to make it
cling to mitochondria inside cells ... The other half took a placebo ... The
researchers found that when taking the supplement, dilation of subjects'
arteries improved by 42 percent, making their blood vessels, at least by that
measure, look like those of someone 15 to 20 years younger. An improvement of
that magnitude, if sustained, is associated with about a 13 percent reduction in
heart disease, Rossman said. The study also showed that the improvement in
dilation was due to a reduction in oxidative stress" - See
MitoQ at Amazon.com.
-
Dietary
supplement shows promise for reversing cardiovascular aging - Science Daily,
3/29/18 - "a new University of Colorado Boulder
study published today indicates that when people consume a natural dietary
supplement called nicotinomide riboside (NR) daily, it mimics caloric
restriction, aka "CR," kick-starting the same key chemical pathways responsible
for its health benefit ... Supplementation also tends to improve blood pressure
and arterial health ... it is well tolerated and appears to activate some of the
same key biological pathways that calorie restriction does ... Half were given a
placebo for six weeks, then took a 500 mg twice-daily dose of nicotinamide
riboside (NR) chloride (NIAGEN). The other half took NR for the first six weeks,
followed by placebo ... The researchers found that 1,000 mg daily of NR boosted
levels of another compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) by 60
percent. NAD+ is required for activation of enzymes called sirtuins, which are
largely credited with the beneficial effects of calorie restriction ... in 13
participants with elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension (120-139/80-89
mmHg), systolic blood pressure was about 10 points lower after supplementation.
A drop of that magnitude could translate to a 25 percent reduction in heart
attack risk" - See Niagen at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
D reduces early mortality - Science Daily, 3/1/18 -
"people who have suffered from cardiovascular disease, and have a normal intake
of vitamin D, reduce their risk of morality as a consequence of the disease by
30 per cent ... The study showed that it is favourable to have blood values
around 42 to 100 nmol/l. If you have higher or lower values, you are at greater
risk of dying from cardiovascular disease" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Benefit-Risk Assessment of
Crataegus Extract WS 1442 - Medscape, 2/5/18 - "Preparations from Crataegus
(hawthorn) have a long history in the treatment of heart failure ... Changes in
heart failure-associated symptoms and health-related QoL during treatment with
WS 1442 were assessed in several trials.[37,43,45,56,57] In two trials, the von
Zerssen Complaints List,[61] a validated self-rating questionnaire assessing 24
general symptoms, some of which (e.g., shortness of breath, fatigue) are
particularly important in heart failure, was used. In the study reported by
Leuchtgens,[56] which included 30 patients (15 per group), those treated with WS
1442 for 8 weeks showed a significantly more pronounced decrease of the total
score of the scale than those in the placebo group (mean value difference 7.3
points, 95% CI 0.9–13.7, according to[52]). In the study of Tauchert[37] in
which 209 patients received 1800 or 900 mg/day WS 1442 or placebo for 16 weeks,
both WS 1442 dosages showed a significantly more pronounced total score decrease
compared to placebo" - See hawthorn betty
extract at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
D3 could help heal or prevent cardiovascular damage - Science Daily, 1/30/18
- "A major discovery from these studies is that vitamin
D3 is a powerful stimulator of nitric oxide (NO), which is a major signaling
molecule in the regulation of blood flow and the prevention of the formation of
clots in the cardiovasculature. Additionally, vitamin D3 significantly reduced
the level of oxidative stress in the cardiovascular system ... Most importantly,
these studies show that treatment with vitamin D3 can significantly restore the
damage to the cardiovascular system caused by several diseases, including
hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, while also reducing the risk of
heart attack ... "There are not many, if any, known systems which can be used to
restore cardiovascular endothelial cells which are already damaged, and Vitamin
D3 can do it," Malinski said. "This is a very inexpensive solution to repair the
cardiovascular system. We don't have to develop a new drug. We already have
it."" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Coffee with a high
content of chlorogenic acids and low content of hydroxyhydroquinone improves
postprandial endothelial dysfunction in patients with borderline and stage 1
hypertension - Eur J Nutr. 2018 Jan 12 - "Compared with baseline values,
single intake of coffee with a high content of chlorogenic acids and low content
of hydroxyhydroquinone, but not coffee with a high content of chlorogenic acids
and high content of hydroxyhydroquinone or placebo coffee, significantly
improved postprandial flow-mediated vasodilation and decreased circulating
8-isoprostane levels" - [Nutra
USA] - See chlorogenic acid at
Amazon.com.
-
L-Arginine and B vitamins
improve endothelial function in subjects with mild to moderate blood pressure
elevation - Eur J Nutr. 2016 Nov 5 - "unique
combination of L-arginine with the vitamins B6, folic acid and B12 ... Subjects
aged 40-65 years with mild to moderate blood pressure (BP) elevation not treated
with anti-hypertensive drugs were randomly assigned to either the dietetic
product (n = 40) or a matching placebo (n = 41) for 3 months with open follow-up
for a further 3 months ... his trial confirmed the effective and safe use of
dietary management with L-arginine in combination with B vitamins. The primary
efficacy analysis demonstrated a statistically significant superiority of the
combination of L-arginine with B vitamins over placebo in improving and
restoring impaired endothelial function and lowering BP in patients with mild to
moderate blood pressure elevation" - [Nutra
USA]
-
A randomised controlled
trial comparing a dietary antiplatelet, the water-soluble tomato extract
Fruitflow, with 75 mg aspirin in healthy subjects - Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016
Nov 23 - "Increasing numbers of food ingredients are
gaining acknowledgement, via regulated health claims, of benefits to human
health. One such is a water-soluble tomato extract, Fruitflow (FF), a dietary
antiplatelet. We examined relative platelet responses to FF and to 75 mg aspirin
(ASA) in healthy subjects ... The suppression of platelet function observed
after consuming FF is approximately one-third that of daily 75 mg ASA. The
reversible action of FF renders it less likely to overextend the time to form a
primary haemostatic clot than ASA, an important safety consideration for primary
prevention" - [Nutra
USA] - See Fruitflow at Amazon.com.
-
Cardiovascular Disease
Death Before Age 65 in 168 Countries Correlated Statistically with Biometrics,
Socioeconomic Status, Tobacco, Gender, Exercise, Macronutrients, and Vitamin K
- Cureus. 2016 Aug 24;8(8):e748 - "The attributable
risks of the variables in the CVD early death formula were: too much alcohol
(0.38%), too little vitamin K2 (6.95%), tobacco (6.87%), high blood pressure
(9.01%), air pollution (9.15%), early childhood death (3.64%), poverty (7.66%),
and male gender (6.13%)" - [Nutra
USA] - See
MK-7 at Amazon.com.
-
Novel Form of Curcumin
Improves Endothelial Function in Young, Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind
Placebo Controlled Study - J Nutr Metab. 2016;2016:1089653 -
"In apparently healthy adults, 8 weeks of 200 mg oral
curcumin supplementation resulted in a clinically meaningful improvement in
endothelial function as measured by FMD. Oral curcumin supplementation may
present a simple lifestyle strategy for decreasing the risk of cardiovascular
diseases" - [Nutra
USA] - See
CurcuWIN® at Amazon.com.
-
NACIAM: N-Acetylcysteine
Reduces Infarct Size - Medscape, 8/28/16 - "Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)
imaging performed within 1 week and again 3 months post-MI showed that patients
who received NAC had reductions in infarct size of 33% and 50%, respectively,
compared with placebo ... Over 2 years of follow-up, the combination of cardiac
readmissions and deaths was less frequent in NAC-treated (three vs 16 patients"
- See
n-acetyl cysteine at Amazon.com.
-
Taurine and magnesium
supplementation enhances the function of endothelial progenitor cells through
antioxidation in healthy men and spontaneously hypertensive rats - Hypertens
Res. 2016 Jul 14 - "Endothelial damage is repaired by
endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are pivotal in preventing
cardiovascular diseases and prolonging lifespan ... Taurine and Mg
supplementation increased EPC colony formation in healthy men and improved
impaired EPC function in SHRs through antioxidation, indicating that the dietary
intake of taurine and Mg may prolong lifespan by preventing the progression of
cardiovascular diseases" - See
Magtein at Amazon.com
and
taurine at Amazon.com.
-
Novel
Form of Curcumin Improves Endothelial Function in Young, Healthy Individuals
- FASEB Journal Apr 2016 - "CurcuWIN®, a novel curcumin
formulation containing 20% curcuminoids (CUR), resulted in 45.9 fold greater
absorption over standard curcumin ... Fifty-nine moderately trained men (n=30;
21±2 years; 173.8±20.0 cm; 79.4±11.0 kg) and women (n=29; 21±2 years; 164.9±6.5
cm; 60.1±8.0 kg) were randomly assigned to ingest 50 mg CUR (in the form of 250
mg CurcuWIN®), 200 mg CUR (in the form of 1000 mg CurcuWIN®), or placebo (PLA)
for eight weeks ... These data demonstrate 200mg CUR improves FMD (endothelial
function) in healthy young subjects. Further, in those with baseline FMD ≤7% FMD
(at risk) 50mg CUR and 200mg CUR improves endothelial function. Given every 1%
increase in FMD reduces cardiovascular disease risk by 9–17%; further research
in clinical populations is recommended to clarify the true nature of the effect
and potential mechanism(s)" - [Nutra
USA] - See CurcuWIN® at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
D improves heart function, study finds - Science Daily, 4/4/16 -
"In the 80 patients who took Vitamin D3, the heart's
pumping function improved from 26% to 34%. In the others, who took placebo,
there was no change in cardiac function" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Associations
of egg and cholesterol intakes with carotid intima-media thickness and risk of
incident coronary artery disease according to apolipoprotein E phenotype in men:
the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2016
Feb 10 - "common carotid artery intima-media thickness
(CCA-IMT) ... Egg or cholesterol intakes were not associated with the risk of
CAD ... Egg or cholesterol intakes were also not associated with increased
CCA-IMT"
-
Garlic and
Heart Disease - J Nutr. 2016 Jan 13 - "Garlic
supplementation reduced blood pressure by 7-16 mm Hg (systolic) and 5-9 mm Hg
(diastolic) (4 meta-analyses and 2 original studies). It reduced total
cholesterol by 7.4-29.8 mg/dL (8 meta-analyses)" - See
garlic supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Greater
Total Antioxidant Capacity from Diet and Supplements Is Associated with a Less
Atherogenic Blood Profile in U.S. Adults - Nutrients. 2016 Jan 4;8(1) -
"The findings of this study support the hypothesis that
an antioxidant-rich diet and intake of supplements are beneficial to reduce CVD
risk"
-
Magnesium
Levels in Drinking Water and Coronary Heart Disease Mortality Risk: A
Meta-Analysis - Nutrients. 2016 Jan 2;8(1) -
"drinking water magnesium level was significantly inversely associated with CHD
mortality" - See
Jarrow Formulas, MagMind at Amazon.com.
-
Contribution
of vitamin D deficiency to the risk of coronary heart disease in subjects with
essential hypertension - Atherosclerosis. 2015 Nov 23 -
"Patients in the lowest quartile of 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin-D
experienced the most number of hard CHD events. A significant linear trend was
observed in hazard ratios (HR) of incident hard CHD events in
25-Hydroxy-Vitamin-D quartiles which remained significant after multiple
adjustments for conventional CHD risk-factors (HRs in full-adjusted model: 2.87
[1.76-4.70] for 1st quartile, 2.31 [1.39-3.83] for 2nd quartile and 1.87
[1.15-3.03] for 3rd quartile, compared with the highest quartile" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Low n-6/n-3
PUFA Ratio Improves Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and
Endothelial Function in Rats Using Plant Oils as n-3 Fatty Acid Source -
Lipids. 2015 Nov 2 - "The 1:1 and 5:1 ratio groups had
significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol, and proinflammatory cytokines compared with the 20:1
group ... The 1:1 group had a significantly decreased lipid peroxide level
compared with the other groups ... We demonstrated that low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio
(1:1 and 5:1) had a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors by
enhancing favorable lipid profiles, having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative
stress effects, and improving endothelial function. A high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio
(20:1) had adverse effects"
-
Omega-6 fatty acids - University of Maryland Medical Center -
"The typical American diet tends to contain 14 - 25
times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids"
-
Vitamin
D pill a day may improve exercise performance and lower risk of heart disease
- Science Daily, 11/1/15 - "Previous studies suggest
that vitamin D can block the action of enzyme 11-βHSD1, which is needed to make
the "stress hormone" cortisol. High levels of cortisol may raise blood pressure
by restricting arteries, narrowing blood vessels and stimulating the kidneys to
retain water. As Vitamin D may reduce circulating levels of cortisol, it could
theoretically improve exercise performance and lower cardiovascular risk factors
... gave 13 healthy adults matched by age and weight 50μg of vitamin D per day
or a placebo over a period of two weeks ... Adults supplementing with vitamin D
had lower blood pressure compared to those given a placebo, as well as having
lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their urine. A fitness test found
that the group taking vitamin D could cycle 6.5km in 20 minutes, compared to
just 5km at the start of the experiment. Despite cycling 30% further in the same
time, the group taking vitamin D supplements also showed lower signs of physical
exertion" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Converting between IU and mg/mcg - 50 mcg = 2000 IU of vitamin
D.
- While on the subject of cortisol, I was ordering a supply of
deprenyl a.k.a. selegiline the other
day that I've been taking for years for anti-aging and an article
said that it also reduced cortisol as an additional benefit. I
researched it and came up with this:
-
Exclusive olive oil consumption has a protective effect on coronary
artery disease; overview of the THISEAS study - Public Health Nutr.
2015 Jul 30:1-7 - "Exclusive olive oil
consumption was associated with 37 % lower likelihood of developing
coronary artery disease, even after taking into account adherence to the
Mediterranean diet"
-
Vitamin C related to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, early death
- Science Daily, 7/7/15 - "those with the
highest intake of fruit and vegetables have a 15% lower risk of
developing cardiovascular disease and a 20% lower risk of early death
compared with those who very rarely eat fruit and vegetables. At the
same time, we can see that the reduced risk is related to high vitamin C
concentrations in the blood from the fruit and vegetables ... Among
other things, vitamin C helps build connective tissue which supports and
connects different types of tissues and organs in the body. Vitamin C is
also a potent antioxidant which protects cells and biological molecules
from the damage which causes many diseases, including cardiovascular
disease" - See
American Health Products - Ester C W/Citrus Bioflavonoids, 1000 mg, 180 veg tablets at Amazon.com
 .
-
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with major cardiovascular risk
factors and cardiac structure and function in patients with coronary
artery disease - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015 Feb 25 -
"Low levels of Vitamin D were associated with
high BMI (p < 0.001), high total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride
levels (p < 0.001 for all) in both diabetics and non-diabetics. Among
non-diabetic patients, low Vitamin D was also associated independently
with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.005). Low
Vitamin D levels were independently associated with reduced left
ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (p < 0.005) and increased left atrial
diameter (p < 0.03) measured by cardiac ultrasound by 2-dimensional
echo. In the non-diabetic group, low Vitamin D levels were associated
with impaired LV filling (high E/E') (p < 0.03) and low E/A mitral flow
pattern measured by Doppler echocardiography (p < 0.05). Among
diabetics, low Vitamin D levels were also related to increased LV
end-systolic diameter (p < 0.05) and right ventricular diameter (p <
0.005). The association between LV diastolic filling (E/E') and Vitamin
D levels was significant (p < 0.01) after adjustment for the commonly
recognized risk factors of diastolic dysfunction in linear regression
analysis" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Multivitamin-Mineral Use Is Associated with Reduced Risk of
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality among Women in the United States -
J Nutr. 2015 Mar;145(3):572-8 -
"Multivitamin-mineral (MVM) ... multivitamin (MV) ... We observed no
significant association between CVD mortality and users of MVMs or MVs
compared with nonusers; however, when users were classified by the
reported length of time products were used, a significant association
was found with MVM use of >3 y compared with nonusers (HR: 0.65; 95% CI:
0.49, 0.85). This finding was largely driven by the significant
association among women (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.85) but not men (HR:
0.79; 95% CI: 0.44, 1.42)" - Note: Yeah but think about what they
are defining as multi-vitamins and multi-vitamin minerals. Most of that
stuff like One-a-Day or Centrum I wouldn't take even if it were free
because if you take it on top of a decent vitamin you could get vitamin
overload and some such as vitamin A.
-
Hesperidin Supplementation Modulates Inflammatory Responses Following
Myocardial Infarction - J Am Coll Nutr. 2015 Mar 11:1-7 -
"Hesperidin supplementation could compensate for
decreased levels of adiponectin and HDL-C and increased levels of E-selectin in
patients with myocardial infarction. These results support the concept that
certain flavonoids in the diet can be associated with significant health
benefits, including heart health" - See
hesperidin at Amazon.com.
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Stem Further Damage After Heart Attack - WebMD,
3/4/15 - "374 heart attack survivors who received
standard treatment and took either a 4-gram prescription-only dose of omega-3
fatty acids each day or a placebo ... patients taking the omega-3 capsules had
lower levels of inflammation and were 39 percent less likely to show
deterioration of heart function. There was also less thickening or scarring of
the areas of the heart that were not directly damaged during the heart attack" - See
fish oil supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Glycemic
load and coronary heart disease in a Mediterranean population: The EPIC Greek
cohort study - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014 Dec 11 -
"High adherence to MD with low/moderate GL was
associated with lower risk of CHD incidence (HR = 0.61, CI: 0.39-0.95) and
mortality (HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.23-96)"
-
Iodide
protects against dangerous reperfusion injury after heart attack - Science
Daily, 11/7/14 - "When mice with induced heart attacks
were given intravenous infusions of sodium iodide five minutes before
reperfusion, it reduced myocardial infarction, or MI, damage by as much as 75
percent. And when mice were given sodium iodide in their drinking water for two
days before the procedure, they showed similar significant protection against
the damage ... only iodide boasts a superior safety profile. Even in large
quantities, iodide is very safe, they noted. And it's already approved for human
ingestion -- and widely available. "You can buy it on Amazon right now," Roth
noted" - See
iodine at Amazon.com.
-
Effects of
Docosahexaenoic Acid on the Endothelial Function in Patients with Coronary
Artery Disease - J Atheroscler Thromb. 2014 Oct 24 -
"The serum level of DHA is associated with the endothelial function evaluated
according to the FMD in patients with CAD, thus suggesting that a low serum
level of DHA may be a predictive biomarker for endothelial dysfunction" -
See
docosahexaenoic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Healthy
fats help diseased heart muscle process, use fuel - Science Daily, 9/29/14 -
"Oleate, a common dietary fat found in olive oil,
restored proper metabolism of fuel in an animal model of heart failure ... As
the heart walls grow thick, the volume of blood pumped out diminishes and can no
longer supply the body with enough nutrients ... Failing hearts are also unable
to properly process or store the fats they use for fuel, which are contained
within tiny droplets called lipid bodies in heart muscle cells. The inability to
use fats, the heart's primary fuel source, causes the muscle to become starved
for energy ... When the researchers perfused failing rat hearts with oleate, "we
saw an immediate improvement in how the hearts contracted and pumped blood," ...
oleate also restored the activation of several genes for enzymes that metabolize
fat"
-
Iron Deficiency: Emerging
Therapeutic Target in Heart Failure - Medscape, 9/23/14 -
"In patients with heart failure, iron deficiency is
frequent but overlooked, with a prevalence of 30%–50%. Since it contributes to
cardiac and peripheral muscle dysfunction, iron deficiency is associated with
poorer clinical outcomes and a greater risk of death, independent of haemoglobin
level" - Note the phrase "independent of haemoglobin level". I had
a doctor look at my hemoglobin and say that I didn't need a blood test for iron.
I showed him about ten studies and he ordered the test and it turned out I was
right about my iron being way low. I think it was
athletes anemia.
See
Iron supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Low-carbohydrate diets and cardiovascular and total mortality in Japanese: a
29-year follow-up of NIPPON DATA80 - Br J Nutr. 2014 Sep;112(6):916-24 -
"low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) ... The
multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CVD mortality using the Cox model
comparing the highest v. lowest deciles of LCD score was 0.60 (95 % CI 0.38,
0.94; P trend= 0.021) for women and 0.78 (95 % CI 0.58, 1.05; P trend= 0.079)
for women and men combined; the HR for total mortality was 0.74 (95 % CI 0.57,
0.95; P trend= 0.029) for women and 0.87 (95 % CI 0.74, 1.02; P trend= 0.090)
for women and men combined. None of the associations was statistically
significant in men"
-
Drinking
tea reduces non-CV mortality by 24 percent - Science Daily, 8/31/14 -
"The study included 131,401 people aged 18 to 95 years
who had a health check up at the Paris IPC Preventive Medicine Center between
January 2001 and December 2008. During a mean 3.5 years follow up there were 95
deaths from CV and 632 deaths from non-CV causes ... Tea drinking lowered the
risk of non-CV death by 24% and the trend towards lowering CV mortality was
nearly significant. When we extended our analysis to 2011 we found that tea
continued to reduce overall mortality during the 6 year period" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Effects of
L-carnitine supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes
activities in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized,
placebo-controlled trial - Nutr J. 2014 Aug 4;13(1):79 -
"LC supplementation at a dose of 1000 mg/d was
associated with a significant reduction in oxidative stress and an increase in
antioxidant enzymes activities in CAD patients. CAD patients might benefit from
using LC supplements to increase their anti-oxidation capacity" - See
l-carnitine at Amazon.com.
-
Serum
magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium are associated with risk of incident heart
failure: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study - Am J Clin
Nutr. 2014 Jul 16 - "A total of 14,709 African Americans
(27%) and whites from the ARIC cohort [aged 45-64 y at baseline (1987-1989)]
were observed through 2009 ... A total of 2250 incident HF events accrued over a
median follow-up of 20.6 y. Participants in the lowest (≤1.4 mEq/L) compared
with the highest (≥1.8 mEq/L) category of magnesium were at greater HF risk (HR:
1.71; 95% CI: 1.46, 1.99). For phosphorus, there appeared to be a threshold
whereby only those in the highest quintile were at greater HF risk [HR(Q5 vs
Q1): 1.34; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.54]. Higher concentrations of calcium were also
associated with greater risk of HF [HR(Q5 vs Q1): 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.43] ...
Low serum magnesium and high serum phosphorus and calcium were independently
associated with greater risk of incident HF in this population-based cohort"
- See
magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D
Promotes Vascular Regeneration - Circulation. 2014 Jul 11 -
"VitD3 is a novel approach to promote vascular repair"
- See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Association
between periodontal disease and its treatment, flow-mediated dilatation and
carotid intima-media thickness: A systematic review and meta-analysis -
Atherosclerosis. 2014 Jun 17;236(1):39-46 -
"Meta-analysis demonstrated that the diagnosis of PD was associated with a mean
increase in c-IMT of 0.08 mm (95% C.I. = 0.07-0.09) and a mean difference in FMD
of 5.1% compared to controls (95% C.I. = 2.08-8.11%). A meta-analysis of the
effects of periodontal treatment on FMD showed a mean improvement of 6.64%
between test and control (95% C.I. = 2.83-10.44%)"
-
Hemoglobin
a1c in nondiabetic patients: an independent predictor of coronary artery disease
and its severity - Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Jul;89(7):908-16 -
"compared with patients with HbA1c levels less than
5.5%, the odds ratios of occurrence of CAD in the HbA1c quartiles of 5.5% to
5.7%, 5.8% to 6.1%, and greater than 6.1% were 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.7), 3.5 (95%
CI, 2.3-5.3), and 4.9 (95% CI, 3.0-8.1), respectively" - See
metformin at The Antiaging Store.
-
Iron
deficiency defined as depleted iron stores accompanied by unmet cellular iron
requirements identifies patients at the highest risk of death after an episode
of acute heart failure - Eur Heart J. 2014 Jun 13 -
"Iron is a key micronutrient for homoeostasis maintenance ... Iron deficiency
defined as depleted body iron stores and unmet cellular iron requirements is
common in AHF, and identifies those with the poor outcome. Its correction may be
an attractive therapeutic approach" - See
iron supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Inverse
association between habitual polyphenol intake and incidence of cardiovascular
events in the PREDIMED study - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014 Jan 22 -
"The present work is an observational study within the
PREDIMED trial. Over an average of 4.3 years of follow-up, there were 273
confirmed cases of CVD among the 7172 participants (96.3%) who completed a
validated 137-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline ... a 46%
reduction in risk of CVD risk was observed comparing Q5 vs. Q1 of total
polyphenol intake (HR = 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.33-0.91; P-trend
= 0.04). The polyphenols with the strongest inverse associations were flavanols
(HR = 0.40; CI 0.23-0.72; P-trend = 0.003), lignans (HR = 0.51; CI 0.30-0.86;
P-trend = 0.007), and hydroxybenzoic acids (HR = 0.47; CI 0.26-0.86; P-trend
0.02)" - See
Garden of Life, Radical Fruits Antioxidant Complex at Amazon.com.
-
A Soda a Day Ups CVD Risk
by 30%: NHANES Study - Medscape, 2/4/14 - "Yang et
al inform this debate by showing that the risk of CVD mortality becomes elevated
once added sugar intake surpasses 15% of daily calories—equivalent to drinking
one 20-ounce Mountain Dew soda in a 2000-calorie daily diet ... The risk rises
exponentially as sugar intake increases, peaking with a fourfold increased risk
of CVD death for individuals who consume one-third or more of their daily
calories in added sugar ... it is safest to consume less than 15% of their daily
calories as added sugar"
-
Dietary Fiber Lowers Risk
of CVD and CHD - Medscape, 12/27/13 - "For every 7 g
of dietary fiber eaten daily—which can be achieved by eating two to four
servings of fruits and vegetables, or a serving of whole grains plus a portion
of beans or lentils—the risks of CVD and CHD were each lowered by 9%, according
to a new meta-analysis published December 19, 2013 in BMJ" - See
Garden of Life, RAW Fiber at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D Deficiency Linked
to Fatal CVD - Medscape, 12/23/13 - "Even after
adjustment for other potential confounders, including smoking and physical
activity, vitamin D deficiency still conferred a significant 27% increased risk
for total CVD, and a 62% increased risk for fatal CVD ... Individuals with low
vitamin D levels also had a significant 36% increased risk of total CHD and a
nonsignificant 33% increased risk of total stroke" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Significance
of Imbalance in the Ratio of Serum n-3 to n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in
Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome - Am J Cardiol. 2013 Nov 7 -
"We enrolled 1,119 patients who were treated and in whom
serum PUFA level was evaluated in 5 divisions of cardiology in a metropolitan
area in Japan ... eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and
arachidonic acid (AA) ... According to multivariate logistic regression
analysis, the group with the lowest EPA/AA (≤0.33) had a greater probability of
ACS (odds ratio 3.14, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 8.49), but this was not
true for DHA/AA. In conclusion, an imbalance in the ratio of serum EPA to AA,
but not in the ratio of DHA to AA, was significantly associated with ACS"
-
See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Associations
of Dietary Fiber Intake With Long-Term Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk and
C-Reactive Protein Levels (from the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey Data [2005-2010]) - Am J Cardiol. 2013 Oct 3 -
"A total of 11,113 subjects, aged 20 to 79 years with no
history of CVD, from the 2005 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey were included in the present study to examine associations of dietary
fiber intake with predicted lifetime CVD risk and C-reactive protein levels.
Dietary fiber intake showed a significant gradient association with the
likelihood of having a low or an intermediate predicted lifetime CVD risk among
young and middle-age adults. In fully adjusted multinomial logistic models,
dietary fiber intake was related to a low lifetime CVD risk with an odds ratio
of 2.71 (95% confidence interval 2.05 to 3.59) in the young adults and 2.13 (95%
confidence interval 1.42 to 3.20) in the middle-age adults and was related to an
intermediate lifetime risk of 2.65 (95% confidence interval 1.79 to 3.92) in the
young and 1.98 (95% confidence interval 1.32 to 2.98) in the middle-age adults
compared with a high lifetime risk. A significant inverse linear association was
seen between dietary fiber intake and log-transformed C-reactive protein levels
with a regression coefficient +/- standard error of -0.18 +/- 0.04 in the
highest quartile of fiber intake compared with the lowest fiber intake" -
See
Garden of Life, RAW Fiber at Amazon.com.
-
Oleic acid
increases hepatic sex hormone binding globulin production in men - Mol Nutr
Food Res. 2013 Oct 20 - "Low circulating sex
hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular
disease ... A total of 315 men were included. In these patients, nutrition data
and plasma samples for SHBG assessment were obtained. In vitro studies to
examine the effects of oleic and linoleic acid on SHBG production using HepG2
cells were performed. We provided evidence that SHBG serum levels were
significantly higher in subjects using olive oil for cooking in comparison with
subjects using sunflower oil ... MUFA were independently associated with SHBG
levels and accounted for the 20.4% of SHBG variance ... Olive oil consumption is
associated with elevated SHBG serum levels"
-
Link
Strengthened Between Low Fiber Intake, Increased Cardiovascular Risk -
Science Daily, 10/21/13 - "shows a significant
association between low dietary fiber intake and cardiometabolic risks including
metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular inflammation, and obesity. Surveillance data
from 23,168 subjects in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
(NHANES) 1999-2010 was used to examine the role dietary fiber plays in heart
health ... recommended intake levels according to age and sex: 38g per day for
men aged 19-50 years, 30g per day for men 50 and over, 25g for women aged 19-50
years, and 21g per day for women over 50. Using data from NHANES 1999-2010, the
study reveals that the mean dietary fiber intake was only 16.2g per day across
all demographics during that time period" - See
Garden of Life, RAW Fiber at Amazon.com.
-
Silymarin
Improves Vascular Function of Aged Ovariectomized Rats - Phytother Res. 2013
Sep 30 - "Both aging and estrogen depletion lead to
endothelial dysfunction, which is the main reason of many cardiovascular
diseases ... silymarin (SM) ... In spite of the presence of estrogen antagonist,
immediate SM treatment restored the endothelial function and vascular tone
better than estrogen replacement. Additionally, as a complementary and
alternative medicine, it does not cause estrogenic side effects when taken
acutely" - See
silymarin at Amazon.com.
-
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Reduces Cardiovascular Events: Relationship with the
EPA/Arachidonic Acid Ratio - J Atheroscler Thromb. 2013 Sep 18 -
"Fish oil contains saturated and monounsaturated fatty
acids that have pharmacological effects opposite to those of ω3 fatty acids
(ω3). Moreover, ω3, such as EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), do not
necessarily have the same metabolic and biological actions ... Recently, the
Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) of hp-EPA-E established the clinical
efficacy of EPA for CVD, and higher levels of blood EPA, not DHA, were found to
be associated with a lower incidence of major coronary events. A significant
reduction in the risk of coronary events was observed when the ratio of EPA to
arachidonic acid (AA) (EPA/AA) was >0.75 ... Compared with DHA, EPA
administration increases the EPA/AA ratio and the (PGI2+PGI3)/TXA2 balance to a
state that inhibits the onset and/or progression of CVD" -
See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Flavonoid
intake and risk of CVD: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective
cohort studies - Br J Nutr. 2013 Aug 16:1-11 - "The
summary RR for CVD for every 10 mg/d increment in flavonol intake was 0.95 (95 %
CI 0.91, 0.99). The present systematic review suggests that the dietary intakes
of six classes of flavonoids, namely flavonols, anthocyanidins,
proanthocyanidins, flavones, flavanones and flavan-3-ols, significantly decrease
the risk of CVD" - See
Garden of Life, Radical Fruits Antioxidant Complex at Amazon.com.
-
Chronic
resveratrol consumption improves brachial flow-mediated dilatation in healthy
obese adults - J Hypertens. 2013 Jun 5 - "We have
previously demonstrated acute dose-dependent increases of flow-mediated
dilatation (FMD) in the brachial artery after resveratrol consumption in mildly
hypertensive, overweight/obese adults. Resveratrol supplementation has also been
shown to increase cerebral blood flow acutely, without affecting cognition ...
Twenty-eight obese but otherwise healthy adults (BMI: 33.3 +/- 0.6 kg/m) were
randomized to take a single 75 mg capsule of trans-resveratrol (Resvida) or
placebo daily for 6 weeks each in a double-blind crossover supplementation trial
... A single dose of resveratrol (75 mg) following chronic resveratrol
supplementation resulted in a 35% greater acute FMD response than the equivalent
placebo supplementation. These FMD improvements remained significant after
adjusting for baseline FMD ... Daily resveratrol consumption was well tolerated
and has the potential to maintain healthy circulatory function in obese adults"
- See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com
and
resvida at Amazon.com.
-
Circulating and dietary
magnesium and risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of prospective studies - Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 May 29 -
"systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate
prospective associations of circulating and dietary magnesium with incidence of
CVD, IHD, and fatal IHD ... Circulating magnesium (per 0.2 mmol/L increment) was
associated with a 30% lower risk of CVD" - See magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.
-
First
drug to significantly improve heart failure mortality in over a decade -
Science Daily, 5/25/13 - "Coenzyme Q10 decreases all
cause mortality by half ... is the first drug to improve heart failure mortality
in over a decade and should be added to standard treatment ... Double blind
controlled trials have shown that CoQ10 improves symptoms, functional capacity
and quality of life in patients with heart failure with no side effects ...
Other heart failure medications block rather than enhance cellular processes and
may have side effects. Supplementation with CoQ10, which is a natural and safe
substance, corrects a deficiency in the body and blocks the vicious metabolic
cycle in chronic heart failure called the energy starved heart" - See
Jarrow Formulas, Ubiquinol, QH-Absorb, 100 mg, 120 Softgels.
-
Mechanism for how grapes reduce heart failure associated with hypertension
identified - Science Daily, 5/2/13 - "Grapes are a
known natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols ... grapes exert
beneficial effects in the heart: influencing gene activities and metabolic
pathways that improve the levels of glutathione, the most abundant cellular
antioxidant in the heart" - See Jarrow Formulas, OPCs + 95 at Amazon.com.
-
L-Carnitine
in the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Systematic Review and
Meta-analysis - Mayo Clin Proc. 2013 Apr 15 - "A
systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 controlled trials (N=3629) was
conducted to determine the effects of L-carnitine vs placebo or control on
mortality, ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), angina, heart failure, and
reinfarction ... Compared with placebo or control, L-carnitine is associated
with a 27% reduction in all-cause mortality, a 65% reduction in VAs, and a 40%
reduction in anginal symptoms in patients experiencing an acute myocardial
infarction" - See GPLC at Amazon.com.
-
L-carnitine significantly improves patient outcomes following heart attack,
study suggests - Science Daily, 4/12/13 - "This
systematic review of the 13 controlled trials in 3,629 patients, involving 250
deaths, 220 cases of new heart failure, and 38 recurrent heart attacks, found
that L-carnitine was associated with: ... Significant 27% reduction in all-cause
mortality (number needed to treat 38) ... Highly significant 65% reduction in
ventricular arrhythmias (number needed to treat 4) ... Significant 40% reduction
in the development of angina (number needed to treat 3) ... Reduction in infarct
size ... These findings may seem to contradict those reported in a study
published earlier this month in Nature Medicine by Robert A. Koeth and others
(link below), which demonstrated that metabolism by intestinal microbiota of
dietary L-carnitine produced trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and accelerated
atherosclerosis in mice" - Note: I read that Koeth study and wasn't
buying it with all the previous studies I had read. See
l-carnitine at Amazon.com and
acetyl l-carnitine products at Amazon.com.
-
High
anthocyanin intake is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in
young and middle-aged women - Circulation. 2013 Jan 15 -
"We followed up 93 600 women 25 to 42 years of age from
the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) II who were healthy at baseline (1989) to examine
the relationship between anthocyanins and other flavonoids and the risk of MI.
Intake of flavonoid subclasses was calculated from validated food-frequency
questionnaires ... An inverse association between higher intake of anthocyanins
and risk of MI was observed (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval,
0.49-0.96; P=0.03, highest versus lowest quintiles) after multivariate
adjustment ... Combined intake of 2 anthocyanin-rich foods, blueberries and
strawberries, tended to be associated with a decreased risk of MI (hazard ratio,
0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-1.08) in a comparison of those consuming >3
servings a week and those with lower intake. Intakes of other flavonoid
subclasses were not significantly associated with MI risk" - See
Garden of Life, Radical Fruits Antioxidant Complex at Amazon.com.
-
Relationship
of lycopene intake and consumption of tomato products to incident CVD - Br J
Nutr. 2013 Jan 15:1-7 - "To address this potential
misclassification, we used repeated measures of intake obtained over 10 years to
characterise the relationship between lycopene intake and the incidence of CVD
(n 314), CHD (n 171) and stroke (n 99) in the Framingham Offspring Study ...
Using an average of three intake measures with a 9-year follow-up, lycopene
intake was inversely associated with CVD incidence (HR 0.83, 95 % CI 0.70,
0.98). Using an average of two intake measures and 11 years of follow-up,
lycopene intake was inversely associated with CHD incidence (HR 0.74, 95 % CI
0.58, 0.94). Lycopene intake was unrelated to stroke incidence" - See
Jarrow Lyco-Sorb (contains Lyco-O-Mato) at Amazon.com.
-
Strawberries, blueberries may cut heart attack risk in women - Science
Daily, 1/14/13 - "Blueberries and strawberries contain
high levels of naturally occurring compounds called dietary flavonoids, also
found in grapes and wine, blackberries, eggplant, and other fruits and
vegetables. A specific sub-class of flavonoids, called anthocyanins, may help
dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular
benefits ... Nurses' Health Study II ... women completed questionnaires about
their diet every four years for 18 years ... Women who ate the most blueberries
and strawberries had a 32-percent reduction in their risk of heart attack
compared to women who ate the berries once a month or less" - See
Garden of Life, Radical Fruits Antioxidant Complex at Amazon.com.
-
Largest Study to
Date Links Low Vitamin D to CVD Risk - Medscape, 9/26/12 -
"The scientists compared the 5% lowest levels of vitamin
D (<5 nmol/L) with the 50% highest levels (>50 nmol/L). In Denmark--where foods
are not fortified with vitamin D--it is currently recommended to have a
vitamin-D status of at least 50 nmol/L, they note ... they found a stepwise
increase in risk: those with the lowest levels of vitamin D had a 40% increased
risk of ischemic heart disease, a 64% higher chance of an MI, a 57% increased
risk of early death, and an 81% higher likelihood of fatal ischemic heart
disease/MI" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Olive oil
intake and CHD in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and
Nutrition Spanish cohort - Br J Nutr. 2012 Sep 25:1-8 -
"we studied the association between olive oil and CHD in
the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Spanish
cohort study. The analysis included 40,142 participants (38 % male), free of CHD
events at baseline, recruited from five EPIC-Spain centres from 1992 to 1996 and
followed up until 2004 ... Cox proportional regression models were used to
assess the relationship between validated incident CHD events and olive oil
intake (energy-adjusted quartiles and each 10 g/d per 8368 kJ (2000 kcal)
increment), while adjusting for potential confounders. During a 10.4-year
follow-up, 587 (79 % male) CHD events were recorded. Olive oil intake was
negatively associated with CHD risk after excluding dietary mis-reporters
(hazard ratio (HR) 0.93; 95 % CI 0.87, 1.00 for each 10 g/d per 8368 kJ (2000
kcal) and HR 0.78; 95 % CI 0.59, 1.03 for upper v. lower quartile). The inverse
association between olive oil intake (per 10 g/d per 8368 kJ (2000 kcal)) and
CHD was more pronounced in never smokers (11 % reduced CHD risk (P = 0.048)), in
never/low alcohol drinkers (25 % reduced CHD risk (P < 0.001)) and in virgin
olive oil consumers (14 % reduced CHD risk (P = 0.072)). In conclusion, olive
oil consumption was related to a reduced risk of incident CHD events"
-
Nutraceutical pill containing berberine versus ezetimibe on plasma lipid pattern
in hypercholesterolemic subjects and its additive effect in patients with
familial hypercholesterolemia on stable cholesterol-lowering treatment -
Lipids Health Dis. 2012 Sep 22;11(1):123 - "Although
statins (STs) are drugs of first choice in hypercholesterolemic patients,
especially in those at high cardiovascular risk, some of them are intolerant to
STs or refuse treatment with these drugs. In view of this, we have evaluated the
lipid-lowering effect of a nutraceutical pill containing berberine (BBR) and of
ezetimibe, as alternative treatments, in monotherapy or in combination, in 228
subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia (HCH), with history of STs
intolerance or refusing STs treatment ... In HCH subjects the nutraceutical pill
resulted more effective than EZE in lowering LDL cholesterol (-31.7% vs -25.4%,
P < 0.001) and better tolerated. On treatment, LDL-C level below 3.36 mmol/L
(<=130 mg/dl) was observed in 28.9% of subjects treated with the nutraceutical
pill and 11.8% of those treated with EZE (P <0.007). In the group treated with
EZE the subjects carrying the G allele of the g.1679 C > G silent polymorphism
of NPC1L1 gene showed a higher response to EZE than homozygous for the common
allele (GG + CG: LDL-C -29.4+/-5.0%, CC -23.6+/-6.5%, P <0.001). Combined
treatment with these drugs was as effective as STs in moderate doses (LDL
cholesterol -37%, triglycerides -23%). In HeFH patients the addition of BBR
resulted in LDL cholesterol reductions inversely related to those induced by the
stable therapy (r = -0.617, P <0.0001), with mean 10.5% further decrease"
- See
berberine products at iHerb.
-
Plasma and
dietary omega-3 fatty acids, fish intake, and heart failure risk in the
Physicians' Health Study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Sep 5 -
"The mean age was 58.7 y at blood collection. In a
multivariable model, plasma α-linolenic acid (ALA) was associated with a lower
risk of HF in a nonlinear fashion (P-quadratic trend = 0.02), and the lowest OR
was observed in quintile 4 (0.66; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.94). Plasma EPA and DHA were
not associated with HF, whereas plasma docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) showed a
nonlinear inverse relation with HF for quintile 2 (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.39,
0.79). Dietary marine n-3 FAs showed a trend toward a lower risk of HF in
quintile 4 (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.02) and a nonlinear pattern across
quintiles. Fish intake was associated with a lower risk of HF, with RRs of ~0.70
for all categories of fish consumption greater than one serving per month"
- Note: alpha linolenic acid is the omega-3 in flaxseed oil. See
Jarrow Formulas, Flax Seed Oil, 32 fl oz (946 ml) or
Flora, Flax-O-Mega, 180 Capsules.
-
Effects of Pycnogenol
on Endothelial Function in Stable CAD - Medscape, 8/2/12 -
"Recent studies suggested a blood pressure-lowering
effect of Pycnogenol. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study
involving 11 patients, supplementation with Pycnogenol 200 mg q.d. significantly
reduced systolic blood pressure of patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension
from 139.9 +/- 3.3 to 132.7 +/- 4.18 mmHg (P < 0.05) after 8 weeks of therapy,
while diastolic blood pressure remained stable (93.8 +/- 1.23 vs. 92 +/- 1.7
mmHg, P = NS) ... This study demonstrates for the first time an improvement of
endothelial function after 8-week treatment with Pycnogenol at a dose of 200 mg
q.d. in patients with stable CAD. Pycnogenol significantly reduced oxidative
stress as assessed by plasma levels of 8-isoprostanes, but left ADMA and SDMA as
well as plasma ET-1 levels unaffected" - See
Pycnogenol at Amazon.com.
-
L-Carnitine
prevents the development of ventricular fibrosis and heart failure with
preserved ejection fraction in hypertensive heart disease - J Hypertens.
2012 Jul 12 - "Prognosis of heart failure with preserved
ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains poor because of unknown pathophysiology and
unestablished therapeutic strategy ... L-carnitine supplementation attenuates
cardiac fibrosis by increasing prostacyclin production through arachidonic acid
pathway, and may be a promising therapeutic option for HFpEF" - See
l-carnitine at Amazon.com.
-
Lower DHEA in
Elderly Linked to Cardiovascular Events - Medscape, 6/27/12 -
"Elderly men with decreased levels of
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) show increased rates of major cardiovascular
events, even after adjustment for other traditional cardiovascular risk factors
... The men were all were participants in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men
Sweden study, a long-term project that is evaluating risk factors for various
diseases ... Those in the lowest quartile of both DHEA and DHEA-S, compared with
men in quartiles 2 through 4 of both, showed a higher risk for any major
cardiovascular events (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.06 - 1.70), coronary heart disease
(HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.05 - 1.89), and cerebrovascular events (HR, 1.41; 95% CI,
1.00 - 1.99)" - See
DHEA at Amazon.com.
-
Glycemic
load, glycemic index and risk of cardiovascular diseases: Meta-analyses of
prospective studies - Atherosclerosis. 2012 Jun 6 -
"Fourteen studies were identified, involving 229,213 participants and more than
11,363 cases. The pooled RRs of CVDs risk for the highest vs lowest categories
of GL and GI were 1.23 (95% CI: 1.11-1.36) and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.04-1.22)
respectively. Both the risk estimates of GL and GI for women (GL: RR = 1.35, 95%
CI: 1.18-1.55; GI: RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.34) were higher than men (GL: RR =
1.10, 95% CI: 0.95-1.28; GI: RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.94-1.17) ... High GL and GI
were associated with significant increased risk of CVDs, specifically for women"
-
Natural
antioxidant can protect against cardiovascular disease - Science Daily,
6/16/12 - "The enzyme -- glutathione peroxidase, or GPx3
-- is a natural antioxidant that helps protect organisms from oxidant injury and
helps the body naturally repair itself. Researchers have found that patients
with high levels of good cholesterol, the GPx3 enzyme does not make a
significant difference. However, those patients with low levels of good
cholesterol, the GPx3 enzyme could potentially be a big benefit ... The new
research, published June 16 by PLoS One, supports the view that natural
antioxidants may offer the human body profound benefits ... people with high
levels of the GPx3 enzyme and low levels of good cholesterol were six times less
likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people with low levels of both"
- Glutathione
supplements pills benefit and side effects - raysahelian.com -
"This antioxidant, made from the combination of
three amino acids cysteine, glutamate, and glycine, forms part of the
powerful natural antioxidant glutathione peroxidase which is found in our
cells ... Supplements that help make glutathione ... Acetylcysteine ... ALA
... Pycnogenol ... The frequent use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) depletes
glutathione peroxidase levels" - See
n-acetyl cysteine at Amazon.com.
-
Fish
consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and risk of heart failure: A meta-analysis
- Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun 6 - "Using random effect model,
the pooled relative risk for heart failure comparing the highest to lowest
category of fish intake was 0.85 (95% CI; 0.73-0.99), p = 0.04; corresponding
value for marine omega-3 fatty acids was 0.86 (0.74-1.00), p = 0.05 ... there
was no evidence for publication bias"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Serum
25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Mortality From Heart Failure and
Cardiovascular Disease, and Premature Mortality from All-Cause in United States
Adults - Am J Cardiol. 2012 Jun 1 - "the Third
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 13,131
participants (6,130 men, 7,001 women) ≥35 years old at baseline (1988 to 1994)
and followed through December 2000 ... Multivariate-adjusted Cox model indicated
that subjects with serum 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/ml had 2.06 times higher risk
(95% confidence interval 1.01 to 4.25) of HF death than those with serum 25(OH)D
levels ≥30 ng/ml (p <0.001). In addition, hazard ratios (95% confidence
intervals) for premature death from all causes were 1.40 (1.17 to 1.68) in
subjects with serum 25(OH)D levels <20 ng/ml and 1.11 (0.93 to 1.33) in those
with serum 25(OH)D levels of 20 to 29 ng/ml compared to those with serum 25(OH)D
levels ≥30 ng/ml (p <0.001, test for trend). In conclusion, adults with
inadequate serum 25(OH)D levels have significantly higher risk of death from HF
and all CVDs and all-cause premature death" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
One-Year
Consumption of a Grape Nutraceutical Containing Resveratrol Improves the
Inflammatory and Fibrinolytic Status of Patients in Primary Prevention of
Cardiovascular Disease - Am J Cardiol. 2012 Apr 19 -
"In contrast to placebo and conventional grape supplement, the resveratrol-rich
grape supplement significantly decreased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
(-26%, p = 0.03), tumor necrosis factor-α (-19.8%, p = 0.01), plasminogen
activator inhibitor type 1 (-16.8%, p = 0.03), and interleukin-6/interleukin-10
ratio (-24%, p = 0.04) and increased anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (19.8%, p
= 0.00). Adiponectin (6.5%, p = 0.07) and soluble intercellular adhesion
molecule-1 (-5.7%, p = 0.06) tended to increase and decrease, respectively. No
adverse effects were observed in any patient. In conclusion, 1-year consumption
of a resveratrol-rich grape supplement improved the inflammatory and
fibrinolytic status in patients who were on statins for primary prevention of
CVD and at high CVD risk (i.e., with diabetes or hypercholesterolemia plus ≥1
other CV risk factor). Our results show for the first time that a dietary
intervention with grape resveratrol could complement the gold standard therapy
in the primary prevention of CVD" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.One-Year
Consumption of a Grape Nutraceutical Containing Resveratrol Improves the
Inflammatory and Fibrinolytic Status of Patients in Primary Prevention of
Cardiovascular Disease - Am J Cardiol. 2012 Apr 19 -
"In contrast to placebo and conventional grape supplement, the resveratrol-rich
grape supplement significantly decreased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
(-26%, p = 0.03), tumor necrosis factor-α (-19.8%, p = 0.01), plasminogen
activator inhibitor type 1 (-16.8%, p = 0.03), and interleukin-6/interleukin-10
ratio (-24%, p = 0.04) and increased anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (19.8%, p
= 0.00). Adiponectin (6.5%, p = 0.07) and soluble intercellular adhesion
molecule-1 (-5.7%, p = 0.06) tended to increase and decrease, respectively. No
adverse effects were observed in any patient. In conclusion, 1-year consumption
of a resveratrol-rich grape supplement improved the inflammatory and
fibrinolytic status in patients who were on statins for primary prevention of
CVD and at high CVD risk (i.e., with diabetes or hypercholesterolemia plus ≥1
other CV risk factor). Our results show for the first time that a dietary
intervention with grape resveratrol could complement the gold standard therapy
in the primary prevention of CVD" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Low
β-carotene concentrations increase the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality
among Finnish men with risk factors - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2012 Apr 9
- "During the median 15.9-year follow-up, 122 deaths
from CVDs, were identified among the cohort subjects. Low serum concentrations
of β-carotene were strongly related to an increased CVD mortality risk after
adjustment for confounders. For β-carotene, the hazard ratio (95% confidence
interval) for the lowest versus highest quartile was 2.23 (1.26-3.93; P=0.006).
However, the strongest risk of CVD mortality was observed among smokers with
lowest levels of β-carotene (HR=3.15, 95%, CI: 1.19-8.33; P=0.020). Other
carotenoids and the sum of carotenoids were not significantly related to
increased risk of CVD mortality" - See
Jarrow Formulas, CarotenALL at Amazon.com.
-
Evidence for a
Protective Effect of Polyphenols-containing Foods on Cardiovascular Health -
Medscape, 4/5/12 - "There is supportive clinical
evidence for the beneficial effects of some flavonoids-rich foods or supplements
on multiple endpoints of cardiovascular risk, the more convincing being
reduction in BP and improvement in endothelial function ... In addition to their
identified beneficial impact on BP and endothelial function, flavonoid-rich
dietary sources might also favourably modulate arterial stiffness" - See
Jarrow Formulas OPCs + 95 at Amazon.com.
-
Hot
pepper compound could help hearts - Science Daily, 3/27/12 -
"The team found, for instance, that capsaicin and a
close chemical relative boost heart health in two ways. They lower cholesterol
levels by reducing accumulation of cholesterol in the body and increasing its
breakdown and excretion in the feces. They also block action of a gene that
makes arteries contract, restricting the flow of blood to the heart and other
organs. The blocking action allows more blood to flow through blood vessels"
- See
capsaicin supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Diabetes
drug can prevent heart disease, new study suggests - Science Daily, 3/25/12
- "one of the most common diabetes drugs, metformin,
also has a protective effect on the heart ... metformin helps increase pumping
capacity, improve energy balance, reduce the accumulation of fat, and limit the
loss of heart cells through programmed cell death" - See
metformin at The Antiaging Store.
-
Nutrient
found in dark meat of poultry, some seafood, may have cardiovascular benefits
- Science Daily, 3/1/12 - "funded by the American Heart
Association ... The comparison revealed serum taurine was not protective of CHD
overall. However, among women with high cholesterol, those with high levels of
serum taurine were 60 percent less likely to develop or die from CHD in the
study, compared to women with lower serum taurine levels. If future studies are
able to replicate the findings, taurine supplementation or dietary
recommendations may one day be considered for women with high cholesterol at
risk for CHD" - See
taurine at Amazon.com.
-
Associations
of dietary magnesium intake with mortality from cardiovascular disease: The JACC
study - Atherosclerosis. 2012 Jan 28 - "Dietary
magnesium intake was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire
administered between 1988 and 1990 ... median 14.7-year follow-up ... Dietary
magnesium intake was inversely associated with mortality from hemorrhagic stroke
in men and with mortality from total and ischemic strokes, coronary heart
disease, heart failure and total cardiovascular disease in women. The
multivariable hazard ratio (95% CI) for the highest vs. the lowest quintiles of
magnesium intake after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factor and sodium
intake was 0.49 (0.26-0.95), P for trend=0.074 for hemorrhagic stroke in men,
0.68 (0.48-0.96), P for trend=0.010 for total stroke, 0.47 (0.29-0.77), P for
trend<0.001 for ischemic stroke, 0.50 (0.30-0.84), P for trend=0.005 for
coronary heart disease, 0.50 (0.28-0.87), P for trend=0.002 for heart failure
and 0.64 (0.51-0.80), P for trend<0.001 for total cardiovascular disease in
women" - See Jarrow
Formulas, Magnesium Optimizer Citrate, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets at iHerb.
-
Red wine
polyphenols improve an established aging-related endothelial dysfunction in the
mesenteric artery of middle-aged rats: Role of oxidative stress - Biochem
Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Feb 13 - "The present findings
indicate that aging is associated with blunted endothelium-dependent relaxations
involving an increased oxidative stress, and that these responses are improved
by the intake of RWPs or apocynin for 4weeks most likely by normalizing the
expression of eNOS, arginase I, NADPH oxidase and angiotensin receptors"
- See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com
and
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Acetyl-l-carnitine supplementation reverses the age-related decline in carnitine
palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) activity in interfibrillar mitochondria without
changing the l-carnitine content in the rat heart - Mech Ageing Dev. 2012
Feb 1 - "The aging heart displays a loss of bioenergetic
reserve capacity partially mediated through lower fatty acid utilization. We
investigated whether the age-related impairment of cardiac fatty acid catabolism
occurs, at least partially, through diminished levels of l-carnitine, which
would adversely affect carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), the
rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acyl-CoA uptake into mitochondria for
β-oxidation. Old (24-28 mos) Fischer 344 rats were fed+/-acetyl-l-carnitine
(ALCAR; 1.5% [w/v]) for up to four weeks prior to sacrifice and isolation of
cardiac interfibrillar (IFM) and subsarcolemmal (SSM) mitochondria. IFM
displayed a 28% (p<0.05) age-related loss of CPT1 activity, which correlated
with a decline (41%, p<0.05) in palmitoyl-CoA-driven state 3 respiration.
Interestingly, SSM had preserved enzyme function and efficiently utilized
palmitate. Analysis of IFM CPT1 kinetics showed both diminished V(max) and K(m)
(60% and 49% respectively, p<0.05) when palmitoyl-CoA was the substrate.
However, no age-related changes in enzyme kinetics were evident with respect to
l-carnitine. ALCAR supplementation restored CPT1 activity in heart IFM, but not
apparently through remediation of l-carnitine levels. Rather, ALCAR influenced
enzyme activity over time, potentially by modulating conditions in the aging
heart that ultimately affect palmitoyl-CoA binding and CPT1 kinetics" -
See
propionyl-l-carnitine products at Amazon.com.
-
Effect of
omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on endothelial function: A meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials - Atherosclerosis. 2012 Jan 20 -
"Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids significantly
improves the endothelial function without affecting endothelium-independent
dilation" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Effects of
n-3 fatty acids on major cardiovascular events in statin users and non-users
with a history of myocardial infarction - Eur Heart J. 2012 Feb 1 -
"In statin users, an additional amount of n-3 fatty
acids did not reduce cardiovascular events [HR(adj) 1.02; 95% confidence
interval (CI): 0.80, 1.31; P = 0.88]. In statin non-users, however, only 9% of
those who received EPA-DHA plus ALA experienced an event compared with 18% in
the placebo group ... In patients with a history of MI who are not treated with
statins, low-dose supplementation with n-3 fatty acids may reduce major
cardiovascular events. This study suggests that statin treatment modifies the
effects of n-3 fatty acids on the incidence of major cardiovascular events"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Inhibition
of Na(+) -H(+) exchange as a mechanism of rapid cardioprotection by resveratrol
- Br J Pharmacol. 2012 Jan 31 - "Resveratrol exerts
cardioprotection by reducing ROS and preserving mitochondrial function. The
PKC-α-dependent inhibition of NHE and subsequent attenuation of [Ca(2+) ](i)
overload may be a cardioprotective mechanism" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Serum
antioxidant vitamin levels in patients with coronary heart disease - Int J
Vitam Nutr Res. 2011 Jul;81(4):211-7 - "Fat mass (FM)
... Based on the results of this study, we propose that high FM, low HDL-C, and
low serum antioxidant vitamin levels could be important risk factors for CHD"
-
Effects of
Pycnogenol on endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery
disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study -
Eur Heart J. 2012 Jan 11 - "Patients received Pycnogenol
(200 mg/day) for 8 weeks followed by placebo or vice versa on top of standard
cardiovascular therapy ... In CAD patients, Pycnogenol treatment was associated
with an improvement of FMD from 5.3 +/- 2.6 to 7.0 +/- 3.1 (P < 0.0001), while
no change was observed with placebo (5.4 +/- 2.4 to 4.7 +/- 2.0; P = 0.051).
This difference between study groups was significant [estimated treatment effect
2.75; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75, 3.75, P < 0.0001].
15-F(2t)-Isoprostane, an index of oxidative stress, significantly decreased from
0.71 +/- 0.09 to 0.66 +/- 0.13 after Pycnogenol treatment, while no change was
observed in the placebo group (mean difference 0.06 pg/mL with an associated 95%
CI (0.01, 0.11), P = 0.012]. Inflammation markers, platelet adhesion, and blood
pressure did not change after treatment with Pycnogenol or placebo. Conclusion
This study provides the first evidence that the antioxidant Pycnogenol improves
endothelial function in patients with CAD by reducing oxidative stress" -
See
Pycnogenol at Amazon.com.
-
Serum
ferritin levels associated with increased risk for developing CHD in a
low-income urban population - Public Health Nutr. 2012 Jan 10:1-8 -
"For men, there was a 0.5 % increase in risk for every
10-unit rise in serum ferritin (pmol/l). Other significant predictors included
increased BMI, white race, unemployment and C-reactive protein ≥9.5 mg/l. For
women, there was a 5.1 % increase in risk per 10-unit rise in serum ferritin
(pmol/l). Other significant predictors included increased BMI, lower education,
unemployment and C-reactive protein ≥9.5 mg/l"
-
Flavonoid
intake and cardiovascular disease mortality in a prospective cohort of US adults
- Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jan 4 - "Men and women with total
flavonoid intakes in the top (compared with the bottom) quintile had a lower
risk of fatal CVD (RR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.92; P-trend = 0.01). Five flavonoid
classes-anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavones, flavonols, and
proanthocyanidins-were individually associated with lower risk of fatal CVD (all
P-trend < 0.05). In men, total flavonoid intakes were more strongly associated
with stroke mortality (RR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.89; P-trend = 0.04) than with
ischemic heart disease (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.13). Many associations
appeared to be nonlinear, with lower risk at intakes above the referent
category.Conclusions: Flavonoid consumption was associated with lower risk of
death from CVD. Most inverse associations appeared with intermediate intakes,
suggesting that even relatively small amounts of flavonoid-rich foods may be
beneficial"
-
Young
women may reduce heart disease risk eating fish with omega 3 fatty acids, study
finds - Science Daily, 12/5/11 - "In the first
population-based study in women of childbearing age, those who rarely or never
ate fish had 50 percent more cardiovascular problems over eight years than those
who ate fish regularly. Compared to women who ate fish high in omega-3 weekly,
the risk was 90 percent higher for those who rarely or never ate fish ... Fish
oil contains long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are believed
to protect against heart and vascular disease. Few women in the study took fish
oil supplements, so these were excluded from the analyses and the results were
based on the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, not intake from supplements"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Plasma
retinol: A novel marker for cardiovascular disease mortality in Australian
adults - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 Nov 25 -
"Vitamin A affects inflammation and immune function and is thus a factor of
interest in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD). As vitamin A circulates in
the plasma in the form of retinol, this study aims to describe the relationship
between plasma retinol and the 5-year incidence of CVD mortality ...
Community-dwelling adults (n = 441, 45% with type 2 diabetes) were recruited in
Melbourne, assessed at baseline and followed for 5 years. At baseline, CVD risk
factors were assessed by clinical evaluation, by personal lifestyle
questionnaire and from biochemistry (plasma fasting glucose, lipids, total
homocysteine, C-reactive protein, retinol and carotenoids plus the urinary
albumin excretion rate over 24 h.). Dietary intake was assessed by a validated
food frequency questionnaire. CVD mortality over 5-years was determined by
consulting state or national registries. The majority of participants had
adequate plasma retinol concentrations (≥30 μg/dL). The final Cox regression
model indicated that those in the highest tertile of plasma retinol (mean +/-
SD) 76 +/- 14 μg/dL) had a significantly lower risk of 5-year CVD mortality
(hazard ratio 0.27 [95% confidence interval 0.11, 0.68], P = 0.005), an effect
that was not readily explained in terms of traditional CVD risk factors or
dietary intake"
-
Effects of
coenzyme Q10 on vascular endothelial function in humans: A meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials - Atherosclerosis. 2011 Oct 25 -
"Coenzyme Q10 supplementation is associated with
significant improvement in endothelial function. The current study supports a
role for CoQ10 supplementation in patients with endothelial dysfunction"
- See
ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
Pomegranate Juice Lowers
Cardiovascular Risk Factors - Medscape, 11/12/11 -
"Hemodialysis patients were randomized to receive 100 mL of pomegranate juice (n
= 66) or an equivalent-tasting placebo (n = 35) 3 times a week for 12 months ...
At 12 months, all components of the lipid profile improved in the pomegranate
juice group but not in the placebo group. In the juice group, there were
statistically significant decreases in TGs from baseline to 12 months (P = .01),
especially in patients with a baseline TG level of at least 200 mg/dL (P <
.001). Over the same time period, HDL rose significantly (P = .005) in the juice
group. There was no significant change in any of these parameters in the placebo
group ... During the study period, there was a significant decrease in systolic
blood pressure in the juice group overall (P < .006), especially in patients who
had a baseline systolic pressure of at least 140 mm Hg (P < .005); this was not
the case in the placebo group ... At 12 months, those in the juice group were
taking significantly fewer antihypertensive drugs than those in the placebo
group (P < .05). In the juice group, 22% of the subjects were taking fewer and
12.2% were taking more antihypertensive drugs; in the placebo group, 7.7% were
taking fewer and 34.6% were taking more antihypertensive drugs" - See
pomegranate at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D
Deficiency and Supplementation and Relation to Cardiovascular Health - Am J
Cardiol. 2011 Nov 7 - "Serum vitamin D measurements for
5 years and 8 months from a large academic institution were matched to patient
demographic, physiologic, and disease variables. The vitamin D levels were
analyzed as a continuous variable and as normal (≥30 ng/ml) or deficient (<30
ng/ml). Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, multivariate analysis,
survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazard modeling were performed. Of
10,899 patients, the mean age was 58 +/- 15 years, 71% were women (n = 7,758),
and the average body mass index was 30 +/- 8 kg/m(2). The mean serum vitamin D
level was 24.1 +/- 13.6 ng/ml. Of the 10,899 patients, 3,294 (29.7%) were in the
normal vitamin D range and 7,665 (70.3%) were deficient. Vitamin D deficiency
was associated with several cardiovascular-related diseases, including
hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes (all p
<0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was a strong independent predictor of all-cause
death (odds ratios 2.64, 95% confidence interval 1.901 to 3.662, p <0.0001)
after adjusting for multiple clinical variables. Vitamin D supplementation
conferred substantial survival benefit (odds ratio for death 0.39, 95%
confidence interval 0.277 to 0.534, p <0.0001)" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Soy beats milk protein for cholesterol improvements: RCT - Nutra USA,
10/22/11 - "Results showed that, compared with
carbohydrates, the soy protein was associated with a 3.97 mg/dl reduction in
total cholesterol levels, and a 0.12 mg/dl reduction in the ratio of total:HDL
cholesterol ... In addition, compared to milk protein, the soy protein was
associated with a 1.54 mg/dl increase in HDL cholesterol levels and a 0.14 mg/dl
decrease in the ratio of total:HDL cholesterol ... On the other hand, milk
protein supplementation was significantly associated with a 1.13 mg/dL decrease
in HDL levels, compared to carb supplement ... The effect of milk protein did
not confer a significant favorable effect on any lipid measures compared with
carbohydrate" - Note: In addition to
homemade yogurt, I been using
Silk plus DHA Omega-3
on my cereal. If you read the ingredients, it's probably not the best for you
but it sure tastes good. The soy adds variety over the milk used to make the
yogurt.
-
Folate and
risk of coronary heart disease: A meta-analysis of prospective studies -
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 Sep 14 - "Data were
independently abstracted by 2 investigators using a standardized protocol.
Study-specific risk estimates were combined by using a random effects model. A
total of 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis: 7 studies on dietary
folate intake and 8 studies on blood folate levels. For dietary intake, the
summary relative risk (RR) indicated a significant association between the
highest folate intake and reduced risk of CHD (summary RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.60,
0.80). Furthermore, an increase in folate intake of 200 ug/day was associated
with a 12% decrease in the risk of developing CHD (summary RR: 0.88; 95% CI:
0.82, 0.94). For blood folate levels, we also found a borderline inverse
association of highest blood folate levels on CHD risk (summary RR: 0.74; 95%
CI: 0.53, 1.02); our dose-response analysis indicated that an increment in blood
folate levels of 5 mmol/l was associated with an 8% decrease in the risk of
developing CHD (summary RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.00)" - See
folic acid products at Amazon.com.
-
Systematic review: Chocolate can reduce heart disease risk by a third -
Nutra USA, 8/29/11 - "A Cambridge University-led
systematic review published today in the British Medical Journal has
concluded that polyphenol-rich consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease
by a third ... The highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with
a 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease (relative risk 0.63 (95% confidence
interval 0.44 to 0.90)) and a 29% reduction in stroke compared with the lowest
levels ... These favourable effects seem mainly mediated by the high content of
polyphenols present in cocoa products and probably accrued through increasing
the bioavailability of nitric oxide, which subsequently might lead to
improvements in endothelial function, reductions in platelet function, and
additional beneficial effects on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and blood
lipids ... But they noted none of the selected trials were controlled,
randomised studies with six cohort studies and a cross sectional study, and
therefore offered the caveat: "We expect further studies will be done to
confirm or refute the results of our analyses""
-
Marine n-3
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Adipose Tissue and the Risk of Acute Coronary
Syndrome - Circulation. 2011 Aug 22 - "Comparing men
in the highest and lowest quintiles gave a hazard ratio of 0.65 (95% confidence
interval, 0.45 to 0.95) for total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and 0.51 (95%
confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.73) for docosahexaenoic acid. Nonfatal cases
constituted >86% of cases, and the association was driven primarily by a
reduction in the risk of nonfatal acute coronary syndrome. No consistent
associations were found among women. Conclusion- Intake of marine n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids may protect against acute coronary syndrome in men"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Some
exercise is better than none: More is better to reduce heart disease risk -
Science Daily, 8/1/11 - "150 minutes of exercise per
week is beneficial, 300 minutes per week will give even more benefits ...
researchers examined more than 3,000 studies of physical activity and heart
disease, and included 33 of them in their analysis. Among those, nine measured
leisure activity quantitatively"
-
Impact of
low v. moderate intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids on risk of coronary heart
disease - Br J Nutr. 2011 May 31:1-13 - "The
objective of the present study was to determine whether the consumption of ≥ 250
v. < 250 mg of the long-chain n-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCFA) per d is associated
with a reduction in the risk of fatal and non-fatal CHD in individuals with no
prior history of CHD. A comprehensive and systematic review of the published
scientific literature resulted in the identification of eight prospective
studies (seven cohorts and one nested case-control study) that met predefined
inclusion criteria. Relative to the consumption of < 250 mg n-3 LCFA per d, the
consumption of ≥ 250 mg/d was associated with a significant 35.1 % reduction in
the risk of sudden cardiac death and a near-significant 16.6 % reduction in the
risk of total fatal coronary events, while the risk of non-fatal myocardial
infarction was not significantly reduced. In several meta-analyses, which were
based on US studies, risk of CHD death was found to be dose-dependently reduced
by the n-3 LCFA, with further risk reductions observed with intakes in excess of
250 mg/d. Prospective observational and intervention data from Japan, where
intake of fish is very high, suggest that n-3 LCFA intakes of 900 to 1000 mg/d
and greater may confer protection against non-fatal myocardial infarction. Thus,
the intake of 250 mg n-3 LCFA per d may, indeed, be a minimum target to be
achieved by the general population for the promotion of cardiovascular health"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Adherence to
the Mediterranean diet reduces mortality in the Spanish cohort of the European
Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain) - Br J
Nutr. 2011 May 17:1-11 - "A high compared with a low
rMED score was associated with a significant reduction in mortality from all
causes (hazard ratio (HR) 0.79; 95 % CI 0.69, 0.91), from CVD (HR 0.66; 95 % CI
0.49, 0.89)" - Click here for my olive oil
mayonnaise recipe.
-
Green tea
intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis
of 14 randomized controlled trials - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jun 29 -
"We performed a comprehensive literature search to
identify relevant trials of green tea beverages and extracts on lipid profiles
in adults ... The analysis of eligible studies showed that the administration of
green tea beverages or extracts resulted in significant reductions in serum TC
and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but no effect on HDL cholesterol was
observed" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Low serum
magnesium concentrations predict cardiovascular and all-cause mortality -
Atherosclerosis. 2011 Jun 12 - "Low serum magnesium
(Mg(++)) levels are associated with future development of left ventricular
hypertrophy independently of common cardiovascular risk factors, as recently
demonstrated in the five-year follow-up of the population-based Study of Health
in Pomerania (SHIP). As left ventricular hypertrophy has significant prognostic
implications, we hypothesized that serum Mg(++) levels are associated with
cardiovascular mortality ... median duration of mortality follow-up was 10.1
years ... During the follow-up, 417 deaths occurred. Mortality in subjects with
Mg(++)≤0.73mmol/l was significantly higher for all-cause deaths (10.95 death per
1000 person years), and cardiovascular deaths (3.44 deaths per 1000 person
years) in comparison to higher Mg(++) concentrations (1.45 deaths from all-cause
per 1000 person years, 1.53 deaths from cardiovascular cause per 1000 person
years). This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for
multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including arterial hypertension, and
antihypertensive therapy including diuretics (log-rank-test p=0.0001 for
all-cause mortality, and p=0.0174 for cardiovascular mortality)" - See
Jarrow Formulas,
Magnesium Optimizer Citrate, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets at iHerb.
-
Vitamin E tocotrienols show cholesterol benefits for healthy adults: Study -
Nutra USA, 6/29/11 - "Daily supplements of a palm
oil-based tocotrienol-rich product increased the ratio of HDL cholesterol to
total cholesterol – reported to be the most specific lipid risk factor for
cardiovascular disease (CVD) – by 14 percent in people over 50, compared to a
decrease of about 5 percent in the placebo group ... HDL cholesterol increases
of the magnitude observed in this study have been associated with a 22.5 percent
reduced risk of cardiovascular events" - [Abstract]
- See
Jarrow FamilE (contains all eight members of the vitamin E family, includes
Tocomin) at Amazon.com.
-
Pine bark extract plus CoQ10 shows benefits for heart failure patients -
Nutra USA, 6/23/11 - "12 weeks of daily supplementation
with 350 milligrams of CoQ10 (Kaneka) and 105 milligrams of the branded pine
bark extract Pycnogenol ... recruited 53 heart failure patients aged between 54
and 68 were randomly assigned to receive either the PycnoQ10 supplement or
placebo for 12 weeks ... systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased
following the CoQ10-pine bark combination, from 139.2 to 133.2 mmHg and 82.3 to
77.3 mmHg, respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from
140.3 to 139.5 mmHg and 83.4 to 81.2 mmHg, respectively, in the placebo group
... In addition to increases in the amount of blood pumped by the heart, the
researchers also reported improvements in heart rate were also observed in the
PycnoQ10 supplement group from 78.4 to 74.2 beats per minute, compared with a
decrease from 79.1 to 78.4 in the placebo group" - [Abstract]
- See
Pycnogenol at Amazon.com
and
ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
Impact of
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on coronary plaque instability: An
integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound study - Atherosclerosis.
2011 Jun 1 - "Patients with acute coronary syndrome had
significantly lower levels of ω3 PUFAs (especially of EPA and DPA) than those
without it. IB-IVUS analyses showed that ω3 PUFAs correlated inversely with %
lipid volume and positively with % fibrous volume. Patients with low EPA levels,
low DPA levels, and low DHA levels had a significantly higher % lipid volume
(p=0.048, p=0.008, and p=0.036, respectively) and a significantly lower %
fibrous volume (p=0.035, p=0.008, and p=0.034, respectively) than those with
high levels of these fatty acids. Even after adjustment for confounders, the
presence of both low EPA and low DPA levels proved to be an independent
predictor for lipid-rich plaques in any of the two categories ... A lower serum
content of ω3 PUFAs (especially of EPA and DPA) was significantly associated
with lipid-rich plaques, suggesting the contribution to the incidence of acute
coronary syndrome"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Colours of
fruit and vegetables and 10-year incidence of CHD - Br J Nutr. 2011 Jun
8:1-8 - "For each 25 g/d increase in the intake of the
sum of all four colours of fruit and vegetables, a borderline significant
association with incident CHD was found (HR 0.98; 95 % CI 0.97, 1.01). No clear
associations were found for the colour groups separately. However, each 25 g/d
increase in the intake of deep orange fruit and vegetables was inversely
associated with CHD (HR 0.74; 95 % CI 0.55, 1.00). Carrots, their largest
contributor (60 %), were associated with a 32 % lower risk of CHD (HR 0.68; 95 %
CI 0.48, 0.98). In conclusion, though no clear associations were found for the
four colour groups with CHD, a higher intake of deep orange fruit and vegetables
and especially carrots may protect against CHD"
-
Associations
between vitamin D and cardiovascular outcomes; Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study
- Atherosclerosis. 2011 May 23 - "The mean age of
participants was 56.84+/-11.17 years and 244 (48.6%) were women. The median (IQ:
25-75) of serum 25-OH-D was 14.1ng/ml (9.6-29ng/ml) and 306 (61%) of
participants had serum 25-OH-D<15g/ml. Median serum 25-OH-D was lower in cases
(12.5 vs. 18.1, P<0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds
ratio of serum 25-OH-D<10ng/ml for having CVD outcomes was 2.90 compared with
25-OH-D≥15 (95% confidence interval" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Dietary
fiber intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in the Japanese population: the
Japan Public Health Center-based study cohort - Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jun 8
- "Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence
intervals (CIs)) of CVD for the third to fifth quintiles of total fiber were
0.79 (0.63-0.99), 0.70 (0.54-0.89) and 0.65 (0.48-0.87) in women, respectively,
compared with the lowest quintile. Total fiber intake was inversely associated
with the incidence of stroke, either cerebral infarction or intracerebral
hemorrhage in women. The results for insoluble fiber in women were similar to
those for total fiber, whereas those for soluble fiber were weak. An inverse
association of total fiber with CVD was observed primarily in non-smokers (P for
trend=0.045 and 0.001) and not in smokers (probability values for interaction
between total fiber and smoking were 0.06 and 0.01 in men and women,
respectively).Conclusions:Higher total dietary fiber was associated with reduced
risk of CVD in Japanese non-smokers"
-
Vitamin D
intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in US men and women - Am J Clin
Nutr. 2011 Jun 8 - "After multivariate adjustment for
age and other CVD risk factors, a higher total vitamin D intake (from foods and
supplements) was associated with a decreased risk of CVD in men but not in
women; the relative risks (95% CIs) for a comparison of participants who met the
Dietary Reference Intake of vitamin D (≥600 IU/d) with participants whose
vitamin D intake was <100 IU/d were 0.84 (0.72, 0.97; P for trend = 0.009) for
men and 1.02 (0.89, 1.17; P for trend = 0.12) for women" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Link
between phosphate intake and heart disease demonstrated in new study -
Science Daily, 6/7/11 - "cholesterol deposits in the
wall of arteries are increased following a higher phosphate diet. This leads to
narrowing of the arteries, which is the cause of most heart attacks and strokes
... Food high in phosphate includes biscuits, cakes, sweets, dairy products and
meats such as offal and veal" - Note: They left out soda which is high
in phosphate.
-
Effect of a
traditional Mediterranean diet on apolipoproteins B, A-I, and their ratio: A
randomized, controlled trial - Atherosclerosis. 2011 May 6 -
"Apolipoprotein (Apo)B,
ApoA-I, and their ratio could predict coronary heart
disease (CHD) risk more accurately than conventional lipid measurements. Our aim
was to assess the effect of a traditional
Mediterranean diet (TMD) on
apolipoproteins ... Participants assigned to a low-fat diet (control) (n=177),
or TMDs (TMD+virgin olive oil (VOO), n=181 or TMD+nuts, n=193) received
nutritional education and either free VOO (ad libitum) or nuts (dose: 30g/day).
A 3-month evaluation was performed ... Both TMDs promoted beneficial changes on
classical cardiovascular risk factors. ApoA-I increased, and ApoB and
ApoB/ApoA-I ratio decreased after TMD+VOO, the changes promoting a lower
cardiometabolic risk. Changes in TMD+VOO versus low-fat diet were -2.9mg/dL (95%
CI, -5.6 to -0.08), 3.3mg/dL (95% CI, 0.84 to 5.8), and -0.03mg/dL (-0.05 to
-0.01) for ApoB, ApoA-I, and ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, respectively ... Individuals at
high-cardiovascular risk who improved their diet toward a TMD pattern rich in
virgin olive oil, reduced their Apo B and ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and improved ApoA-I
concentrations" - The question is; is it the polyphenols or the omega-9
or both in the virgin olive oil responsible for the benefit? See
olive leaf extract at Amazon.com.
-
Heart
failure risk lower in women who often eat baked/broiled fish - Science
Daily, 5/24/11 - "In a large-scale analysis, women who
ate the most baked/broiled fish (five or more servings/week) had a 30 percent
lower risk of heart failure compared to women who seldom ate it (less than one
serving/month) ... dark fish (salmon, mackerel and bluefish) were associated
with a significantly greater risk reduction than either tuna or white fish
(sole, snapper and cod) ... eating fried fish was associated with increased
heart failure risk. Even one serving a week was associated with a 48 percent
higher heart failure risk"
-
Anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-atherosclerotic effects of
quercetin in human in vitro and in vivo models - Atherosclerosis. 2011 May 5
- "In cultured human endothelial cells, quercetin
protected against H(2)O(2)-induced lipid peroxidation and reduced the
cytokine-induced cell-surface expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Quercetin
also reduced the transcriptional activity of NFκB in human hepatocytes. In human
CRP transgenic mice (quercetin plasma concentration: 12.9+/-1.3μM), quercetin
quenched IL1β-induced CRP expression, as did sodium salicylate. In ApoE*3Leiden
mice, quercetin (plasma concentration: 19.3+/-8.3μM) significantly attenuated
atherosclerosis by 40% (sodium salicylate by 86%). Quercetin did not affect
atherogenic plasma lipids or lipoproteins but it significantly lowered the
circulating inflammatory risk factors SAA and fibrinogen. Combined histological
and microarray analysis of aortas revealed that quercetin affected vascular cell
proliferation thereby reducing atherosclerotic lesion growth. Quercetin also
reduced the gene expression of specific factors implicated in local vascular
inflammation including IL-1R, Ccl8, IKK, and STAT3 ...Quercetin reduces the
expression of human CRP and cardiovascular risk factors (SAA, fibrinogen) in
mice in vivo. These systemic effects together with local anti-proliferative and
anti-inflammatory effects in the aorta may contribute to the attenuation of
atherosclerosis" - See
quercetin at Amazon.com.
-
Cruciferous
vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk of total and
cardiovascular disease mortality - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May 18 -
"Overall, fruit and vegetable intake was inversely
associated with risk of total mortality in both women and men, and a
dose-response pattern was particularly evident for cruciferous vegetable intake.
The pooled multivariate hazard ratios (95% CIs) for total mortality across
increasing quintiles of intake were 1 (reference), 0.91 (0.84, 0.98), 0.88
(0.77, 1.00), 0.85 (0.76, 0.96), and 0.78 (0.71, 0.85) for cruciferous
vegetables (P < 0.0001 for trend) and 0.88 (0.79, 0.97), 0.88 (0.79, 0.98), 0.76
(0.62, 0.92), and 0.84 (0.69, 1.00) for total vegetables (P = 0.03 for trend).
The inverse associations were primarily related to cardiovascular disease
mortality but not to cancer mortality"
-
Damaged
hearts pump better when fueled with fats, study suggests - Science Daily,
5/4/11 - "for a damaged heart, a balanced diet that
includes mono- and polyunsaturated fats, and which replaces simple sugars
(sucrose and fructose) with complex carbohydrates, may be beneficial ...
researchers previously thought a high-fat diet fed to animal models that have
suffered a heart attack, would overload their tissues with fat, which in turn
would have a toxic effect on their hearts. Surprisingly, the heart's pump
function improved on the high-fat diet. Through further testing, the researchers
found that animal models suffering from heart failure and receiving a low fat
diet were able to produce insulin and take up glucose from the blood, just as
healthy hearts do. However, the biological models with heart failure that were
fed high-fat diets showed signs of insulin resistance, exhibited by a decreased
amount of glucose taken up by the heart, as might be expected in a diabetic
patient ... One of the main implications of these findings is that contrary to
previously held beliefs, a state of insulin-resistance might actually be
beneficial to a failing heart"
-
Load up
on fiber now, avoid heart disease later - Science Daily, 3/22/11 -
"adults between 20 and 59 years old with the highest
fiber intake had a significantly lower estimated lifetime risk for
cardiovascular disease compared to those with the lowest fiber intake ... It's
long been known that high-fiber diets can help people lose weight, lower
cholesterol and improve hypertension ... In adults 60 to 79 years, dietary fiber
intake was not significantly associated with a reduction in lifetime risk of
cardiovascular disease. It's possible that the beneficial effect of dietary
fiber may require a long period of time to achieve, and older adults may have
already developed significant risk for heart disease before starting a
high-fiber diet"
-
A Dietary
Mixture Containing Fish Oil, Resveratrol, Lycopene, Catechins, and Vitamins E
and C Reduces Atherosclerosis in Transgenic Mice - J Nutr. 2011 Mar 16 -
"Chronic inflammation and proatherogenic lipids are
important risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specific dietary
constituents such as polyphenols and fish oils may improve cardiovascular risk
factors and may have a beneficial effect on disease outcomes ... AIDM was
evaluated in an inflammation model, male human C-reactive protein (CRP)
transgenic mice, and an atherosclerosis model, female ApoE*3Leiden transgenic
mice. Two groups of male human-CRP transgenic mice were fed AIDM [0.567% (wt:wt)
powder and 0.933% (wt:wt oil)] or placebo for 6 wk. The effects of AIDM on basal
and IL-1β-stimulated CRP expression were investigated. AIDM reduced
cytokine-induced human CRP and fibrinogen expression in human-CRP transgenic
mice. In the atherosclerosis study, 2 groups of female ApoE*3Leiden transgenic
mice were fed an atherogenic diet supplemented with AIDM [0.567% (wt:wt) powder
and 0.933% (wt:wt oil)] or placebo for 16 wk. AIDM strongly reduced plasma
cholesterol, TG, and serum amyloid A concentrations compared with placebo.
Importantly, long-term treatment of ApoE*3Leiden mice with AIDM markedly reduced
the development of atherosclerosis by 96% compared with placebo. The effect on
atherosclerosis was paralleled by a reduced expression of the vascular
inflammation markers and adhesion molecules inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1
and E-selectin. Dietary supplementation of AIDM improves lipid and inflammatory
risk factors of CVD and strongly reduces atherosclerotic lesion development in
female transgenic mice" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com,
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com,
Jarrow Formulas, CarotenALL at Amazon.com,
green tea extract at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow FamilE (contains all eight members of the vitamin E family, includes
Tocomin) at Amazon.com.
-
Reversal of
mitochondrial dysfunction by coenzyme Q10 supplement improves endothelial
function in patients with ischaemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction: A
randomized controlled trial - Atherosclerosis. 2011 Feb 17 -
"Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with
endothelial dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) ... brachial
flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients with ischaemic LVSD (left ventricular
ejection fraction <45%) ... In patients with ischaemic LVSD, 8weeks supplement
of CoQ improved mitochondrial function and FMD; and the improvement of FMD
correlated with the change in mitochondrial function, suggesting that CoQ
improved endothelial function via reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction in
patients with ischaemic LVSD" - See
ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
Young
rats given polyphenols show less endothelial function deterioration with aging
- Science Daily, 1/31/11 - "The endothelium is the inner
lining of our blood vessels and normal functions of endothelial cells include
enabling coagulation, platelet adhesion and immune function. Endothelial
dysfunction is associated with reduced anticoagulant properties and the
inability of arteries and arterioles to dilate fully ... The gradual decrease in
endothelial function over time is a key factor in the development of diseases
associated with ageing, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many
epidemiologic studies suggest protection against CVD from moderate intake of
alcoholic beverages, especially those rich in antioxidants, such as red wine,
which is high in polyphenols (RWPs) ... RWPs and apocynin improved the
endothelial dysfunction, normalized oxidative stress and the expression of the
different proteins. RWPs also improved ageing-related decline in physical
exercise. Thus, intake of RWPs protects against ageing-induced endothelial
dysfunction and decline in physical performance ... RWPs intake had also a
physiological beneficial effect since it improved the physical exercise capacity
of old rats" - See
grape seed extract at Amazon.com
and
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
α-Lipoic
acid can improve endothelial dysfunction in subjects with impaired fasting
glucose - Metabolism. 2011 Jan 19 - "Our data showed
that IFG subjects have impaired endothelial function and that antioxidant
α-lipoic acid can improve endothelial function through a decrease of
oxygen-derived free radicals" - See
alpha lipoic acid at Amazon.com.
-
HEPA
filters reduce cardiovascular health risks associated with air pollution, study
finds - Science Daily, 1/12/11 - "portable HEPA
filters reduced the average concentrations of fine particulates inside homes by
60% and woodsmoke by 75%, and their use was associated with improved endothelial
function (a 9.4% increase in reactive hyperemia index) and decreased
inflammation (a 32.6% decrease in C-reactive protein)"
-
Tomatoes
found to contain nutrient which prevents vascular diseases - Science Daily,
1/6/11 - "Tomatoes are already known to contain many
compounds beneficial to health. In this study the team analyzed
9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, to test its potential anti-dyslipidemia properties
... The compound was found to enhance fatty acid oxidation and contributed to
the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. These findings suggest that
9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid has anti-dyslipidemia affects and can therefore help
prevent vascular diseases" - See
Jarrow Lyco-Sorb (contains Lyco-O-Mato) at Amazon.com.
-
Effects of
lycopene supplementation on oxidative stress and markers of endothelial function
in healthy men - Atherosclerosis. 2010 Dec 9 - "An
increase in serum lycopene after supplementation can reduce oxidative stress
which may play a role in endothelial function" - See
Jarrow Lyco-Sorb (contains Lyco-O-Mato) at Amazon.com.
-
Three
Whole-Grain Portions Daily May Lower Cardiovascular Risk - Medscape, 1/4/11
- "Daily consumption of 3 portions of whole-grain foods
(WGF) is linked to lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in healthy,
middle-aged people mainly by lowering blood pressure (BP) ... assigned to
continue the refined diet (control) or to switch to a whole-wheat diet or to a
whole-wheat plus oat diet, for 12 weeks ... Compared with the control group, the
WGF groups had a significant reduction in systolic BP (6 mm Hg) and a
significant reduction (3 mm Hg) in pulse pressure ... The observed decrease in
systolic blood pressure could decrease the incidence of coronary artery disease
and stroke by ≥ 15% and 25%, respectively"
-
Fruit,
vegetables, and olive oil and risk of coronary heart disease in Italian women:
the EPICOR Study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Dec 22 -
"aimed to investigate the association between consumption of fruit, vegetables,
and olive oil and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in 29,689 women
enrolled between 1993 and 1998 ... A strong reduction in CHD risk among women in
the highest quartile of consumption of leafy vegetables (hazard ratio: 0.54; 95%
CI: 0.33, 0.90; P for trend = 0.03) and olive oil (hazard ratio: 0.56; 95% CI:
0.31, 0.99; P for trend = 0.04) was found. In contrast, no association emerged
between fruit consumption and CHD risk"
-
Protective
effect of lycopene on serum cholesterol and blood pressure: Meta-analyses of
intervention trials - Maturitas. 2010 Dec 14 -
"Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes ... Meta-analysis of the effect of
lycopene on systolic blood pressure of all trials suggested a significant blood
pressure reducing effect (mean systolic blood pressure change+/-SE:
-5.60+/-5.26mm Hg, p=0.04) ... Our meta-analysis suggests that lycopene taken in
doses ≥25mg daily is effective in reducing LDL cholesterol by about 10% which is
comparable to the effect of low doses of statins in patient with slightly
elevated cholesterol levels" - See
Jarrow Lyco-Sorb (contains Lyco-O-Mato) at Amazon.com.
-
Whey
supplements lower blood pressure: Low-cost protein gets big results in people
with elevated blood pressure - Science Daily, 12/8/10 -
"Beverages supplemented by whey-based protein can
significantly reduce elevated blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and
heart disease ... daily doses of commonly available whey brought a more than
six-point reduction in the average blood pressure of men and women with elevated
systolic and diastolic blood pressures ... blood-pressure reductions like those
seen by Fluegel can reduce cardiovascular disease and bring a 35 to 40 percent
reduction in fatal strokes"
- See
whey protein at Amazon.com.
-
Chronic
high cholesterol diet produces brain damage - Science Daily, 11/24/10 -
"chronic high fat cholesterol diet in rats exhibited
pathologies similar to Alzheimer's disease ... A third hypothesis suggests that
chronic long-lasting mild cerebrovascular damage, including inflammatory
processes and oxidative stress, may cause Alzheimer's disease ... chronic
hypercholesterolemia [in rats] caused memory impairment, cholinergic
dysfunction, inflammation, enhanced cortical beta-amyloid and tau and induced
microbleedings, all indications, which resemble an Alzheimer's disease-like
pathology"
-
Fish
consumption and myocardial infarction: a second prospective biomarker study from
northern Sweden - Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Nov 3 - "fish
also contains methylmercury, which may increase the risk of MI ... mercury
(Ery-Hg) ... selenium (Ery-Se) ... (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids)
in plasma phospholipids (P-EPA+DHA) ... sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) ... Odds
ratios for the third compared with the first tertile were 0.65 (95% CI: 0.46,
0.91) for Ery-Hg, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.53, 1.06) for Ery-Se, and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.54,
1.11) for P-EPA+DHA. Ery-Hg and P-EPA+DHA were intercorrelated (Spearman's R =
0.34). No association was seen for reported fish consumption ... High
concentrations of Ery-Se were associated with an increased risk of SCD" -
Note: See my
Toxins in Fish/Fish oil page.
Mercury has not been a problem in brand name supplements. See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Chocolate eaters may have healthier hearts: study - MSNBC, 11/8/10 -
"The authors found that women older than 70 who ate
chocolate at least once per week were 35 percent less likely to be
hospitalized or die from heart disease over the course of the study, and
nearly 60 percent less likely to be hospitalized or die from heart failure
... The danger is that many people will start eating more of it than is
necessary, without cutting back in calories from other snacks, which will
result in weight gain and will counteract any beneficial effects of
chocolate ... Flavonoids are thought to reduce the risk of heart disease,
the leading cause of death in many industrialized countries, by helping to
increase nitric oxide, which in turn helps boost the functioning of blood
vessels and lower blood pressure"
-
Eating mostly whole grains, few refined grains linked to lower body fat
- Science Daily, 10/20/10 - "People who consume
several servings of whole grains per day while limiting daily intake of
refined grains appear to have less of a type of fat tissue thought to play a
key role in triggering cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes ...
Visceral Adipose Tissue ... VAT volume was approximately 10 % lower in
adults who reported eating three or more daily servings of whole grains and
who limited their intake of refined grains to less than one serving per day
... Visceral fat surrounds the intra-abdominal organs while subcutaneous fat
is found just beneath the skin ... visceral fat is more closely tied to the
development of metabolic syndrome ... participants who consumed, on average,
three daily servings of whole grains but continued to eat many refined
grains did not demonstrate lower VAT volume"
-
Serum Magnesium and
Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities
(ARIC) Study - Medscape, 10/19/10 - "sudden
cardiac death (SCD) ... SCD was inversely associated with serum Mg (P for
linear trend < .0001). Compared with the lowest quartile of Mg, the risk of
SCD was 55% lower (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31–0.67) in the highest Mg quartile and
47% lower in the second highest quartile (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38–0.74)"
- See
Jarrow Formulas, Magnesium Optimizer Citrate at Amazon.com.
-
Association of Japanese dietary pattern with serum adiponectin concentration
in Japanese adult men - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Sep 27 -
"Although previous studies suggest that the
traditional Japanese dietary pattern is independently associated with a low
cardiovascular disease mortality risk, the mechanisms mediating or linking
this association are not well understood. Adiponectin has emerged as a
valuable biomarker for cardiovascular diseases ... Greater adherence to the
"Japanese" dietary pattern was independently associated to a higher serum
adiponectin concentration in Japanese adult men. This finding supports the
hypothesis that the traditional Japanese diet may have a potentially
beneficial effect on adiponectin concentrations"
-
Sulphoraphane inhibited the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 through MyD88-dependent toll-like receptor-4
pathway in cultured endothelial cells - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Sep
27 - "Chronic inflammation plays pivotal roles in both
cancer and cardiovascular diseases. A large body of evidence suggests that high
intake of cruciferous vegetables is closely related with low risk of these
disorders ... Taken all together, adhesion molecules are confirmed to be the
novel targets of sulphoraphane in preventing inflammatory insult to endothelial
cells. Sulphoraphane suppressed TLR-4 followed by MyD88 and downstream factors
such as p38 MAPK and JNK, ultimately blocking NF-кB translocation and the
subsequent expression of adhesion molecules. These data suggested a novel
inflammatory pathway mediated by sulphoraphane" - See
sulforaphane at Amazon.com.
-
Garlic oil may reverse diabetes linked heart disease - Nutra USA,
9/30/10 -
"garlic oil supplementation for diabetic rats leads to
several alterations at multiple levels in hearts including cardiac
contractile functions and structures, myosin chain gene expressions,
oxidative stress, and apoptosis and related signaling activities" - [Abstract]
-
Cardiac Contractile Dysfunction and Apoptosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic
Rats Are Ameliorated by Garlic Oil Supplementation - J Agric Food Chem. 2010
Sep 13 - "these diabetes-related cardiac dysfunctions
were almost dose-dependently ameliorated by garlic oil administration. In
conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts
from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy"
- See
garlic oil products at iHerb.
-
Garlic oil shows protective effect against heart disease in diabetes -
Science Daily, 9/29/10 - "Garlic has "significant"
potential for preventing cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease that is a
leading cause of death in people with diabetes ... people with diabetes have
at least twice the risk of death from heart disease as others ... The
scientists fed either garlic oil or corn oil to laboratory rats with
diabetes. Animals given garlic oil experienced beneficial changes associated
with protection against heart damage" - See
garlic supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Low serum
magnesium concentrations predict increase in left ventricular mass over 5 years
independently of common cardiovascular risk factors - Atherosclerosis. 2010
Sep 21 - "Mg(2+) at baseline (0.790+/-0.003mmol/l,
mean+/-SEM) inversely correlated with the difference in LVM over 5 years
(p<0.0001, females: p<0.002, males: p<0.024). In the lowest Mg(2+)-quintile
(Mg(2+)<=0.73mmol/l), LVM (187.4+/-3.1g at baseline) increased by 14.9+/-1.2g,
while in the highest Mg(2+)-quintile (Mg(2+)>=0.85mmol/l) LVM (186.7+/-3.4g at
baseline) decreased by -0.5+/-2.8g (p<0.0001 between quintiles). By
multivariable analysis including several cardiovascular risk factors and
antihypertensive treatment, serum Mg(2+) was associated with the increase in LVM
at a statistically high significant level (p<0.0001). LVM after 5 years was
significantly higher in subjects within the lower Mg(2+)-quintiles. This
association remained highly significant after adjustment for several
cardiovascular risk factors including arterial hypertension and diabetes
mellitus" - See
magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Chocolate consumption is inversely associated with prevalent coronary heart
disease: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study
- Clin Nutr. 2010 Sep 19 - "Compared to subjects who
did not report any chocolate intake, odds ratios (95% CI) for CHD were 1.01
(0.76-1.37), 0.74 (0.56-0.98), and 0.43 (0.28-0.67) for subjects consuming
1-3 times/month, 1-4 times/week, and 5+ times/week, respectively (p for
trend <0.0001) adjusting for age, sex, family CHD risk group, energy intake,
education, non-chocolate candy intake, linolenic acid intake, smoking,
alcohol intake, exercise, and fruit and vegetables. Consumption of
non-chocolate candy was associated with a 49% higher prevalence of CHD
comparing 5+/week vs. 0/week [OR = 1.49 (0.96-2.32)]"
-
Frequent chocolate consumption could reduce CHD risk, US study - Nutra
USA, 9/21/10 - "dark chocolate intake was associated
with a 39 per cent lower risk of myocardial infarction and stroke combined
... In the fully adjusted model, consumption of chocolate more than five
times a week was associated with 57 per cent lower prevalent CHD compared
with subjects who did not consume chocolate ... Exclusion of subjects with
prevalent diabetes and those who were on a weight loss diet made the
association stronger ... the inability to distinguish the different types of
chocolate might have led to an underestimation of the true association
between cocoa/chocolate polyphenol consumption and CHD in the study"
-
Dietary
polyphenols: Focus on resveratrol, a promising agent in the prevention of
cardiovascular diseases and control of glucose homeostasis - Nutr Metab
Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Oct;20(8):618-25 - "Plants
continuously produce an extraordinary variety of biologically active
low-molecular-mass compounds. Among them, resveratrol
(3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is endowed with significant positive activities
by protecting against cardiovascular diseases and preventing the development
and progression of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the molecule significantly
ameliorates glucose homeostasis in obese mice. These beneficial effects have
driven considerable interest towards resveratrol molecular activities, and
intensive efforts for the identification of the stilbene targets have been
made. The molecule shows a pleiotropic mode of action. Particularly, its
cellular targets are crucial for cell proliferation and differentiation,
apoptosis, antioxidant defence and mitochondrial energy production. The
complexity of resveratrol activities might account for its effectiveness in
ameliorating multifactorial processes, including the onset and/or
progression of several degenerative diseases such as myocardial infarction,
atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Resveratrol
improves myocardial perfusion in a swine model of hypercholesterolemia and
chronic myocardial ischemia - Circulation. 2010 Sep 14;122(11 Suppl):S142-9
- "hypercholesterolemic diet with supplemental
resveratrol (100 mg/kg/d orally, HCRV ... Total cholesterol was lowered about
30% in HCRV animals (P<0.001). Regional wall motion analysis demonstrated a
significant decrease in inferolateral function from baseline to 7 weeks in HCC
swine (P=0.04). There was no significant change in regional function in HCRV
swine from baseline to 7 weeks (P=0.32). Tissue blood flow during stress was
2.8-fold greater in HCRV swine when compared with HCC swine (P=0.04).
Endothelium-dependent microvascular relaxation response to Substance P was
diminished in HCC swine, which was rescued by resveratrol treatment (P=0.004).
Capillary density (PECAM-1 staining) demonstrated fewer capillaries in both HCC
and HCRV swine versus control swine (P=0.02). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated
significantly greater expression in HCRV versus HCC swine of the following
markers of angiogenesis: VEGF (P=0.002), peNOS (ser1177) (P=0.04), NFkB
(P=0.004), and pAkt (thr308) (P=0.001) ... Supplemental resveratrol attenuates
regional wall motion abnormalities, improves myocardial perfusion in the
collateral dependent region, preserves endothelium-dependent coronary vessel
function, and upregulates markers of angiogenesis associated with the VEGF
signaling pathway" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Cardiac
hypertrophy and remodelling: pathophysiological consequences and protective
effects of melatonin - J Hypertens. 2010 Sep;28 Suppl 1:S7-12 -
"Whereas melatonin did not reduce left ventricular
hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats or in nitric oxide-deficient
hypertension, it did have other beneficial effects, e.g. it curtailed oxidative
damage to the heart that resulted in an attenuation of left ventricular
fibrosis. In contrast to the findings in hypertensive rats, melatonin
administration was effective in overcoming cardiac enlargement resulting from
induced hyperthyroidism or chronic hypoxia exposure. In addition, in these
situations, melatonin also conferred protection against free radical-mediated
damage at the level of cardiomyocytes. Collectively, the results of the
publications summarized herein along with numerous other published reports on
other aspects of cardiovascular physiology indicate that, when damage to the
heart is a result of free radicals, melatonin is clearly protective. This is not
unexpected considering the now well documented potent antioxidative actions of
both melatonin and its metabolites. In general, melatonin improves
cardiovascular physiology and heart function" - See my favorite
Source Naturals, Melatonin, Peppermint Flavored Sublingual, 1 mg, 300 Tablets at
iHerb.
-
Melatonin
improves the restoration of endothelium-derived constricting factor signalling
and inner diameter in the rat femoral artery after cessation of L-NAME treatment
- J Hypertens. 2010 Sep;28 Suppl 1:S19-2 - "Although
melatonin did not accelerate blood pressure reduction, it attenuated
EDCF-contractions and oxidative load and enlarged arterial diameter. These
effects may be beneficial for cardiovascular protection" - See
melatonin at Amazon.com.
-
Continuous
light and L-NAME-induced left ventricular remodelling: different protection with
melatonin and captopril - J Hypertens. 2010 Sep;28 Suppl 1:S13-8 -
"In hypertension induced by a combination of
continuous light and L-NAME treatment, melatonin and captopril protect the heart
against pathological left ventricular remodelling differently" - See
melatonin at Amazon.com.
-
Serum
magnesium and risk of sudden cardiac death in the Atherosclerosis Risk in
Communities (ARIC) Study - Am Heart J. 2010 Sep;160(3):464-70 -
"sudden cardiac death (SCD) ... Individuals in the
highest quartile of serum Mg were at significantly lower risk of SCD in all
models. This association persisted after adjustment for potential confounding
variables, with an almost 40% reduced risk of SCD (hazard ratio 0.62, 95% CI
0.42-0.93) in quartile 4 versus 1 of serum Mg observed in the fully adjusted
model ... This study suggests that low levels of serum Mg may be an important
predictor of SCD" - See
magnesium supplements at Amazon.com.
-
'Jailbreak' bacteria can trigger heart disease - Science Daily, 9/5/10 -
"Poor dental hygiene can lead to bleeding gums,
providing bacteria with an escape route into the bloodstream, where they can
initiate blood clots leading to heart disease"
-
Vitamin
D is a prognostic marker in heart failure, study finds - Science Daily,
8/31/10 - "Survival rates in heart failure patients with
reduced levels of vitamin D are lower than in patients with normal levels ...
Results also suggest that low levels of vitamin D are associated with activation
of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS -- a pivotal regulatory system in heart
failure) and an altered cytokine profile" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Iron
deficiency in heart failure - Science Daily, 8/31/10 -
"Iron deficiency is a relatively common nutritional
disorder that affects more than one third of the general population, and is
often associated with chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease,
Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid diseases and renal failure ... iron deficiency
must be viewed in a much broader clinical context, as it also affects at least
one-third of non-anaemic CHF patients ... Iron deficiency appears to be
independent of the severity of CHF symptoms, and occurs irrespective of anaemia.
It also seems to be associated with exercise intolerance and leads to a reduced
quality of life. Our research shows that it probably constitutes an ominous sign
of a poor outcome, independently of the other well-established prognosticators.
In light of its high prevalence and clinical consequences, iron deficiency may
well be perceived as an attractive therapeutic target in CHF" - See
Slow Fe Slow Release Iron Tablets 90-Count Box at Amazon.com.
-
DHEA-S
Levels and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Postmenopausal Women - J Clin
Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Aug 25 - "Women in the lowest
DHEA-S tertile had higher CVD mortality (17% 6-yr mortality rate vs. 8%;
log-rank P = 0.011), and all-cause mortality (21 vs. 10%; P = 0.011) compared
with women with higher DHEA-S levels. The increased CVD mortality risk [hazard
ratio (HR) = 2.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19-5.45] remained unchanged
after adjustment for multiple CVD risk factors (HR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.06-5.56)
but became nonsignificant when further adjusting for the presence or severity of
angiographic obstructive CAD (HR = 1.99; 95% CI = 0.87-4.59). Results were
similar for all-cause mortality. Lower DHEA-S levels were only marginally but
not independently associated with obstructive CAD" - See
DHEA at Amazon.com.
-
Major
Dietary Protein Sources and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women -
Circulation. 2010 Aug 16 - "26 years of follow-up
... higher intakes of red meat, red meat excluding processed meat, and
high-fat dairy were significantly associated with elevated risk of CHD.
Higher intakes of poultry, fish, and nuts were significantly associated with
lower risk. In a model controlling statistically for energy intake, 1
serving per day of nuts was associated with a 30% (95% confidence interval,
17% to 42%) lower risk of CHD compared with 1 serving per day of red meat.
Similarly, compared with 1 serving per day of red meat, a lower risk was
associated with 1 serving per day of low-fat dairy (13%; 95% confidence
interval, 6% to 19%), poultry (19%; 95% confidence interval, 3% to 33%), and
fish (24%; 95% confidence interval, 6% to 39%). Conclusions-These data
suggest that high red meat intake increases risk of CHD and that CHD risk
may be reduced importantly by shifting sources of protein in the US diet"
-
N-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids early supplementation improves ultrasound indices of
endothelial function, but not through NO inhibitors in patients with acute
myocardial infarction N-3 PUFA supplementation in acute myocardial infarction
- Clin Nutr. 2010 Aug 11 - "the study group (group P; n
= 20; standard therapy + n-3 PUFA 1g daily) or the control group (group C; n =
20; standard therapy) ... There was a significant difference between both groups
in mean delta (baseline/after one month) FMD (P: 8.1 +/- 12.6% vs C: -2.2 +/-
11.8%; p = 0.02) with no difference in mean delta NMD (P: 3.3 +/- 11.9% vs 0.66
+/- 14.3%; p = 0.53). We found also a significant increase in mean FMD (7.4 +/-
6.4 to 15.5 +/- 10.5%; p = 0.02) with a nonsignificant change in mean NMD values
(26.9 +/- 12.1 to 30.2 +/- 14.0%; p = 0.24) after 1-month therapy with n-3 PUFA.
FMD and NMD mean values did not change in control patients (FMD: 11.6 +/- 6.1%
to 9.4 +/- 8.0%; p = 0.5 NMD: 25.1 +/- 11.4% to 25.8 +/- 14.0%; p = 0.84). The
comparison of mean delta ADMA values for both groups revealed no differences (P:
6.2 +/- 9.7 mumol/l vs C: 3.6 +/- 9.5 mumol/l; p = 0.43). Mean serum ADMA
concentrations were significantly increased after 1-month therapy in the group P
(P: 2.1 +/- 1.8 to 8.3 +/- 9.7 mumol/l; p = 0.001; C: 4.5 +/- 7.1 to 8.1 +/- 9.5
mumol/l; p = 0.09). However, there was a nonsignificant difference in mean
baseline serum ADMA levels between both groups (P: 2.1 +/- 1.8 mumol/l vs C: 4.5
+/- 7.1 mumol/l; p = 0.32). There were no significant correlations between FMD,
NMD, ADMA levels and demographic, clinical or biochemical parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Early and short-term n-3 PUFA supplementation improved ultrasound
indices of endothelial function without affecting serum ADMA levels in patients
with AMI and successful primary PCI" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Bilberry
anthocyanin-rich extract alters expression of genes related to atherosclerosis
development in aorta of apo E-deficient mice - Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis.
2010 Jul 31 - "bilberry anthocyanin-rich extract (BE)
... BE supplementation significantly improved hypercholesterolemia whereas the
plasmatic antioxidant status remained unchanged. Nutrigenomic analysis
identified 1261 genes which expression was modulated by BE in the aorta.
Bioinformatic analysis revealed that these genes are implicated in different
cellular processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, transendothelial
migration and angiogenesis, processes associated with atherosclerosis
development/protection. Some of the most significantly down-regulated genes
included genes coding for AOX1, CYP2E1 or TXNIP implicated in the regulation of
oxidative stress, JAM-A coding for adhesion molecules or VEGFR2 implicate in
regulation of angiogenesis. Other genes were up-regulated, such as CRB3, CLDN14
or CDH4 potentially associated with increased cell-cell adhesion and decreased
paracellular permeability. These results provide a global integrated view of the
mechanisms involved in the preventive action of bilberry anthocyanin-rich
extract against atherosclerosis"
- See
bilberry at Amazon.com.
-
Red meat
consumption and risk of heart failure in male physicians - Nutr Metab
Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Jul 30 - "there was a positive
and graded relation between red meat consumption and HF [hazard ratio (95%
CI) of 1.0 (reference), 1.02 (0.85-1.22), 1.08 (0.90-1.30), 1.17
(0.97-1.41), and 1.24 (1.03-1.48) from the lowest to the highest quintile of
red meat, respectively"
-
Industry : Calcium research “cherry picked” results - Nutra USA, 7/30/10
-
Calcium
supplements linked to increased risk of heart attack, study finds - Science
Daily, 7/29/10 - "calcium supplements were associated
with about a 30% increased risk of heart attack and smaller, non-significant,
increases in the risk of stroke and mortality"
-
Calcium
supplements play an important role in maintaining bone health, experts say -
Science Daily, 7/29/10 - "The authors of the
meta-analysis examined the effects of calcium supplements on the risk of
cardiovascular events, concluding there is an increased risk, and calling for a
reassessment of the role of calcium supplements for osteoporosis. According to
CRN, these conclusions are dramatically overstated, considering the limitations
of meta-analysis, in general, and this meta-analysis, specifically ... The
authors characterize these findings as though all of the selected studies
suggest increased risk. In fact, the opposite is true: most of the studies do
not suggest increased risk ... these researchers are making sweeping judgments
about the value of calcium supplements by only assessing a handful of handpicked
studies ..."
-
Vitamin D
levels and mortality in type 2 diabetes - Diabetes Care. 2010 Jul 6 -
"All-cause mortality was increased in patients with
severe vitamin D deficiency; HR [95% CI] 1.96 [1.29-2.98] ... Severe vitamin D
deficiency was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality; HR 1.95
[1.11-3.44]" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Dietary
Fiber Intake Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Mortality from
Cardiovascular Disease among Japanese Men and Women - J Nutr. 2010 Jun
23 - "Total, insoluble, and soluble dietary fiber
intakes were inversely associated with risk of mortality from CHD and total
CVD for both men and women. For men, the multivariable HR (95% CI) for CHD
in the highest vs. the lowest quintiles were 0.81 [(95% CI, 0.61-1.09);
P-trend = 0.02], 0.48 [(95% CI, 0.27-0.84); P-trend < 0.001], and 0.71 [(95%
CI, 0.41-0.97); P-trend = 0.04] for total, insoluble, and soluble fiber,
respectively. The respective HR (95% CI) for women were 0.80 [(95% CI,
0.57-0.97); P-trend = 0.01], 0.49 [(95% CI, 0.27-0.86); P-trend = 0.004],
and 0.72 [(95% CI, 0.34-0.99); P-trend = 0.03], respectively. For fiber
sources, intakes of fruit and cereal fibers but not vegetable fiber were
inversely associated with risk of mortality from CHD. In conclusion, dietary
intakes of fiber, both insoluble and soluble fibers, and especially fruit
and cereal fibers, may reduce risk of mortality from CHD"
-
Effect of
Long-Term L-Arginine Supplementation on Arterial Compliance and Metabolic
Parameters in Patients with Multiple Cardiovascular risk Factors: Randomized,
Placebo-Controlled Study - J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2010 Jun 7 -
"large artery elasticity index (LAEI) ... Although
large artery elasticity index (LAEI) did not differ significantly between the
groups at baseline (10.64.3 vs.11.64.5 ml/mm HgX100, p=0.346), at the end of the
study LAEI was significantly greater in patients treated with L-arginine than in
the placebo group (12.73.4 vs. 8.02.8 ml/mm HgX10, p<0.0001). Systemic vascular
resistance was significantly lower in patients treated with L-arginine than in
the placebo group after 6 months. Small artery elasticity index (SAEI) did not
differ significantly between the groups at baseline or at the end of the study.
Serum aldosterone decreased significantly in Group 1 from 10.76.3 to 8.45.0
ng/ml (p=0.008), but did not change in the placebo group. CONCLUSION::
L-arginine supplementation improves LAEI in patients with multiple
cardiovascular risk factors. This improvement was associated with a decrease in
systolic blood pressure, peripheral vascular resistance as well as a decrease in
aldosterone levels. The results suggest that long term L-arginine
supplementation has beneficial vascular effects in pathologic disease states
associated with endothelial dysfunction" - See
L-arginine products at Amazon.com.
-
Mediterranean-style diet improves heart function, twin study shows -
Science Daily, 6/15/10 - "heart rate variability
(HRV) ... Eating a Mediterranean-style diet -- one characterized by low
saturated fats and high in fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, olive
oil, cereals and moderate alcohol consumption -- reduces a person's heart
disease risk ... the higher a person's diet score, the more variable the
heart beat-to-beat time interval -- 10 percent to 58 percent (depending on
the HRV measure considered) for men in the top Mediterranean diet score
quarter compared to those in the lowest quarter; this equates to a 9 percent
to 14 percent reduction in heart-related death"
-
Plasma
Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 Levels Are Reduced following Low-Calorie
Cranberry Juice Supplementation in Men - J Am Coll Nutr. 2009
Dec;28(6):694-701 - "Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9,
also known as gelatinase B, is implicated in the development of hypertension and
atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability to rupture, an important step in the
etiology of cardiovascular diseases ... cranberry juice cocktail (CJC) ... We
found that CJC supplementation significantly decreased plasma MMP-9
concentrations (mean +/- SEM: -36% +/- 9%, p < 0.0005; week 12 vs. baseline)
while baseline plasma MMP-9 concentrations strongly correlated with the changes
noted over the entire intervention (r = -0.71, p < 0.0001). We also show that
the reduction in plasma MMP-9 levels was associated with a change in plasma
nitrites/nitrates (NOx) concentration over the entire intervention (r = -0.38, p
< 0.05; week 12 vs. baseline). Significant correlations were also noted between
changes in plasma MMP-9 levels and those of systolic (r = 0.39, p < 0.05) and
diastolic (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) blood pressure during the course of the study
(week 12 vs. baseline). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that daily CJC consumption
is associated with a decrease in plasma MMP-9 concentrations in abdominally
obese men. We hypothesize that polyphenolic compounds from cranberries may be
responsible for this effect, supporting the notion that the consumption of
flavonoid-rich foods can exert cardioprotective effects" - See
cranberry extract at Amazon.com.
-
Brushing Teeth May Keep Away Heart Disease - WebMD, 5/27/10 -
"people who admitted to brushing their teeth less
frequently had a 70% extra risk of heart disease ... People who reported
poor oral hygiene also tested positive for bloodstream inflammatory markers
such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein"
-
Anti-atherogenic effects of resveratrol - Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 May 19 -
"RS exerts several health benefits including
anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. RS may also prevent
lipid oxidation, platelet aggregation, arterial vasodilation and modulates the
levels of lipids and lipoproteins. As a potent, anti-oxidant RS reduces
oxidative stress and regenerates alpha-tocopherol, which further strengthens the
anti-oxidant defense mechanism. RS has been considered safe as no significant
toxic effects have been identified, even when consumed at higher concentrations.
This evidence identified RS as an effective anti-atherogenic agent, which could
be used in the prevention and treatment of CVD" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Bran Reduces Heart Disease Deaths - WebMD, 5/10/10 -
"women who ate the most bran had a 35% lower risk of
death from heart disease and a 28% lower risk of death from all causes than
women who ate the least"
-
Couple of Coffees May Help Some Heart Patients - Medscape, 5/7/10 -
"A study of 374 patients who had a heart attack or
other acute coronary event found those with normal blood pressure drinking
one or two coffees a day were 88% less likely than non-coffee drinkers to
develop left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD)"
-
Grapes reduce risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, animal study
shows - Science Daily, 5/10/10 - "After three
months, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet had lower blood
pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in
the heart and the blood than rats who received no grape powder. Rats also
had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance" - See
Jarrow Formulas, OPCs + 95, 100 mg, 100 Capsules.
-
Curcumin
inhibits cholesterol uptake in Caco-2 cells by down-regulation of NPC1L1
expression - Lipids Health Dis. 2010 Apr 19;9(1):40 -
"Curcumin inhibits cholesterol uptake through
suppression of NPC1L1 expression in the intestinal cells"
-
Diet
high in B vitamins lowers heart risks in Japanese study - Science Daily,
4/15/10 - "The findings on the value of B vitamins
were consistent with studies in Europe and North America, although the
dietary consumption of vitamin B-6 is generally lower in Japan than in the
United States ... Comparing those with the diets lowest and highest for each
nutrient, they found that higher consumption of folate and vitamin B-6 was
associated with significantly fewer deaths from heart failure in men, and
significantly fewer deaths from stroke, heart disease and total
cardiovascular diseases in women"
-
Coffee
Consumption and Mortality Due to All Causes, Cardiovascular Disease, and
Cancer in Japanese Women - J Nutr. 2010 Mar 24 -
"In women, the multivariate hazard ratios (HR) (95% CI) for all-cause
mortality in participants who drank coffee never, occasionally, 1-2 cups
(150-300 mL)/d, and >/=3 cups/d were 1.00, 0.88 (0.73-1.06), 0.82
(0.66-1.02), and 0.75 (0.53-1.05), respectively (P-trend = 0.04). For CVD
mortality in women, the multivariate HR (95% CI) were 1.00, 0.56
(0.36-0.86), 0.48 (0.29-0.80), and 0.45 (0.20-1.03), respectively (P-trend =
0.006). Of the specific CVD diseases, there was a strong inverse association
between coffee consumption and mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD)
in women (P-trend = 0.02) but not in men. Death due to cancer was not
associated with coffee consumption in either men or women, except for
colorectal cancer in women. Our results suggest that coffee may have
favorable effects on morality due to all causes and to CVD, especially CHD,
in women"
-
Marine (n-3)
Fatty Acids, Fish Consumption, and the 10-Year Risk of Fatal and Nonfatal
Coronary Heart Disease in a Large Population of Dutch Adults with a Low Fish
Intake - J Nutr. 2010 Mar 24 - "Compared with the
lowest quartile of EPA+DHA, participants in the top quartile had a 49% lower
risk of fatal CHD (95% CI: 6-73%) and a 62% lower risk of fatal MI (95% CI:
23-81%). We observed inverse dose-response relations for EPA+DHA intake and
fatal CHD (P-trend = 0.05) and fatal MI (P-trend = 0.01)" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Treating
vitamin D deficiency significantly reduces heart disease risk, studies find
- Science Daily, 3/15/10 - "Preventing and treating
heart disease in some patients could be as simple as supplementing their diet
with extra vitamin D ... For the first study ... 47 percent of the patients who
increased their levels of vitamin D between the two visits showed a reduced risk
for cardiovascular disease ... In the second study ... The patients in each
category who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of
blood or higher had lower rates of death, diabetes, cardiovascular disease,
myocardial infarction, heart failure, high blood pressure, depression, and
kidney failure. Currently, a level of 30 nanograms per milliliter is considered
"normal" ... Increasing vitamin D intake by 1000 to 5000 international units
(IU) a day may be appropriate" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Effect of
Niacin Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery
Disease - J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Mar 5 -
"Compared to placebo group, niacin therapy significantly reduced coronary artery
revascularization (RR [relative risk]: 0.307 with 95% CI: 0.150-0.628; P =
.001), nonfatal myocardial infarction ([MI]; RR: 0.719; 95% CI: 0.603-0.856; P =
.000), stroke, and TIA ([transient ischemic attack] RR: 0.759; 95%CI:
0.613-0.940; P = .012), as well as a possible but nonsignificant decrease in
cardiac mortality (RR: 0.883: 95% CI: 0.773-1.008; p= 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: In a
meta-analysis of seven trials of secondary prevention, niacin was associated
with a significant reduction in cardiovascular events and possible small but
non-significant decreases in coronary and cardiovascular mortality" - See
niacin at Amazon.com.
-
Risks
from low potassium in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease
- Science Daily, 2/22/10 - "In findings reported in
January in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the American Heart
Association, the researchers say that even a mild decrease in serum
potassium level increased the risk of death in this patient group ...
Hypokalemia, or low potassium, is common in heart-failure patients and is
associated with poor outcomes, as is chronic kidney disease ... Death
occurred in 48 percent of the patients with hypokalemia during the 57-month
follow-up period, compared with only 36 percent of patients with normal
potassium. The vast majority of subjects, 87 percent, had mild hypokalemia"
- See
potassium citrate at Amazon.com.
-
High
levels of vitamin D in older people can reduce heart disease and diabetes
- Science Daily, 2/16/10 - "Researchers looked at 28
studies including 99,745 participants across a variety of ethnic groups
including men and women. The studies revealed a significant association
between high levels of vitamin D and a decreased risk of developing
cardiovascular disease (33% compared to low levels of vitamin D), type 2
diabetes (55% reduction) and metabolic syndrome (51% reduction)" -
See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Red clover
extract: a source for substances that activate peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor alpha and ameliorate the cytokine secretion profile of
lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages - Menopause. 2010 Feb 5 -
"In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, red
clover extract and its compounds reduced the secretion of proinflammatory
cytokines, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, increased the
secretion of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10, and/or reduced the expression
of nuclear factor-kappaB, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and/or cyclooxygenase
2. Tumor necrosis factor alpha production was most efficiently reduced by
biochanin A and genistein. Interleukin-6 levels were most efficiently reduced by
genistein and equol. CONCLUSIONS:: Owing to its PPARalpha activation and
modulation of the secreted cytokine profile, red clover extract is a putative
candidate for preventing atherosclerosis and, thus, cardiovascular disease"
- See
Trinovin at Amazon.com.
-
OPCs come out tops for heart health beverages - Nutra USA, 2/5/10 -
"Cranberry juice rich
in antioxidant procyanidins is effective at boosting the health of blood
vessels ... oligomeric procyanidins (OPC) had
“by far the most potent effects” on the function of the endothelium (the
cells lining blood vessels)" - [Abstract]
- See
cranberry extract at Amazon.comand
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Function by Procyanidin-Rich Foods and
Beverages (dagger) - J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Jan 28 -
"Evaluation of the relative effects of extracts of
cranberry juice compared to apple, cocoa, red wine, and green tea showed
inhibition of ET-1 synthesis was dependent primarily on their oligomeric
procyanidin content. Procyanidin-rich extracts of cranberry juice triggered
morphological changes in endothelial cells with reorganization of the actin
cytoskeleton and increased immunostaining for phosphotyrosine residues ...
procyanidin tetramer, pentamer, hexamer, and heptamer produced
concentration-dependent decreases with IC(50) values of 5.4, 1.6, 0.9, and 0.7
muM, respectively. Levels of ET-1 mRNA showed a similar pattern of decreases,
which were inversely correlated with increased expression of Kruppel-like factor
2 (KLF2), a key endothelial transcription factor with a broad range of
antiatherosclerotic actions including suppression of ET-1 synthesis" -
See
cranberry extract at Amazon.comand
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
High Omega-3 Levels May Slow Aging in Heart Patients - WebMD, 1/19/10 -
"Heart disease patients with the highest blood
levels of omega-3 fatty acids appear to age more slowly than those with the
lowest blood levels ... Farzaneh-Far and his colleagues looked at a marker
of biological age -- the rate of shortening of telomeres, structures at the
end of a chromosome involved in its replication and stability. As the
telomeres shorten over time, the eventual result is cell death, scientists
believe ... In the new study, the higher the blood levels of omega-3 fatty
acids in the patients evaluated, the slower the rate of telomere shortening
... patients with the lowest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids exhibited a
rate of telomere shortening 2.6 times faster than patients with the highest
levels of omega-3 fatty acids" - [Science
Daily] - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Low Vitamin D Has a Role in Heart Risk - WebMD, 1/7/10 -
"Darker-skinned people produce less vitamin D from
the sun than those with lighter skin, and studies show that blacks are far
more likely to have lower levels of the vitamin than whites ... Several
recent studies also suggest that low levels of vitamin D are associated with
an increased risk for heart attack and stroke ... Compared to everyone else
in the study, the quarter with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 40% higher
risk of dying from heart attacks, strokes, and other heart-related events
... Blacks were 38% more likely to die of cardiovascular causes than
non-Hispanic whites, and the researchers concluded that most of this excess
was related to their lower vitamin D levels" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Moderate Fish Consumption May Lower Risk in Patients with a History of Heart
Failure - Science Daily, 12/18/09 - "Including
fish in a balanced diet has long been associated with the prevention of
heart disease, and scientists now believe that it can help preserve heart
function in patients who have experienced heart failure. A new study in the
Journal of Food Science reports that moderate fish consumption can help
reduce the risk of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in post
acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients" - See
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Sea of science deepens for fish heart benefits - Nutra USA, 12/16/09 -
"left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) ...
moderate fish consumption, defined as , was associated with 53 per cent
reduction in the risk of developing LVSD compared to no/rare consumption of
fish ... In addition, moderate fish consumption was associated with a lower
inhibition of the nitric oxide synthase, an enzyme which produces nitric
oxide – a potent vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels and improves blood
flow" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com
and
glucosamine products at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D May Reduce Cardiac Work - Medscape, 12/10/09 -
"Low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are linked
with increased heart rate and systolic blood pressure and with the
rate-pressure product (RPP) ... The inverse association between vitamin D
status and the rate-pressure product suggests that people with high vitamin
D levels have hearts that work more efficiently" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Continuous Aspirin May Lower Mortality Despite Increased Risk for Recurrent
Peptic Ulcer Bleeding - Medscape, 12/1/09 -
"Continuous low-dose aspirin therapy may increase the risk for recurrent
peptic ulcer bleeding but potentially lowers mortality rates ... Compared
with patients who received placebo, patients who received aspirin had lower
all-cause mortality rates (1.3% vs 12.9%; difference, 11.6 percentage
points; 95% CI, 3.7 - 19.5 percentage points). In addition, patients in the
aspirin group had lower mortality rates resulting from cardiovascular,
cerebrovascular, or gastrointestinal tract complications vs patients in the
placebo group (1.3% vs 10.3%; difference, 9 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.7 -
16.3 percentage points)"
-
Alcohol May Reduce Men's Heart Risk - WebMD, 11/18/09 -
"Drinking any type of alcohol lowered the risk of
serious heart disease in men, with the amount of risk reduction associated
with the amount of alcohol: ... Light drinking reduced risk by 35% ...
Moderate drinking reduced risk by 51% ... High and very high levels of
drinking reduced risk by 54% and 50% ... Light drinking was up to 5 grams a
day -- or about one glass of wine, one and one-half beers, or less than a
half glass of hard liquor ... Moderate drinking was 5 to 30 grams a day, or
about two glasses of wine, two or three beers, or a half to one glass of
hard liquor ... High and very high levels of drinking were 30 to 90 grams a
day, or about five or more glasses of wine, seven or more beers, and one to
one and a half glasses or more of hard liquor"
-
Inadequate levels of vitamin D may significantly increase risk of stroke,
heart disease and death - Science Daily, 11/16/09 -
"a new study by researchers at the Heart Institute
at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City suggests that Vitamin D
contributes to a strong and healthy heart as well -- and that inadequate
levels of the vitamin may significantly increase a person's risk of stroke,
heart disease, and death, even among people who've never had heart disease
... patients with very low levels of Vitamin D were 77 percent more likely
to die, 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease, and 78
percent were more likely to have a stroke than patients with normal levels.
Patients with very low levels of Vitamin D were also twice as likely to
develop heart failure than those with normal Vitamin D levels ... Recently,
studies have also linked Vitamin D to the regulation of many other bodily
functions including blood pressure, glucose control, and inflammation, all
of which are important risk factors related to heart disease" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Niacin Tops Zetia in Cutting Artery Plaque - WebMD, 11/16/09 -
"The question is whether ezetimibe works at all ...
Niacin has been around for 50 years. It's a well-understood drug, and in
this trial it was clearly superior ... Ultrasound images of neck arteries
showed that Niaspan reduced artery plaque by about 2%. Zetia did not slow
plaque buildup, although it did lower cholesterol" - See
niacin at Amazon.com.
-
Low HDL Levels as the Most Common Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factor in Heart
Failure - Int Heart J. 2009 Sep;50(5):571-80 -
"The most prevalent parameters were low HDL-C (69%) and hypertension (69%)
in all participants" - Note: The best way to raise HDL is with
niacin. The no flush form doesn't work and the slow release may cause liver
damage. People complain about the flush but I've been taking it for years
and the longer you take it the less flush. After a while, there is no flush
at all but be sure to take it with food.
http://www.lipidsonline.org/slides/slide01.cfm?tk=25&dpg=34 shows that
with extended release niacin, HDL peaks out at 2,500 mg.
http://www.lipidsonline.org/slides/slide01.cfm?q=effect+of+niacin&dpg=4
shows immediate release crystalline niacin compared to Niaspan. The numbers
are basically the same. I don't see any point in the prescription other
than that it might have less flushing when you first start taking it. See
niacin at Amazon.com.
-
Insufficient Levels Of Vitamin D Puts Elderly At Increased Risk Of Dying
From Heart Disease - Science Daily, 9/21/09 -
"Compared to those with optimal vitamin D status, those with low vitamin D
levels were 3 times more likely to die from heart disease and 2.5 times more
likely to die from any cause ... Dr. Ginde says the findings suggest that
current daily recommendations of vitamin D may not be enough for older
adults to maintain optimal health" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Green tea slashes heart disease death - Nutra USA, 9/8/09 -
"Compared to people who drank less than one cup a
day, seven or more cups of green tea a day may reduce the risk of dying from
heart disease by a whopping 75 per cent ... Additionally, a reduction in the
risk of colorectal cancer mortality of 31 per cent was observed for people
who drank more than seven cups of green a day, compared to people who frank
less than three cups a day" - [Abstract]
- See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Green Tea Consumption and Mortality among Japanese Elderly People: The
Prospective Shizuoka Elderly Cohort - Ann Epidemiol. 2009
Oct;19(10):732-739 - "The multivariate HRs and 95%
confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD mortality compared those who consumed
seven or more cups per day with those who consumed less than one cup per
day, were 0.24 (0.14-0.40), 0.30 (0.15-0.61), and 0.18 (0.08-0.40) for total
participants, men, and women, respectively. Although green tea consumption
was not inversely associated with cancer mortality, green tea consumption
and colorectal cancer mortality were inversely associated with a moderate
dose-response relationship" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
How
Much Omega-3 Fatty Acid Do We Need To Prevent Cardiovascular Disease? -
Science Daily, 9/1/09 - "a 200 mg dose of DHA per
day is enough to affect biochemical markers that reliably predict
cardiovascular problems, such as those related to aging, atherosclerosis,
and diabetes. This study is the first to identify how much DHA is necessary
to promote optimal heart health" - See
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Why
Low Vitamin D Raises Heart Disease Risks In Diabetics - Science Daily,
8/21/09 - "Low levels of vitamin D are known to
nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes
... When people are deficient in vitamin D, the macrophage cells eat more
cholesterol, and they can't get rid of it. The macrophages get clogged with
cholesterol and become what scientists call foam cells, which are one of the
earliest markers of atherosclerosis" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Resveratrol prevents hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction via
activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase - Biochem
Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Aug 7 - "Endothelial
dysfunction secondary to persistent hyperglycemia plays a key role in the
development of type 2 diabetic vascular disease ... These results provide
new insight into the protective properties of resveratrol against
endothelial dysfunction caused by high glucose, which is attributed to the
AMPK mediated reduction of superoxide level" -
Click here
for a definition of endothelial dysfunction. See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases - J Am Coll
Cardiol. 2009 Aug 11;54(7):585-94 - "The most
compelling evidence for CV benefits of omega-3 PUFA comes from 4 controlled
trials of nearly 40,000 participants randomized to receive eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) with or without docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in studies of patients
in primary prevention, after myocardial infarction, and most recently, with
heart failure (HF) ... The target EPA + DHA consumption should be at least
500 mg/day for individuals without underlying overt CV disease and at least
800 to 1,000 mg/day for individuals with known coronary heart disease and
HF" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Effects
of grape seed extract in Type 2 diabetic subjects at high cardiovascular
risk: a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial examining metabolic
markers, vascular tone, inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin
sensitivity - Diabet Med. 2009 May;26(5):526-31 -
"GSE significantly improved markers of inflammation
and glycaemia and a sole marker of oxidative stress in obese Type 2 diabetic
subjects at high risk of cardiovascular events over a 4-week period, which
suggests it may have a therapeutic role in decreasing cardiovascular risk"
- See
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Daily Omega-3s Recommended for Heart - WebMD, 8/3/09 -
"omega-3 fatty acids' strongest protective effect
appears to be in people with established heart disease after a heart attack.
In these people, a daily dose of DHA and EPA is associated with a 30%
reduction in the risk of heart-related death ... But researchers say healthy
people can also benefit from including omega-3s in their diet. Research
shows a diet rich in omega-3s can also reduce the risk of hardening of the
arteries (atherosclerosis), irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), heart attack,
sudden cardiac death, and heart failure" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol
concentrations associated with the inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer
protein in dyslipidemic subjects - Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jul 29 -
"Anthocyanin consumption increased HDL-cholesterol
concentrations (13.7% and 2.8% in the anthocyanin and placebo groups,
respectively; P < 0.001) and decreased LDL-cholesterol concentrations (13.6%
and -0.6% in the anthocyanin and placebo groups, respectively; P < 0.001).
The cellular cholesterol efflux to serum increased more in the anthocyanin
group than in the placebo group (20.0% and 0.2%, respectively; P < 0.001).
Anthocyanin supplementation decreased the mass and activity of plasma
cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) (10.4% and 6.3% in the anthocyanin
group and -3.5% and 1.1% in the placebo group, respectively; P < 0.001)"
- See
blueberry extract at Amazon.com
and
bilberry at Amazon.com.
-
Influence of conjugated linoleic acids on functional properties of vascular
cells - Br J Nutr. 2009 Jul 22:1-18 - "Based on
these studies, it can be concluded that CLA exert several beneficial actions
in cells of the vascular wall through the activation of nuclear PPAR. These
actions of CLA, which may, at least partially, explain the inhibition of
atherogenesis by dietary CLA, include modulation of vasoactive mediator
release from endothelial cells, inhibition of inflammatory and fibrotic
processes in activated smooth muscle cells, abrogation of inflammatory
responses in activated macrophages, and reduction of cholesterol
accumulation in macrophage-derived foam cells" - See
conjugated linoleic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Ameliorating Hypertension and Insulin Resistance in Subjects at Increased
Cardiovascular Risk. Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine Therapy -
Hypertension. 2009 Jul 20 - "glucose disposal rate
(GDR) ... Systolic blood pressure decreased from 144.0+/-13.6 to 135.1+/-8.4
mm Hg and from 130.8+/-12.4 to 123.8+/-10.8 mm Hg in the lower and higher
GDR groups, respectively (P<0.05 for both; P<0.001 overall) and
progressively recovered toward baseline over 8 weeks posttreatment. Total
and high molecular weight adiponectin levels followed specular trends.
Diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased only in those with higher
GDRs. Treatment was well tolerated in all of the patients.
Acetyl-L-carnitine safely ameliorated arterial hypertension, insulin
resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypoadiponectinemia in subjects
at increased cardiovascular risk" - See
acetyl l-carnitine products at Amazon.com.
-
Daily Glass of Orange Juice Is Heart Smart - WebMD, 7/20/09 -
"An antioxidant in orange juice called hesperidin
improves blood vessel function and helps lower a person’s risk of heart
disease ... An antioxidant in orange juice called hesperidin improves blood
vessel function and helps lower a person’s risk of heart disease" -
See
hesperidin at Amazon.com
or Natural Balance, Great
Legs, 60 Capsules at iHerb.
-
Curcumin May Prevent Clogged Arteries - WebMD, 7/20/09 -
"The current study suggests curcumin may thwart the
development of atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, a key risk factor for
heart attacks and strokes ... Researchers in France fed 20 mice a diet
supplemented with curcumin or a comparison diet not supplemented with
curcumin. After 16 weeks, mice fed on the curcumin-based diet had a 26%
reduction in fatty deposits in their arteries compared to mice on the
comparison diet ... In addition, curcumin appeared to alter the genetic
signaling involved in plaque buildup at the molecular level" - See
curcumin products at Amazon.com.
-
Fish Oil
and Heart Health - J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2009 Jun 26 -
"Large controlled trials have shown that intake of
fish oil (marine n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic
acid), whether from dietary sources or fish oil supplements, may exhibit
beneficial effects on total and cardiovascular disease mortality.
Stabilization of cell membranes and suppression of cardiac arrhythmias have
been identified as possible mechanisms. Moreover, n-3 fatty acids have
anti-inflammatory effects, reduce blood pressure, and may also be
antiatherogenic. Finally, high doses of n-3 fatty acids can lower elevated
serum triglyceride levels. The n-3 index (erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid
plus docosahexaenoic acid) may be considered as a potential risk marker for
coronary heart disease mortality, especially sudden cardiac death. The
balance of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids is an important determinant in decreasing
the risk for coronary heart disease, both in the primary and in the
secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Patients with known coronary
heart disease should be recommended to consume n-3 fatty acid supplements at
1 g per day, without raising concerns for interactions with other
medications or side effects. On the other hand, fish in the diet (preferably
oily fish, 1-2 meals/week) should be considered as part of a healthy diet
low in saturated fat"
-
A new
insight into resveratrol as an atheroprotective compound: Inhibition of
lipid peroxidation and enhancement of cholesterol efflux -
Atherosclerosis. 2009 May 22 - "Resveratrol thus
appears to be a natural antioxidant that enhances cholesterol efflux. These
properties make it a potential natural antioxidant that could be used to
prevent and treat CVD" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Prospective Study of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level, Cardiovascular Disease
Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Older U.S. Adults - J Am Geriatr
Soc. 2009 Jun 22 - "In noninstitutionalized older
adults, a group at high risk for all-cause mortality, serum 25(OH)D levels
had an independent, inverse association with CVD and all-cause mortality"
- See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
High
Carbohydrate Foods Can Cause Heart Attacks - Science Daily, 6/25/09 -
"Doctors have known for decades that foods like
white bread and corn flakes aren't good for cardiac health ... foods with a
high glycemic index distended brachial arteries for several hours ...
Enormous peaks indicating arterial stress were found in the high glycemic
index groups: the cornflakes and sugar group ... During the consumption of
foods high in sugar, there appears to be a temporary and sudden dysfunction
in the endothelial walls of the arteries ... Endothelial health can be
traced back to almost every disorder and disease in the body. It is "the
riskiest of the risk factors,""
-
Low
HDL-cholesterol is associated with the risk of stroke in elderly diabetic
individuals: Changes in the risk for atherosclerotic diseases at various
ages - Diabetes Care. 2009 Jun 9 - "IHD and CVD
occurred in 1.59% and 1.43% of participants over 2-year period. The relation
of lower HDL-cholesterol and/or higher LDL-cholesterol to occurrence of IHD
in subjects<65 y.o. was significant. Lower HDL-cholesterol was also
significantly related to CVD in subjects >=65y.o. and especially those>=75
y.o. (n=1016; odds ratio, 0.511*; 95%CI, 0.239- 0.918, *P<0.05). Stepwise
multiple regression analysis with onset of CVD as a dependent variable
showed same result. Conclusion: Lower HDL-cholesterol is an important risk
factor for not only IHD but also CVD, especially in the diabetic elderly"
- See
niacin at Amazon.com
(niacin increases HDL).
-
Red-wine Polyphenol Called Resveratrol Demonstrates Significant Health
Benefits - Science Daily, 6/11/09 - "The breadth
of benefits is remarkable – cancer prevention, protection of the heart and
brain from damage, reducing age-related diseases such as inflammation,
reversing diabetes and obesity, and many more ... Resveratrol exhibits
therapeutic potential for cancer chemoprevention as well as cardioprotection
... The simplest explanation is that resveratrol turns on the cell's own
survival pathways, preventing damage to individual cells ... Further
mechanisms help, including removing very reactive oxidants in the body and
improving blood supply to cells ... Low doses of resveratrol improve cell
survival as a mechanism of cardio- and neuro-protection, while high doses
increase cell death" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Can
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Prevent Depression In Coronary Heart Disease? -
Science Daily, 6/9/09 - "The prevalence of
depression ranged from 23% in participants in the lowest tertile of omega –3
fatty acids (< 3.1% of total blood fatty acids) to 13% in participants in
the highest tertile ( >4.3% of total blood fatty acids; p for trend =
0.004). Each unit decrease in EPA + DHA was inversely associated with
depressive symptoms as a continuous variable, and these associations
persisted after adjustment for age, sex and race. Similarly, each SD
decrease in EPA + DHA was associated with significantly greater odds of
depression as a dichotomous variable (Patient Health Questionnaire score
>10)"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Ignored
cholesterol blamed for heart attacks - MSNBC, 6/9/09 -
"Statins — taken by millions to cut heart attack and
stroke risk — do not affect lipoprotein (a) ... people with the highest
liporotein (a) levels were two to three times more likely to have a heart
attack than those with the lowest levels ... Niacin, a vitamin often
prescribed generically to lower cholesterol, also lowers lipoprotein (a)
levels. It can cause uncomfortable flushing, however. Aspirin can also lower
lipoprotein (a) levels" - [WebMD]
-
CoQ10 Improves
Endothelial Dysfunction in Statin-Treated Type 2 Diabetics - Medscape,
5/29/09 - "Study subjects were randomized to receive
either 200 mg/day of oral CoQ10 or placebo for 12 weeks ... Our absolute
improvement in FMD of 1% with CoQ10 supplementation may potentially
translate to a 10-25% reduction in residual cardiovascular risk in these
patients" - See
ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
Suppressive effect of EPA on the incidence of coronary events in
hypercholesterolemia with impaired glucose metabolism: Sub-analysis of the
Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) - Atherosclerosis. 2009 Apr 5
- "investigated the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA) on coronary artery disease (CAD) ... impaired glucose metabolism (IGM)
and normoglycemic (NG) patients ... Compared to NG patients, IGM patients
had a significantly higher CAD hazard ratio (1.71 in the non-EPA group and
1.63 in the EPA group). The treatment with EPA resulted in a 22% decrease in
the CAD incidence (P=0.048) in IGM patients and an 18% decrease (P=0.062) in
NG patients"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Eating Fatty Fish And Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Risk Of Heart
Failure - Science Daily, 4/28/09 - "men who
consumed approximately 0.36 grams a day were 33% less likely to develop
heart failure than men who consumed little or no marine omega-3 fatty acids"
-
Vitamin
K supplementation and progression of coronary artery calcium in older men
and women - Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr 22 - "those
who received phylloquinone supplements had 6% less progression than did
those who received the multivitamin alone ... Phylloquinone supplementation
slows the progression of CAC in healthy older adults with preexisting CAC,
independent of its effect on total MGP concentrations"
-
Benefit Of Grapes May Be More Than Skin Deep: Lower Blood Pressure, Reduced
Heart Damage - Science Daily, 4/22/09 - "After
18 weeks, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet powder had lower
blood pressure, better heart function, and fewer signs of heart muscle
damage than the rats that ate the same salty diet but didn't receive grapes
... Rats that received the blood pressure medicine, hydrazine, along with a
salty diet also had lower blood pressure, but their hearts were not
protected from damage as they were in the grape-fed group" - See
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Fatty Fish May Lower Heart Failure Risk - WebMD, 4/22/09 -
"Study participants who got the equivalent of 0.36
grams of omega-3 a day from fish had a 33% reduction in heart failure risk"
-
Resveratrol attenuates angiotensin II-induced interleukin-6 expression and
perivascular fibrosis - Hypertens Res. 2009 Apr 17 -
"Resveratrol significantly attenuated Ang II-induced
IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 protein in the supernatant of VSMC in a
dose-dependent manner. Resveratrol suppressed the IL-6 gene promoter
activity. Resveratrol inhibited the Ang II-induced cAMP-response
element-binding protein and nuclear factor-kappa B activity, which are
critical for Ang II-induced IL-6 gene activation. An increase in the serum
concentration of IL-6 induced by Ang II infusion was attenuated by an oral
administration of resveratrol. Resveratrol also inhibited Ang II-induced
hypertension and perivascular fibrosis of the heart. Although hydralazine
reduced blood pressure level equal to resveratrol, it did not reduce the Ang
II-induced IL-6 production and perivascular fibrosis. These data suggest
that the inhibition of Ang II-induced vascular inflammation and high blood
pressure by resveratrol may contribute, at least in part, to the
anti-atherogenic effects of resveratrol" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
The
More Oral Bacteria, The Higher The Risk Of Heart Attack, Study Shows -
Science Daily, 4/1/09 - "two oral pathogens in the
mouth were associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack, but
that the total number of germs, regardless of type, was more important to
heart health"
-
Late Bedtimes Linked to Heart Disease - WebMD, 3/30/09 -
"The fewer hours a man slept each night, the higher
his BMI, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels"
-
Red
blood cell membrane alpha-linolenic acid and the risk of sudden cardiac
arrest - Metabolism. 2009 Apr;58(4):534-40 -
"Higher levels of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in red blood
cell membranes are associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Whether membrane levels of alpha-linolenic acid, a medium-chain n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acid, show a similar association is unclear ... Higher
membrane alpha-linolenic acid was associated with a higher risk of sudden
cardiac arrest: after adjustment for matching factors and smoking, diabetes,
hypertension, education, physical activity, weight, height, and total fat
intake, the odds ratios corresponding to increasing quartiles of
alpha-linolenic acid were 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-3.0), 1.9
(95% CI, 1.1-3.3), and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.3-4.8) compared with the lowest
quartile. The association was independent of red blood cell levels of
long-chain n-3 fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, and linoleic acid. Higher
membrane levels of alpha-linolenic acid are associated with higher risk of
sudden cardiac arrest" - Note: Alpha-linolenic acid (a medium-chain
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) is the omega-3 found in vegetable sources
such as flaxseed as opposed to the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) forms (long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty
acids) found in fish oils.
-
The
response of gamma vitamin E to varying dosages of alpha vitamin E plus
vitamin C - Metabolism. 2009 Apr;58(4):469-78 -
"vitamin E has several isomers, with the alpha form being available via
dietary supplements and the gamma form being available via dietary
foodstuffs. The gamma form of vitamin E demonstrates several superior
properties (such as trapping reactive nitrogen species and detoxifying
nitrogen dioxide) compared with alpha vitamin E. All clinical trials have
used the alpha isomer, with little concern that this isomer of vitamin E may
actually suppress the gamma isomer of vitamin E ... The results demonstrate
that alpha vitamin E levels increased in proportion to the dose
administered. However, at every dose of alpha vitamin E, gamma vitamin E
concentration was significantly suppressed ... Our results suggest that all
prospective cardiovascular clinical trials that used vitamin E
supplementation actually suppressed the beneficial antioxidant gamma isomer
of vitamin E" - Dah!! I've been saying that for years. They're
finally catching on. See
Jarrow FamilE (contains all eight members of the vitamin E family, includes
Tocomin) at Amazon.com.
-
Fruit
and vegetable consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease -
Metabolism. 2009 Apr;58(4):460-8 - "Consumption of
fruits and vegetables is associated with lower concentrations of total and
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and with the risk of CVD per se in a
dose-response manner"
-
Resveratrol Prevents the Prohypertrophic Effects of Oxidative Stress on LKB1
- Circulation. 2009 Mar 16 - "Our data identify a
molecular mechanism in the cardiomyocyte involving the oxidative
stress-derived lipid peroxidation byproduct HNE and the LKB1/AMPK signaling
pathway that contributes to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy.
We also suggest that resveratrol may be a potential therapy for patients at
risk for developing pathological cardiac hypertrophy by preventing this
prohypertrophic process" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Consuming A Little Less Salt Could Mean Fewer Deaths - Science Daily,
3/11/09 - "A 3-gram–a-day reduction in salt intake
(about 1200 mg of sodium) would result in 6 percent fewer cases of new heart
disease, 8 percent fewer heart attacks, and 3 percent fewer deaths ...
Currently, Americans eat 9-12 grams of salt per day"
-
Catechin
prevents endothelial dysfunction in the prediabetic stage of OLETF rats by
reducing vascular NADPH oxidase activity and expression -
Atherosclerosis. 2009 Feb 3 - "studies have
indicated that regular intake of green tea reduces the risk of
cardiovascular diseases. This study examined whether catechin prevents
endothelial dysfunction and hyperglycemia in the prediabetic stage of a type
2 diabetic (T2D) rat ... Catechin significantly reduced blood pressure
(OLETF vs. Catechin-OLETF; 138+/-16mmHg vs. 126+/-16mmHg, p=0.013), fasting
sugar (129+/-11mg/dL vs. 118+/-9mg/dL, p=0.02) and the insulin level
(2.13+/-1.29ng/mL vs. 0.53+/-0.27ng/mL, p=0.004). In the aorta of
Catechin-OLETF at 25 weeks, endothelium-dependent relaxations were
significantly improved and NADPH oxidase activity in aortic rings was
markedly decreased compared with those of OLETF. Catechin reduced vascular
reactive oxygen species formation in the aorta and suppressed the expression
of p22phox and p47phox NADPH oxidase subunits" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Coffee
consumption and mortality after acute myocardial infarction: The Stockholm
Heart Epidemiology Program - Am Heart J. 2009 Mar;157(3):495-501 -
"Self-reported coffee consumption at the time of
hospitalization for myocardial infarction was inversely associated with
subsequent postinfarction mortality in this population with broad coffee
intake"
-
Sweetened beverage consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in women
- Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Feb 11 - "sugar-sweetened
beverages (SSBs) ... After standard and dietary risk factors were adjusted
for, the RRs (and 95% CIs) of CHD according to categories of cumulative
average of SSB consumption (<1/mo, 1-4/mo, 2-6/wk, 1/d, and >/=2 servings/d)
were 1.0, 0.96 (0.87, 1.06), 1.04 (0.95, 1.14), 1.23 (1.06, 1.43), and 1.35
(1.07, 1.69)"
-
Vitamin K2, but not K1, effective for heart health benefits: Study -
Nutra USA, 2/12/09 - "This study confirms our
findings in the Rotterdam study, showing that increased vitamin K2 intake
strongly reduces the risk of coronary heart disease" - [Abstract]
- See
vitamin K at Amazon.com.
-
A
high menaquinone reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease in women
- Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Jan 27 - "A high
intake of menoquinones, especially MK-7, MK-8 and MK-9, could protect
against CHD" - See
vitamin K at Amazon.com.
-
Novel Benefits Of Fatty Acids In Arteries Shown - Science Daily, 2/11/09
- "a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the
accumulation of fat in the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart. The
beneficial actions of fish oil that block cholesterol buildup in arteries
are even found at high fat intakes ... the fatty acids contained in fish oil
markedly inhibit the entry of "bad," or LDL, cholesterol into arteries and,
as a result, much less cholesterol collects in these vessels ... Dr.
Deckelbaum advises those interested in increasing omega-3 intakes do so by
either increasing fish intake or by using supplements that contain the
"long-chain" fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which are found in cold water fish"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Novel Benefits Of Fatty Acids In Arteries Shown - Science Daily, 2/5/09
- "Now, a CUMC research team led by Richard J.
Deckelbaum, M.D., Director of the Columbia Institute of Human Nutrition, has
found that a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the accumulation of fat in
the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart. The beneficial actions of fish
oil that block cholesterol buildup in arteries are even found at high fat
intakes"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Salt May Restrict Blood Flow to Heart - WebMD, 1/22/09 -
"Overweight and obese study participants with normal
blood pressure who restricted the sodium in their diets showed evidence of
improved endothelial function compared to participants who did not restrict
salt ... The improvement appeared to be unrelated to the impact on blood
pressure, suggesting that salt restriction is independently protective of
blood vessel function"
-
Red Rice Yeast for Cholesterol Control? - Dr. Weil, 1/22/09 -
"Of all the natural supplements available to help
lower cholesterol, red rice yeast extracts are by far the most effective"
- See
red yeast rice at Amazon.com.
-
High-Dose B Vitamin Supplementation and Progression of Subclinical
Atherosclerosis. A Randomized Controlled Trial - Stroke. 2008 Dec 31 -
"high-dose B vitamin supplementation (5 mg folic
acid+0.4 mg vitamin B12+50 mg vitamin B6) or matching placebo for 3.1 years
... High-dose B vitamin supplementation significantly reduces progression of
early-stage subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid artery intima media
thickness) in well-nourished healthy B vitamin "replete" individuals at low
risk for cardiovascular disease with a fasting tHcy >/=9.1 micromol/L"
-
Resveratrol inhibits the mTOR mitogenic signaling evoked by oxidized LDL in
smooth muscle cells - Atherosclerosis. 2008 Nov 24 -
"Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation is a major
feature in atherosclerosis, since it contributes to the formation of the
fibrous cap, thus to plaque stability, but also to arterial stenosis and
post-angioplasty restenosis ... These data indicate that the mTOR pathway is
activated by oxLDL via PI3K/PDK1/Akt, and is required for SMC proliferation.
Resveratrol blocks specifically this pathway, thereby inhibiting
oxLDL-induced SMC proliferation. These data highlight a new property for
resveratrol that could contribute to the general anti-atherogenic properties
of this polyphenol" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Go ahead,
sleep in — it’s good for the heart - msnbc.com, 12/23/08 -
"About 12 percent of the people in the study developed
artery calcification during the five-year study period. Among those who had
slept less than five hours a night, 27 percent had developed artery
calcification ... That dropped to 11 percent among those who slept five to seven
hours, and to 6 percent among those who slept more than seven hours a night"
-
Inflamed
Gums Linked To Heart Disease - Science Daily, 12/20/08 -
"a protein associated with inflammation (called CRP) is
elevated in people who are at risk for heart disease. But where's the
inflammation coming from? ... infected gums may be one place ... something as
simple as taking good care of your teeth and gums can greatly reduce your risk
of developing serious diseases"
-
Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Risk of Cardiovascular Disease - Doctor's
Guide, 12/10/08 - "a review article published in the
December 9 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology ...
patients with vitamin D levels below 15 ng/mL were twice as likely to experience
a heart attack, stroke, or other CV event within the next 5 years compared with
those with higher levels" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Fish
consumption and risk of major chronic disease in men - Am J Clin Nutr. 2008
Dec;88(6):1618-1625 - "Compared with fish consumption of
<1 serving/mo, consumption of 1 serving/wk and of 2-4 servings/wk was associated
with a lower risk of total cardiovascular disease of approximately 15%"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Resveratrol
protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis through the SIRT1-FoxO1
pathway - Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Dec 3 -
"Loss of cardiomyocytes through apoptosis has been proposed as a cause of
ventricular remodeling and heart failure. Ischemia- and hypoxia-induced
apoptosis of cardiomyocytes reportedly plays an important role in many cardiac
pathologies. We investigated whether resveratrol (Res) has direct cytoprotective
effects against ischemia/hypoxia for cardiomyocytes. Exposure of H9c2 embryonic
rat heart-derived cells to hypoxia for 24h caused a significant increase in
apoptosis, as evaluated by TUNEL and flow cytometry, while treatment with 20muM
Res greatly decreased hypoxia-induced apoptosis in these cells. Exposure of the
cells to Res (20muM) caused rapid activation of SIRT1, which had a dual effect
on FoxO1 function: SIRT1 increased FoxO1's ability to induce cell cycle arrest,
but inhibited FoxO1's ability to induce cell death. This effect could be
reversed by SIRT1 inhibition. Results of our study indicate that Res inhibits
hypoxia-induced apoptosis via the SIRT1-FoxO1 pathway in H9c2 cells. This
polyphenol may have potential in preventing cardiovascular disease, especially
in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D
Deficiency An Important, Common, and Easily Treatable Cardiovascular Risk
Factor? - J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008 Dec 9;52(24):1949-1956 -
"Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent condition,
present in approximately 30% to 50% of the general population. A growing body of
data suggests that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels may adversely affect
cardiovascular health. Vitamin D deficiency activates the
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and can predispose to hypertension and left
ventricular hypertrophy. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency causes an increase
in parathyroid hormone, which increases insulin resistance and is associated
with diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, and increased cardiovascular risk.
Epidemiologic studies have associated low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with
coronary risk factors and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Vitamin D
supplementation is simple, safe, and inexpensive. Large randomized controlled
trials are needed to firmly establish the relevance of vitamin D status to
cardiovascular health. In the meanwhile, monitoring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
levels and correction of vitamin D deficiency is indicated for optimization of
musculoskeletal and general health" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Effect of
cranberry extracts on lipid profiles in subjects with Type 2 diabetes -
Diabet Med. 2008 Dec;25(12):1473-7 - "Changes in lipid
profiles, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), glycaemic control,
components of the metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein (CRP) and urinary
albumin excretion (UAE) were assessed after cranberry or placebo treatment for
12 weeks ... Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased significantly
in the cranberry group (from 3.3 +/- 0.2 to 2.9 +/- 0.2 mmol/l, P = 0.005) and
the decrease was significantly greater than that in the placebo group (-0.4 +/-
0.1 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.1 mmol/l, P < 0.001). Total cholesterol and total :
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio also decreased significantly (P
= 0.020 and 0.044, respectively) in the cranberry group and the reductions were
significantly different from those in the placebo group (P < 0.001 and P =
0.032, respectively) ... Cranberry supplements are effective in reducing
atherosclerotic cholesterol profiles, including LDL cholesterol and total
cholesterol levels, as well as total : HDL cholesterol ratio, and have a neutral
effect on glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetic subjects taking oral
glucose-lowering agents" - See
cranberry extract at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin
E Shows Possible Promise In Easing Chronic Inflammation - Science Daily,
12/4/08 - "the larger take-home message of the study,
published in the December issue of the journal Experimental Physiology, is that
Vitamin E “may be beneficial in individuals with chronic inflammation, such as
the elderly or patients with type II diabetes or chronic heart failure" -
See
Jarrow FamilE (contains all eight members of the vitamin E family, includes
Tocomin) at Amazon.com.
-
Too Little Vitamin D Puts Heart at Risk - WebMD, 12/1/08 -
"people with low vitamin D levels were twice as likely
to have a heart attack, stroke, or other heart-related event during follow-up,
compared with those with higher vitamin D levels ... Sunscreen with a sun
protection factor (SPF) of 15 blocks approximately 99% of vitamin D synthesis by
the skin ... The safe upper limit of vitamin D consumption is 10,000 IU per day
... Vitamin D supplements are available in two different forms: Vitamin D2 and
Vitamin D3. Although both appear effective in raising vitamin D blood levels,
Vitamin D3 supplements appear to result in a longer-lasting boost" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Caffeinated
Coffee Consumption, Cardiovascular Disease, and Heart Valve Disease in the
Elderly (from the Framingham Study) - Am J Cardiol. 2008 Dec
1;102(11):1502-8. Epub 2008 Sep 11 - "A significant
negative association between caffeinated coffee consumption and CHD mortality
was observed for subjects with systolic blood pressure (BP) <160 mm Hg and
diastolic BP <100 mm Hg. The decrease in risk of CHD mortality for any
caffeinated coffee versus none was 43% (95% confidence interval 9 to 64). This
decreased risk appeared to be caused primarily by an inverse prospective
relation between caffeinated coffee consumption and the development or
progression of heart valve disease. The decrease in risk of heart valve disease
for subjects with systolic BP <160 mm Hg and diastolic BP <100 mm Hg for any
caffeinated coffee versus none was 43%"
-
Higher
Blood Phosphorus and Calcium Levels in Coronary Arteries - Science Daily,
11/26/08 - "Higher serum phosphorus levels, even within
the normal range, may be a risk factor for coronary artery atherosclerosis in
healthy young adults"
-
Coenzyme
Q(10) An Independent Predictor of Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure - J Am
Coll Cardiol. 2008 Oct 28;52(18):1435-1441 - "Plasma
CoQ(10) concentration was an independent predictor of mortality in this cohort.
The CoQ(10) deficiency might be detrimental to the long-term prognosis of CHF,
and there is a rationale for controlled intervention studies with CoQ(10)"
- See
ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
Grapes May Aid A Bunch Of Heart Risk Factors, Animal Study Finds -
Science Daily, 10/29/08 - "Could eating grapes help
fight high blood pressure related to a salty diet? And could grapes calm
other factors that are also related to heart diseases such as heart failure?
A new University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study suggests so"
- See
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Grapes And Grape Extracts May Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Review
Article Suggests - Science Daily, 10/28/08 -
"grape polyphenols work in many different ways to prevent cardiovascular and
other "inflammatory-mediated" diseases. Polyphenols are natural antioxidants
found in grapes and some other plant foods. Their types and actions vary,
depending on where in the grape they are found. Grape seeds, grape skin, and
grape juice contain several types of polyphenols, including resveratrol,
phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids" - See
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Eating Whole Grains Lowers Heart Failure Risk, According To New Study -
Science Daily, 10/27/08 - "whole grain consumption
lowered HF risk, while egg and high-fat dairy consumption raised risk. Other
food groups did not directly affect HF risk"
-
Coenzyme Q-10 Depletion Linked to Worse Heart Failure Outcomes -
Medscape, 10/22/08 - "Low plasma concentration of
coenzyme Q-10 is an independent predictor of reduced survival in patients
with chronic heart failure" - See
ubiquinol products at Amazon.com.
-
Flavonoids’ heart health benefits in the blood vessels: Study - Nutra
USA, 10/10/08 - "A daily dose of
quercetin or
(-)-epicatechin
led to improvements in endothelial function, a key marker of cardiovascular
health" - [Abstract]
-
Dietary
fiber intake in relation to coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality over
40 y: the Zutphen Study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Oct;88(4):1119-25 -
"Every additional 10 g of recent dietary fiber intake
per day reduced coronary heart disease mortality by 17% (95% CI: 2%, 30%) and
all-cause mortality by 9% (0%, 18%). The strength of the association between
long-term dietary fiber intake and all-cause mortality decreased from age 50 y
(hazard ratio: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.93) until age 80 y (0.99; 0.87, 1.12). We
observed no clear associations for different types of dietary fiber.
CONCLUSIONS: A higher recent dietary fiber intake was associated with a lower
risk of both coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. For long-term
intake, the strength of the association between dietary fiber and all-cause
mortality decreased with increasing age"
-
Intakes of
long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish in relation to measurements
of subclinical atherosclerosis - Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Oct;88(4):1111-8 -
"After adjustment for potential confounders, intakes of
long-chain n-3 PUFAs and nonfried (broiled, steamed, baked, or raw) fish were
inversely related to subclinical atherosclerosis determined by cCIMT but not by
iCIMT, CAC score, or ABI. The multivariate odds ratio comparing the highest to
the lowest quartile of dietary exposures in relation to subclinical
atherosclerosis determined by cCIMT was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.86; P for trend <
0.01) for n-3 PUFA intake; 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.01; P = 0.054) for nonfried
fish consumption; and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.11; P = 0.38) for fried fish
consumption"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Pure dietary
flavonoids quercetin and (-)-epicatechin augment nitric oxide products and
reduce endothelin-1 acutely in healthy men - Am J Clin Nutr. 2008
Oct;88(4):1018-25 - "Dietary
flavonoids, such as quercetin and
(-)-epicatechin, can augment
nitric oxide status and reduce endothelin-1
concentrations and may thereby improve endothelial function"
-
Increasing
dietary fish intake has contributed to decreasing mortality from CHD among the
older population in Hong Kong - Public Health Nutr. 2008 Oct 7:1-6 -
"The time trend of CHD mortality was inversely related
to the trend of fish intake. The frequency of fish intake may have a substantial
impact on the population for the prevention of CHD deaths in Hong Kong"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Green
tea and cardiovascular disease: from molecular targets towards human health
- Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Nov;11(6):758-65 -
"Consumption of green tea has been inversely associated
with the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases and
cardiovascular risk factors. Mechanisms that have been suggested as being
involved in the antiatherosclerotic effects of green tea consumption primarily
entail antioxidative, antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, and antithrombotic
properties, as well as beneficial effects on endothelial function. Moreover,
evidence exists for myocardial effects of tea constituents, including positive
inotropic and antihypertrophic effects, and beneficial impact in myocardial
ischaemia-reperfusion injury" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Fish,
omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and Mortality From Cardiovascular Diseases
in a Nationwide Community-Based Cohort of Japanese Men and Women The JACC (Japan
Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk) Study - J Am Coll
Cardiol. 2008 Sep 16;52(12):988-996 - "For mortality
from total cardiovascular disease, intakes of fish and omega-3 PUFA were
associated with 18% to 19% lower risk ... We found an inverse association
between fish and omega-3 PUFA dietary intakes and cardiovascular mortality,
especially for heart failure, suggesting a protective effect of fish intake on
cardiovascular diseases"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty
acids and plant sterols in hyperlipidemic individuals - Atherosclerosis.
2008 Sep 27 - "The combination of n-3 PUFA and plant
sterols reduced several inflammatory markers. High sensitivity C-reactive
protein (hs-CRP) was reduced by 39% (P=0.009), tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-alpha) by 10% (P=0.02), interleukin-6 (IL-6) by 10.7% (P=0.009),
leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) by 29.5% (P=0.01) and adiponectin was increased by
29.5% (P=0.05). Overall cardiovascular risk was reduced by 22.6% (P=0.006) in
the combination group. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated, for the first time that
dietary intervention with n-3 PUFA and plant sterols reduces systemic
inflammation in hyperlipidemic individuals. Furthermore, our results suggest
that reducing inflammation provides a potential mechanism by which the
combination of n-3 PUFA and plant sterols are cardioprotective"
- See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Bleeding
Gums Linked To Heart Disease - Science Daily, 9/10/08 -
"People with poor dental hygiene and those who don't
brush their teeth regularly end up with bleeding gums, which provide an entry to
the bloodstream for up to 700 different types of bacteria found in our mouths.
This increases the risk of having a heart attack"
-
Vitamin K2 linked to better heart health - NutraUSA, 9/10/08 -
"When the intakes of K1 and K2 were divided into four
groups from the lowest to highest, no association was found between K1 intakes
and calcification. However, high consumption of K2 (about 45 micrograms per day)
was associated with 20 per cent decreased coronary calcification, compared with
low consumption of K2 (about 18micrograms per day)" - See
Vitamin K products at
iHerb.
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, but Not Statin Therapy, Cuts Mortality and Hospitalizations
in Heart Failure - Medscape, 9/3/08 - "Speaking to
the media, Tavazzi said the advantage of n-3 PUFA, as documented by the primary
end points, is that they appear to have a beneficial effect on the mechanisms
leading to the progression of heart failure. Although the exact reasons are
unknown, omega-3 fatty acids could possibly exert favorable effects on
inflammatory processes, such as reductions in endothelial activation and
cytokine production, as well as influence platelet aggregation, blood pressure,
heart rate, ventricular function, and autonomic tone" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Effects
Of N-3 PUFA In Patients With Symptomatic Chronic Heart Failure: The GISSI-HF
Results - Science Daily, 8/31/08 - "undertook a
randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial in 357 cardiology sites in
Italy. They enrolled 6 975 patients with chronic heart failure of New York Heart
Association class II-IV, assigned to n-3 PUFA 1 g daily or placebo. Patients
were followed up for a median of 3•9 years ... In a per-protocol analysis
performed in about 5000 full complier patients, the relative risk of death was
reduced by 14% (p 0.004). Safety was excellent" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Fish oil
helps patients with chronic heart failure - MSNBC, 8/31/08 -
"Comparing the results from both studies, the
researchers concluded that fish oil is slightly more effective than the drug
because the oil performed better against a placebo than did Crestor ... Both
studies were paid for by an Italian group of pharmaceuticals including Pfizer
Inc., Sigma Tau SpA and AstraZeneca PLC" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Resveratrol, at
concentrations attainable with moderate wine consumption, stimulates human
platelet nitric oxide production - J Nutr. 2008 Sep;138(9):1602-8 -
"resveratrol, at concentrations attainable after
moderate wine intake, activates platelet eNOS and in this way blunts the
proinflammatory pathway linked to p38MAPK, thus inhibiting ROS production and
ultimately platelet function. This activity may contribute to the beneficial
effects of moderate wine intake on ischemic cardiovascular disease" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Coffee consumption and
risk of coronary heart diseases: A meta-analysis of 21 prospective cohort
studies - Int J Cardiol. 2008 Aug 14 - "Our findings
do not support the hypothesis that coffee consumption increases the long-term
risk of coronary heart disease. Habitual moderate coffee drinking was associated
with a lower risk of CHD in women"
-
Green tea reduces LDL
oxidability and improves vascular function - J Am Coll Nutr. 2008
Apr;27(2):209-13 - "The mean diameter of the brachial
artery following the post-compression hyperaemia phase rose significantly (p <
0.0001) after treatment with green tea extract. Flow-mediated brachial artery
vasodilation ranged from 5.68% for the placebo phase to 11.98% after the green
tea extract (p = 0.02). The consumption of green tea extract was associated with
a significant 37.4% reduction in the concentration of oxidized LDL (TBARS) (p =
0.017). The levels of anti-oxidized LDL IgM antibodies fell significantly after
treatment (p = 0.002) ... This study found that consumption of green tea extract
by women for five weeks produced modifications in vascular function and an
important decrease in serum oxidizability" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Low
Vitamin D Levels Pose Large Threat To Health; Overall 26 Percent Increased Risk
Of Death - Science Daily, 8/12/08 - "This translates
overall to an estimated 26 percent increased risk of any death, though the
number of deaths from heart disease alone was not large enough to meet
scientific criteria to resolve that it was due to low vitamin D levels ...
Previous results from the same nationwide survey showed that 41 percent of men
and 53 percent of women are technically deficient in the nutrient, with vitamin
D levels below 28 nanograms per milliliter" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Association of vitamin D deficiency with heart failure and sudden cardiac death
in a large cross-sectional study of patients referred for coronary angiography
- J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Aug 5 - "sudden cardiac
death (SCD) ... Low levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D are associated with
prevalent myocardial dysfunction, deaths due to heart failure and SCD" -
See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Effects of EPA on coronary artery disease in hypercholesterolemic patients with
multiple risk factors: Sub-analysis of primary prevention cases from the Japan
EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) - Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jun 19 -
"Multiple risk factors besides cholesterol are
associated with markedly increased incidence of CAD. High TG with low HDL-C
represents a particularly potent risk factor. EPA was effective in reducing the
incidence of CAD events for patients with this dyslipidemic pattern, suggesting
that EPA may be especially beneficial in patients who with abnormal TG and HDL-C
levels" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Exercise
Could Be The Heart's Fountain Of Youth - Science Daily, 7/23/08 -
"Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but endurance
exercise seems to make it younger ... older people who did endurance exercise
training for about a year ended up with metabolically much younger hearts ...
after endurance exercise training -- which involved walking, running or cycling
exercises three to five days a week for about an hour per session -- the
participants' hearts doubled their glucose uptake during high-energy demand"
-
Long-term fish consumption and n-3 fatty acid intake in relation to (sudden)
coronary heart disease death: the Zutphen study - Eur Heart J. 2008 Jul 18 -
"long-term fatty-fish consumption lowered the risk of
sudden coronary death [HR: 0.46" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Alpha-linolenic acid reduces risk of nonfatal MI - theheart.org, 7/9/08
- "ALA is an intermediate-chain n-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acid that is often overshadowed by the more famous long-chain members
of the n-3 family, namely EPA and DHA acids that are found in fish oils ...
ALA intake, g/day ... 1.79 ... Relative risk of MI ... 0.43 ... The
relationship between ALA and myocardial infarction was nonlinear ... We see
a dose effect, but only up to about 0.7% of adipose tissue, which
corresponds to about 1.8 g/day. Increasing intake further was not associated
with increased protection" - See
flax seed at Amazon.com.
-
Long-term effects of resveratrol supplementation on suppression of
atherogenic lesion formation and cholesterol synthesis in apo E-deficient
mice - Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Jul 5 -
"The concentration of total-cholesterol (total-C) and LDL-cholesterol
(LDL-C) in plasma was significantly lower in the resveratrol-supplemented
groups compare to the control group over the entire experimental period. The
plasma HDL-C concentration was significantly elevated, and the ratio of
HDL-C/total-C was significantly higher in the CF and RV groups than in the
control group. Plasma paraoxonase (PON) activity was significantly higher in
the 0.06% resveratrol group. The hepatic HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) activity
was significantly lower in the clofibrate and resveratrol groups than in the
control group. Resveratrol supplements attenuated the presence of
atherosclerotic lesions and periarterial fat deposition in the apo E(-/-)
mice. The presence of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in atherosclerotic vessels was
diminished in the resveratrol-supplemented apo E(-/-) mice. These results
provide new insight into the anti-atherogenic and hypocholesterolemic
properties of resveratrol in apo E(-/-) mice that were fed a normal diet"
- See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Green tea's heart benefits gain support - Nutra USA, 7/7/08 -
"Regular consumption of green tea may improve the
function of endothelial cells - cells lining the walls of blood vessels -
and boost cardiovascular health, according to new research from Greece"
- [Abstract] - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
The acute effect of green tea consumption on endothelial function in healthy
individuals - Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2008 Jun;15(3):300-5 -
"Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) ... FMD increased
significantly with tea (by 3.69%, peak at 30 min, P<0.02), whereas it did
not change significantly with caffeine (increase by 1.72%, peak at 30 min,
P=NS) ... Green tea consumption has an acute beneficial effect on
endothelial function, assessed with FMD of the brachial artery, in healthy
individuals. This may be involved in the beneficial effect of tea on
cardiovascular risk" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Benefits Of Green Tea In Reducing An Important Risk Factor For Heart Disease
- [WebMD]
- Science Daily, 7/2/08 - "More evidence for the
beneficial effect of green tea on risk factors for heart disease has emerged
in a new study. The study found that the consumption of green tea rapidly
improves the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system;
endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of
atherosclerosis" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Resveratrol inhibits cardiac hypertrophy via AMP-activated protein kinase
and Akt - J Biol Chem. 2008 Jun 18 - "Taken
together, our data suggest that resveratrol exerts anti-hypertrophic effects
by activating AMPK via LKB1 and inhibiting Akt, thus suppressing protein
synthesis and gene transcription" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Drinking Large Amounts Of Coffee May Actually Extend One's Lifespan, Study
Suggests - Science Daily, 6/16/08 - "Women
consuming two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 25 percent
lower risk of death from heart disease during the follow-up period (which
lasted from 1980 to 2004 and involved 84,214 women) as compared with
non-consumers, and an 18 percent lower risk of death caused by something
other than cancer or heart disease as compared with non-consumers during
follow-up. For men, this level of consumption was associated with neither a
higher nor a lower risk of death during the follow-up period"
-
Vitamin D: New Way To Treat Heart Failure? - Science Daily, 6/11/08 -
"treatments with activated vitamin D prevented heart
muscle cells from growing bigger – the condition, called hypertrophy, in
which the heart becomes enlarged and overworked in people with heart
failure. The treatments prevented heart muscle cells from the
over-stimulation and increased contractions associated with the progression
of heart failure" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Low Vitamin D Ups Heart Risk in Men - WebMD, 6/9/08 -
"men who had vitamin D levels of 15 ng/mL or less in
their blood samples -- an indication of vitamin D deficiency -- had an
increased risk for heart attack compared to those whose vitamin D level was
considered sufficient (30 ng/mL). The twofold increased risk remained
significant even when adjusting for other factors known to contribute to
heart disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a
family history of heart disease" - See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Chinese Red Yeast Rice Is Good For Your Heart, Study Suggests - Science
Daily, 6/9/08 - "a partially purified extract of
Chinese red yeast rice, Xuezhikang (XZK), reduced the risk of repeat heart
attacks by 45%, revascularization (bypass surgery/angioplasty),
cardiovascular mortality and total mortality by one-third and cancer
mortality by two-thirds" - See
red yeast rice at Amazon.com.
-
Low-dose resveratrol may slow ageing: for mice at least - Nutra USA,
6/4/08 - "animals in the calorie-restriction and
low-dose resveratrol groups had altered gene expression profiles in 90 and
92 per cent, respectively, in the heart ... In short, a glass of wine or
food or supplements that contain even small doses of resveratrol are likely
to represent "a robust intervention in the retardation of cardiac ageing,""
- See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Substance In Red Wine, Resveratrol, Found To Keep Hearts Young - Science
Daily, 6/4/08 - "Resveratrol is active in much lower
doses than previously thought and mimics a significant fraction of the
profile of caloric restriction at the gene expression level ... In animals
on a restricted diet, 90 percent of those heart genes experienced altered
gene expression profiles, while low doses of resveratrol thwarted
age-related change in 92 percent. The new findings, say the study's authors,
were associated with prevention of the decline in heart function associated
with aging" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Cocoa
for Diabetes? - WebMD, 5/27/08 - "Researchers
caution that the high-dose flavonol cocoa used in their study greatly
exceeds the typical U.S. dietary intake of 20 to 100 milligrams daily, and
you can't buy the extra-strength version in stores. Rather, they are
optimistic that flavonol-containing diets offer an innovative approach to
preventing heart disease"
-
Reducing Salt Intake Can Lower the Long-Term Risk for Cardiovascular Events
- Medscape, 4/24/08 - "Cutting back on salt intake,
while known to lower blood pressure, also appears to significantly reduce
the long-term risk of cardiovascular events. Observational follow-up from
the Trials of Hypertension Prevention (TOHP) showed that a reduction in salt
intake could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease outcomes by 25%"
-
Dietary Fish Oil Has Antiarrhythmic Effects in Ischemic Heart Disease -
Medscape, 4/22/08 - "This stabilizing effect may be
one way in which fish oil reduces mortality in patients with coronary artery
disease" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
DASH Diet Improves Women's Heart Health - WebMD, 4/14/08 -
"The women who had the highest DASH scores had the
lowest risk for heart disease and stroke. Closely following a DASH diet
resulted in a 24% reduction in heart disease risk and 18% lower risk of
stroke when compared to those with the lowest DASH scores"
-
The glycemic index and cardiovascular disease risk - Curr Atheroscler
Rep. 2007 Dec;9(6):479-85 - "dietary GI and/or
glycemic load independently predict cardiovascular disease, with relative
risk ratios of 1.2 to 1.7 comparing highest and lowest quintiles. In
randomized controlled trials in overweight subjects, diets based on low-GI
carbohydrates have produced better cardiovascular-related outcomes than
conventional low-fat diets. Taken together, the findings suggest that health
professionals may be able to improve cardiovascular outcomes by recommending
the judicious use of low- GI/glycemic load foods"
-
New evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of long chain omega-3 Fatty
acids
- Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2007 Dec;9(6):434-40 - "The
role of long chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC n-3 FAs) as cardioprotective
agents has become even clearer with the recent publication of the Japan EPA
Lipid Intervention Study. This was the largest randomized controlled trial
in the field, and it demonstrated that even in a population with one of the
highest LC n-3 FA intakes in the world, the addition of eicosapentaenoic
acid could reduce cardiac events" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Flavonoid intake and the risk of ischaemic stroke and CVD mortality in
middle-aged Finnish men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor
Study - Br J Nutr. 2008 Apr 1;:1-6 - "men in the
highest quartile of flavonol and flavan-3-ol intakes had a relative risk of
0.55 (95 % CI 0.31, 0.99) and 0.59 (95 % CI 0.30, 1.14) for ischaemic
stroke, respectively, as compared with the lowest quartile. After
multivariate adjustment, the relative risk for CVD death in the highest
quartile of flavanone and flavone intakes were 0.54 (95 % CI 0.32, 0.92) and
0.65 (95 % CI 0.40, 1.05), respectively"
-
Brief, High Doses Of Folate -- B Vitamin -- Blunt Damage From Heart Attack
- Science Daily, 3/27/08 - "Long known for its role
in preventing anemia in expectant mothers and spinal birth defects in
newborns, the B vitamin folate, found in leafy green vegetables, beans and
nuts has now been shown to blunt the damaging effects of heart attack when
given in short-term, high doses to test animals ... a high dose of folic
acid for humans comparable to that given the rats would require an
average-size adult to swallow more than 200 one-milligram pills per day, "an
impractical and unrealistic regimen, even if the body excretes the excess.""
- I debated whether to publish this. It is a ridiculous amount.
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Be Useful for Cardioprotection - Medscape,
3/18/08 - "To date, the strongest evidence showing a
CV benefit from omega-3 fatty acid intake derives from 3 large controlled
trials in which a total of 32,000 participants were randomized to a control
group or to receive omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing DHA and EPA.
In these trials, the supplemented group had a 19% to 45% reduction in CV
events vs the control group ... Patients with hypertriglyceridemia should
consume 3 to 4 g/day of DHA and EPA, which can lower triglyceride levels by
20% to 50%" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Fish Diet May Cut Sudden Coronary Death - WebMD, 3/12/08 -
"Men who reported eating an average of 6 grams of
fatty fish daily -- that's two servings, according to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's serving-size guidelines -- were 55% less likely than men who
ate no fatty fish to die of sudden coronary death ... The researchers chalk
up the results to the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
-
Resveratrol protects against arsenic trioxide-induced cardiotoxicity in
vitro and in vivo - Br J Pharmacol. 2008 Mar 10 -
"The clinical use of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)), a
potent antineoplastic agent, is limited by its severe cardiotoxic effects
... resveratrol significantly attenuated As(2)O(3)-induced QT prolongation,
structural abnormalities and oxidative damage in the heart. In H9c2
cardiomyocytes, resveratrol also decreased apoptosis, production of ROS and
intracellular calcium mobilization induced by treatment with As(2)O(3).
These observations suggested that resveratrol has the potential to protect
against cardiotoxicity in As(2)O(3)-exposed patients" - See
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Cardiovascular Benefits Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reviewed - Science Daily,
3/12/08 - "The most compelling evidence for the
cardiovascular benefit provided by omega-3 fatty acids comes from three
large controlled trials of 32,000 participants randomized to receive omega-3
fatty acid supplements containing DHA and EPA or to act as controls ...
These trials showed reductions in cardiovascular events of 19 percent to 45
percent ... keeping fish oil capsules in the freezer ... may help reduce
burping and upset stomach symptoms" - I've always done the freezer
thing and haven't had any problem with the burp even on an empty stomach.
Also note that it's the DHA and EPA that count. I have friends that buy
cheap fish oil capsules that have very low DHA and EPA (omega-3) and they
think they are getting a great deal. I take
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
They've got the highest percentage of omega-3 that I've found.
-
Omega3 Fatty acids for cardioprotection - Mayo Clin Proc. 2008
Mar;83(3):324-32 - "The most compelling evidence for
the cardiovascular benefit provided by omega-3 fatty acids comes from 3
large controlled trials of 32,000 participants randomized to receive omega-3
fatty acid supplements containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or to act as controls. These trials showed
reductions in cardiovascular events of 19% to 45%. These findings suggest
that intake of omega-3 fatty acids, whether from dietary sources or fish oil
supplements, should be increased, especially in those with or at risk for
coronary artery disease. Patients should consume both DHA and EPA. The
target DHA and EPA consumption levels are about 1 g/d for those with known
coronary artery disease and at least 500 mg/d for those without disease.
Patients with hypertriglyceridemia benefit from treatment with 3 to 4 g/d of
DHA and EPA, a dosage that lowers triglyceride levels by 20% to 50%.
Although 2 meals of oily fish per week can provide 400 to 500 mg/d of DHA
and EPA, secondary prevention patients and those with hypertriglyceridemia
must use fish oil supplements if they are to reach 1 g/d and 3 to 4 g/d of
DHA and EPA, respectively" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com
and
Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
I take both because the percentage of omega-3 (EPA and DHA) is very low in
other supplements. I don't know what the rest of that oil is but your not
saving anything by getting supplements with a low percentage. Just do the
math plus if the rest of the oil is an omega-6 you're not helping the
omega-6/omega-3 ratio.
-
Ingredient In Yellow Curry Can Reduce Heart Enlargement And May Prevent
Heart Failure - Science Daily, 2/21/08 - "Eating
curcumin, a natural ingredient in the spice turmeric, may dramatically
reduce the chance of developing heart failure" - See
curcumin products at Amazon.com.
-
Long Term N-Acetylcysteine and L-Arginine Administration Reduces Endothelial
Activation and Systolic Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients with Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus - Diabetes Care. 2008 Feb 11 -
"The NAC+ARG administration seems to be a potential well-tolerated
antiatherogenic therapy since it improves the endothelial function in
hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes by improving NO bioavailability
via reduction of the oxidative stress and increase of NO production. Our
study's results give prominence to its potential use in the primary and
secondary cardiovascular prevention in these patients"
-
Herbal Remedy, Hawthorn Extract, Can Help The Heart, Review Finds -
Science Daily, 1/22/08 - "The trials involved a
total of 855 patients and the data indicated that hawthorn extract: ...
improved maximal workload ... increased exercise tolerance ... reduced
oxygen consumption by the heart ... reduced shortness of breath and fatigue"
- See
hawthorn products at Amazon.com.
-
Broccoli Good for the Heart - WebMD, 1/18/08 -
"The rats that had eaten the broccoli extract had three heart advantages
over the other rats: ... Better blood-pumping ability ... Less heart damage
during oxygen deprivation ... Higher levels of heart-health chemicals during
oxygen deprivation ... Broccoli's key nutrients include selenium and
sulforaphane, which may also curb cancer" - See
indole-3-carbinol at Amazon.com.
-
Calcium: Heart Risk for Older Women? - WebMD, 1/15/08 -
"The women in the supplement group got 861
milligrams of calcium from diet per day, on average, boosting their total
daily intake to 1,861. The placebo group averaged about 853 milligrams of
calcium daily from their diet ... The risk of a heart attack was about 1.5
times greater for those in the supplement group, but the link did not reach
statistical significance ... the calcium supplements may elevate blood
calcium levels and possibly speed calcification in blood vessels"
-
Lipoic Acid Could Reduce Atherosclerosis, Weight Gain - Science Daily,
1/14/08 - "lipoic acid supplements reduced
atherosclerotic lesion formation in two types of mice that are widely used
to study cardiovascular disease, by 55 percent and 40 percent, respectively.
The supplements were also associated with almost 40 percent less body weight
gain, and lower levels of triglycerides in very low-density lipoproteins"
- See
alpha lipoic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Staying Active And Drinking Moderately Is The Key To A Long Life, Study
Suggests - Science Daily, 1/9/08 - "ischaemic
heart disease ... People who drank at least one drink a week and were
physically active had a 44-50 per cent lower risk of IHD compared to
physically inactive non-drinkers"
-
The effects of a whole grain enriched hypocaloric diet on cardiovascular
disease risk factors in men and women with metabolic syndrome - J Clin
Nutr. 2008 Jan;87(1):79-90 - "Both hypocaloric diets
were effective means of improving CVD risk factors with moderate weight
loss. There were significantly (P < 0.05) greater decreases in CRP and
percentage body fat in the abdominal region in participants consuming whole
grains than in those consuming refined grains"
-
Lack
Of Vitamin D May Increase Heart Disease Risk - Science Daily, 1/7/08 -
"those with blood levels of vitamin D below15
nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) had twice the risk of a cardiovascular
event such as a heart attack, heart failure or stroke in the next five years
compared to those with higher levels of vitamin D ... Overall, 28 percent of
individuals had levels of vitamin D below15 ng/mL and 9 percent had levels
below10 ng/mL. Although levels above 30 ng/mL are considered optimal for
bone metabolism, only 10 percent of the study sample had levels in this
range"
- See
vitamin D at Amazon.com.
-
Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk - Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab
Care. 2008 Jan;11(1):7-12 - "vitamin D deficiency
may be a contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease
potentially through associations with diabetes or hypertension"
-
Dietary fiber intake and retinal vascular caliber in the Atherosclerosis
Risk in Communities Study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;86(6):1626-1632 -
"Dietary fiber was related to wider retinal
arteriolar caliber and narrower venular caliber, which are associated with a
lower risk of cardiovascular disease. These data add to the growing evidence
of the benefits of fiber intake on various aspects of cardiovascular
pathogenesis"
-
Prevention of hypertension, cardiovascular damage and endothelial
dysfunction with green tea extracts - Am J Hypertens. 2007
Dec;20(12):1321-8 - "green tea extract (GTE) ... The
GTE prevented hypertension and target organ damage induced by a high Ang II
dose, likely by prevention or scavenging of superoxide anion generation"
- See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Modest Gain In Visceral Fat Causes Dysfunction Of Blood Vessel Lining In
Lean, Healthy Humans - Science Daily, 11/5/07 -
"There are three parts to the take-home message here: One is that in healthy
people, modest weight gain results in impaired endothelial function -- even
in the absence of changes in blood pressure. The second is the encouraging
news: endothelial function recovers after weight loss. The third point is
that it is visceral fat -- the abdominal fat that surrounds internal organs
-- rather than fat deposited as subcutaneous fat, just under the skin, that
predicts endothelial dysfunction"
-
Resveratrol inhibits TNF-alpha-induced changes of adipokines in 3T3-L1
adipocytes - Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Oct 26 -
"resveratrol may improve obesity-induced
cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis, by attenuating the
TNF-alpha-induced changes of adipokines" - See my favorite
resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
-
Whole Grains Cut Heart Failure Risk - WebMD, 10/22/07 -
"the risk of heart failure among those who ate
breakfast cereal at least seven times a week was 29% lower than that the
risk among those who never ate cereal, after adjusting for other heart
disease risk factors ... When researchers further analyzed the results they
found this healthy effect was associated with whole-grain cereals only, not
with refined breakfast cereals"
-
Why Garlic Is Good for You - WebMD, 10/15/07 -
"red blood cells process compounds from digested garlic and turn them into
the cell messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which relaxes blood vessels and
increases blood flow. Therefore, eating garlic may increase our natural
supply of this vital chemical and play a role in reducing the risk of heart
disease" - See
garlic supplements at Amazon.com.
-
Beyond lipids: the role of omega-3 Fatty acids from fish oil in the
prevention of coronary heart disease - Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2007
Aug;9(2):145-53 - "Results of the recent JELIS trial
in a Japanese population already consuming a high intake of omega-3 fatty
acids showed a 19% risk reduction in major coronary events" - See
Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Statins' Effect on Endothelial Function Enhanced by L-arginine in Some
Patients - Doctor's Guide, 6/11/07 -
"endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) ...
simvastatin had no appreciable effect on EDD (6.2+/-1.2% vs. 6.1+/-0.9%) in
subjects with elevated ADMA. However, the addition of
L-arginine to simvastatin significantly
improved EDD (9.8+/-1.5% vs. 5.3+/-0.8%; P <.01). There were also
significant improvements in EDD in response to L-arginine alone" -
See
L-arginine products at Amazon.com.
-
Pine extract prevents heart failure damage in mice - Reuters, 5/22/07 -
"The effectiveness of Pycnogenol supplementation is
a great option for many people who want an alternative to prescription
medications such as beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors" - See
Pine Bark/Pycnogenol products at iHerb.
-
Health Benefits Of Whole Grains Confirmed - Science Daily, 5/9/07 -
"Consuming an average of 2.5 servings of whole
grains each day is associated with a 21 percent lower risk of cardiovascular
disease compared to consuming only 0.2 servings"
-
Cut Heart Risk by Eating Less Salt - WebMD, 4/19/07 -
"people who reduced their dietary sodium while
participating in the studies saw 25% reductions in heart disease and stroke
risk 10 to 15 years later, compared with people who ate their usual diets"
-
Fish Oil: Getting
to the Heart of It - Medscape, 4/12/07 -
"A food-based approach to increasing intake of
omega-3 fatty acids is preferable. However, for those with known CHD, the
increased dose required to lower triglycerides could be as much as 4 g/day.
Consuming fish 2.5 to 3 times a week would provide a combined intake of
about 500 mg EPA and DHA/day.[21] It is unrealistic to think that these high
daily doses could be achieved through diet alone, resulting in a requirement
for supplementation" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
The impact of olive oil consumption pattern on the risk of acute coronary
syndromes: the cardio2000 case-control study - Clin Cardiol. 2007
Mar;30(3):125-9 - "Exclusive use of olive oil during
food preparation seems to offer significant protection against CHD,
irrespective of various clinical, lifestyle and other characteristics of the
participants"
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acid May Protect Heart - WebMD, 3/29/07 -
"2.8% of those taking EPA along with statins
experienced a major coronary event, compared with 3.5% of those only taking
statins ... That's a 19% difference" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Use
Folic Acid To Cut Heart Disease, Say Experts - Science Daily, 11/28/06 -
"The scientific evidence is strong enough to justify
using folic acid as a cheap and simple way of reducing heart disease and
strokes"
-
Folic Acid Modestly Protects Against Cardiovascular Events - Medscape,
11/27/06 - "the combined evidence from cohort,
genetic, and randomized controlled studies is indeed strong enough to
support a modest protective effect of this nutrient"
-
Flavonoid-Rich
Grapeseed Extracts: for Cardiovascular Patients - Medscape, 11/9/06 -
"The antioxidant and vascular protective aspects of
flavonoid-rich products such as GSE, when combined with the potential
hypolipidaemic and anti-platelet effects make a strong case for its
potential in preventing and treating diseases associated with endothelial
injury, oxidative damage and inflammation; chief among which are type 2 DM
and atherosclerotic vascular disease ... the use of GSE in such patients may
demonstrate concomitant improvements in insulin resistance, endothelial
function, inflammation in high-risk patient groups and ultimately
cardiovascular outcome" - See
grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
-
Moderate Drinking
May Help Male Heart - WebMD, 10/23/06 -
"men who reported drinking half a drink to two
drinks daily were least likely to have had heart attacks"
-
Fish Oils Produce Anti-inflammatory Effects and Improve Body Weight in
Severe Heart Failure - J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Jul;25(7):834-8.
Epub 2006 May 24 - "Fish oils decrease TNF-alpha
production in heart failure and improve body weight. Fish oil therapy may
represent a novel therapeutic approach in late-stage heart failure
characterized by cardiac cachexia"
-
5 Superfoods for
Your Heart - WebMD, 5/31/06 -
"Blueberries ... Salmon ... Soy Protein ... Oatmeal
... Spinach"
-
Coffee May Help
Postmenopausal Heart - WebMD, 5/30/06 -
"Women who reported drinking one to three daily cups
of coffee at the study's start were 24% less likely to die of heart disease
during the study"
-
Hearty
Drinkers Have Healthy Hearts - WebMD, 5/25/06 -
"Over nearly six years, men who drank every day cut
their risk of heart disease by 41%. Women who drank at least once a week cut
their risk of heart disease by 36% or more ... Women who drank the most --
14 or more drinks per week -- generally had the lowest risk of heart
disease: as much as a 73% decrease in risk"
-
Intake of Fish and n3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among
Japanese. The Japan Public Health Center-Based (JPHC) Study Cohort I -
Circulation. 2006 Jan 9 - "Compared with a modest
fish intake of once a week or approximately 20 g/d, a higher intake was
associated with substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease,
primarily nonfatal cardiac events, among middle-aged persons"
- See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Thiamin Deficiency Common in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients -
Doctor's Guide, 1/13/06 - "Among patients
hospitalized with heart failure, about one in three has deficient levels of
thiamin ... a relatively small dose of thiamin from a multi-vitamin was
protective against developing thiamin deficiency"
-
Usefulness of omega-3 Fatty acids and the prevention of coronary heart
disease
- Am J Cardiol. 2005 Dec 1;96(11):1521-9 - "the
evidence suggests a role for fish oil (eicosapentaenoic acid,
docosahexaenoic acid) or fish in secondary prevention because recent
clinical trial data have demonstrated a significant reduction in total
mortality, coronary heart disease death, and sudden death. The data on ALA
have been limited by studies of smaller sample size and limited quality"
- Green tea 'may
protect the heart' - BBC News, 2/28/05 -
"a major chemical component of
green tea known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate
(EGCG) can reduce cell death after a heart attack or stroke ... EGCG also
appears to speed up the recovery of heart cells" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
-
Columbia Study Suggests Brushing Your Teeth May Reduce Risk Of Stroke And
Heart Attack - Science Daily, 2/17/05 -
"people with gum disease are more likely to suffer
from atherosclerosis – a narrowing of blood vessels that can lead to stroke
or heart attack ... one possible explanation for the link is that the
bacteria that cause the gum disease may migrate throughout the body via the
bloodstream and stimulate the immune system, causing inflammation that
results in the clogging of arteries"
- Whole Grains
Help Your Heart - WebMD, 12/29/04 -
"Eating just 25 grams of whole grains a day reduces
the risk of heart disease by about 15%"
-
Scientists Discover Recipe For Life: Eating The 'Polymeal' Cuts Heart
Disease By 76% - Science Daily, 12/17/04 [Abstract]
- "Results of dining on the Polymeal were most
dramatic for men, who were projected to live on average 6.6 years longer in
total than those not eating the meal ... The Polymeal includes wine, fish,
dark chocolate, fruits and vegetables, almonds and garlic, eaten on a daily
basis (but four times a week for fish). Scientists reviewed the medical
literature on how much each ingredient cuts heart disease, blood pressure or
cholesterol levels by varying amounts, (150ml wine daily for instance
reduces heart disease by 32%) and worked out the combined effect of the
ingredients"
-
Nutrition Advice You Can Take to Heart
- WebMD, 9/22/04 -
"we could cut our rate of heart disease by one-half
if we took more magnesium ... the way to combat high homocysteine is to take
folic acid ... Niacin (also known as vitamin B-3) helps increase HDL ...
Potassium helps regulate blood pressure levels ... A lot of people think of
calcium as for the bones, but it's also good for the heart"
-
Exercise Stalls Effects of Aging on the Heart
- WebMD, 9/16/04
-
Prolonged, Sustained Exercise Prevents Precursor To Heart Failure -
Science Daily, 9/14/04 - "We found that the older,
sedentary individuals' hearts were 50 percent stiffer than the Masters
athletes, which we expected ... what we didn't expect was that the hearts of
these senior athletes were indistinguishable from those of the healthy
younger participants"
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Get New Health Claim
- WebMD, 9/8/04 -
"The FDA now says it will allow foods and
supplements containing eiscosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) omega-3 fatty acids to carry a qualified health claim that says eating
the product may reduce the risk of heart disease"
- Low Chromium Linked
to Heart Disease Risk in Patients With Diabetes
- Medscape, 9/3/04 -
"Our results suggest that diabetic men with CVD have
lower toenail chromium than healthy control subjects"
-
Fish intake is associated with a reduced progression of coronary artery
atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease -
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Sep;80(3):626-32 -
"Consumption of fish is associated with a
significantly reduced progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis in
women with coronary artery disease"
- See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
-
Tomato Juice for Cardiovascular Health?
- WebMD, 8/17/04 - "Half the group drank 1 cup of
clarified tomato juice daily for three weeks; the rest took a
tomato-flavored placebo ... the juice drinkers had a reduction in platelet
clumping or aggregation, one of several steps thought to be important in the
formation of blood clots that may lead to heart attacks and strokes"
-
Aspirin Lowers Risk of a First Heart Attack by One-Third
- Doctor's Guide, 9/23/03 -
"Aspirin
reduces the risk of a first heart attack by 32 percent, according to a
report published in the current issue of Archives of Internal Medicine"
- See
aspirin at Amazon.com.
-
DHEA May Fight Heart Disease, But How?
- WebMD, 7/23/03 -
"taking small doses of
DHEA improved insulin
sensitivity and endothelial function -- two factors that contribute to
the development of heart disease -- in 24 middle-aged men with high
cholesterol" - See
DHEA at Amazon.com.
-
Researchers Devise a Single-Pill Drug Strategy for Targeting Cardiovascular
Risk Factors - Doctor's Guide, 7/10/03 -
"the Polypill would reduce IHD events by 88%"
-
Manage Heart Failure With Lifestyle
- WebMD, 5/6/03
-
Improve Your Sex Life And Protect Against Heart Attack - Life Extension
Magazine, 5/03 -
"low
testosterone levels were associated with
several risk factors for heart attack such as high insulin levels, abnormal
glucose metabolism, low levels of HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Moreover, he further proposed that the converse was also true: testosterone
protects against heart disease in men"
-
Walking Won't Prevent Heart Disease
- WebMD, 4/15/03 -
"only more strenuous
exercise and physical activity, such as
jogging, swimming, and climbing stairs, on a regular basis can significantly
reduce the risk of early death due to heart disease"
-
Whole-Grain Cereal Lengthens Lives
- thesandiegochannel.com, 3/28/03 -
"men who ate one serving of
whole-grain, high-fiber cereal every day were
nearly 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease or other
diet-related diseases ... the more whole-grain cereal the men ate, the lower
their risk of death from heart disease ... Whole-grain cereals contain the
kind of fiber that helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and improves
how the body processes insulin and glucose. Whole grains also have more
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than refined cereal ... To make sure a
cereal contains whole grains, check the ingredient list. Whole grain or bran
should be listed as the first ingredient ... To be a whole-grain cereal, it
must contain at least 2 grams of fiber per serving, preferably more"
-
Sleep, Less and More, Linked to Heart Disease
- WebMD, 1/24/03
-
More Booze, Fewer Heart Attacks? - WebMD, 1/8/02 -
"men who drank
alcohol three to four times or more per week
were about 30-40% less likely to have a heart attack during the 12-year
period, compared with men who drank less than once a week ... the type of
alcohol beverage didn't matter -- beer, wine, or liquor -- they all provided
some protection against heart disease, although the strongest association
for the reduced risk was with beer and liquor"
-
Three Diet Strategies Help Prevent Coronary Heart Disease
- Doctor's Guide, 11/27/02 -
"Evidence is now clear that diets including
non-hydrogenated
unsaturated fats as the predominant form of dietary fat,
whole grains as the main form of carbohydrate,
an abundance of
fruit and vegetables and adequate
omega-3 fatty acids can offer significant
protection against CHD"
- Folic Acid for
Your Heart - WebMD, 11/22/02 -
"By increasing
folic acid intake and thus decreasing
homocysteine, the researchers say the risk
of heart disease would drop by 16%,
blood clots in the legs by 25%, and
stroke by 24%" - See
folic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Argument Strengthens For Folic Acid To Reduce Homocysteine Level -
Doctor's Guide, 11/26/02 -
"A decrease in serum
homocysteine of 3 micromol/l, which can be
achieved by a daily intake of about 0.8 mg
folic acid, should reduce the risk of
ischaemic heart disease by 16 percent,
deep vein thrombosis by 25 percent, and
stroke by 24 percent" - See
folic acid at Amazon.com.
-
Fatty acids from fish can ward off heart attacks
- Intelihealth, 11/19/02 -
"Studies now suggest that components of fish oil,
called
omega-3 fatty acids, can save the lives of
people with heart disease ... The heart association also cited recent
research indicating that even people with healthy hearts can benefit from a
diet rich in such fish as salmon, bluefish, Arctic char, mackerel and
swordfish ... fish can reduce a man's risk of dying from a heart attack by
80% ... omega-3 fatty acids can cut a woman's risk of death by heart attack
by 33% ... Fatty fish can contain significant levels of mercury" -
Omega-3 is the sum of the EPA and DHA not the total oil. See Mega Twin EPA
at
iHerb.
-
Daily Exercise Training As Effective As Stent Angioplasty In Stable Coronary
Artery Disease - Doctor's Guide, 11/19/02
-
Coronary Artery Disease Risk Among Asians Cut By Adopting Indo-Mediterranean
Diet - Doctor's Guide, 11/7/02
-
Dose-Response Relationship Between Exercise, Heart Disease In Men -
Doctor's Guide, 10/23/02 -
"There is a significant inverse, dose-response
relationship between total physical activity
and risk of myocardial infarction (MI), and coronary heart disease (CHD) in
men"
-
Weight Training May Help Heart - Intelihealth, 10/23/02
-
Acetylcysteine Can Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Endstage
Renal Disease - Doctor's Guide, 10/1/02 -
"therapy with
acetylcysteine
appears to significantly reduce cardiovascular events among
haemodialysis
patients" - See
iHerb
acetyl-l-cysteine products.
- More Good News
on Tea - WebMD, 9/27/02 -
"The latest studies suggest
tea might lower
cholesterol, improve heart health, prevent rectal
cancer in women, and reduce cell damage in smokers" - See
green tea extract at Amazon.com.
- Alcohol Can
Help Women's Hearts Too - WebMD, 9/16/02 -
"10 men aged 45-64 and nine women aged 49-62 drank
either regular beer or non-alcoholic beer for three weeks ... After 10 days
of drinking
alcohol, HDL cholesterol levels rose by an
average of nearly 7% for both men and women ... Previous research suggests
that a 1% increase in HDL cholesterol is linked to
a 2% reduction in the risk of
heart disease"
- Eat Nuts For A
Healthy Heart - New Hope Natural Media, 8/1/02
-
Novel Method of Enhancing Anti-Fat Effects of CLA - Life Extension
Magazine, 8/02 -
"CLA is not just for
fat-loss. Studies show it may help protect against many diseases including
atherosclerosis and
cancer" - See
conjugated linoleic acid at Amazon.com.
- Negative Results in
Antioxidant-Heart Study Challenged: A Healthnotes Newswire Opinion - New
Hope Natural Media, 7/11/02 - "Nutrients work in the
body as a team, and all of them must be present in adequate amounts in order
to promote good health. If magnesium, for example, were the weakest link in
the nutritional chain, one would not expect antioxidants to do much good
until the magnesium deficiency was corrected ... Rather than testing only
one or a few nutrients at a time, researchers should use a supplement that
contains all of the nutrients known to promote heart health" - Some
of my concerns: All the vitamin E studies I've read have only used the
alpha tocopherol and taking only the alpha has been shown to
significantly lower the gamma tocopherol. I also feel that the studies
using only beta carotene are pointless. Beta carotene is just one of over
600 carotenoids and many researchers believe that taking mega doses of just
one carotenoid can cause of deficiency of the others.
-
Vitamin C May Prevent Platelet Aggregation
- Doctor's Guide, 5/28/02 -
"Vitamin C may inhibit
collagen-induced platelet aggregation. This may add to the protection that
vitamin C is already known to give against coronary heart disease ... In
smokers who received vitamin C, there were significant decreases in platelet
aggregation after six hours with both collagen concentrations compared to
placebo. In non-smokers, there were significant decreases of platelet
aggregation after three and six hours for both collagen concentrations"
-
Vitamin C Beneficial In Heart Disease
- Doctor's Guide, 5/27/02 -
"These two groups were split into subgroups: those
who received 2 g of
vitamin C and those who did not after eating high-fat meal ... Although
the postprandial flow-mediated dilatation was significantly aggravated in
people not taking vitamin C (both with and without heart disease), this
parameter in patients and subjects taking vitamin C showed no significant
change"
-
Physical Training Benefits Heart-failure Patients
- Doctor's Guide, 5/15/02
- Take Aspirin at
Night for Heart Benefits - WebMD, 5/15/02 -
"Aspirin
didn't affect
blood pressure
if given in the morning. But when given at night, it had a significant
effect: a 7.0 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a
blood-pressure reading) and a 4.8 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure
(the bottom number)."
- Tea Prolongs
Survival After Heart Attack - WebMD, 5/6/02 -
"Researchers say the findings add to a growing
notion that the antioxidant-rich
flavonoids
found in black and green teas prevent heart
disease. But this is the first study to suggest that drinking tea can
actually protect the heart after damage has already occurred"
- Folate Fights
Stroke and Heart Disease - WebMD, 5/2/02 -
"people who consumed at least 300 mcg of
folate every day had a 20% lower risk of
stroke and a 13% lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those
consuming less than 136 mcg of folate per day ... Folate is also thought to
offset risk of cardiovascular disease, by reducing levels of
homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is
linked with higher risk of atherosclerosis because it damages arteries, but
vitamins B-6 and B-12, as well as folic acid,
have been found to prevent that damage from occurring"
-
What's Wrong With Vitamin E? - Life Extension Magazine, 5/02 -
"Tocotrienols and cardiovascular disease ..."
- Tea Drinking
Good for the Heart - WebMD, 4/25/02
-
Four New Studies Strongly Suggest That Components From Three Types
[elderberry, chokeberry and bilberry] Of Red Berry Fruits Help Arteries
- Intelihealth, 4/22/02
-
A Popular Japanese Plum [umeboshi], Now Available In The US, May Help
Prevent The Onset Of Cardiac Disease - Intelihealth, 4/22/02
- Regular Walking
Aids Older Arteries - WebMD, 4/22/02 -
"The 12-week study involved a group of 14 women, all
about age 60, who didn't exercise but were otherwise healthy ... At the end
of the study, they all had nearly 50% improvement in elasticity of arteries
... The exercise schedule: the women walked just five days a week for 40 to
45 minutes"
- Fish Oil
Supplements Protect Heart - WebMD, 4/8/02 -
"A daily fish oil supplement may help heart attack
survivors reduce their risk of sudden death by as much as 42% ... taking one
gram daily of
omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduced the risk of death in people
who had heart attacks ... the researchers found these benefits were not
related to common explanations such as lowering
cholesterol levels or reducing blood clots
... fatty acids may play a part in regulating the electrical activity of
heart muscle cells -- a process responsible for the heart rhythm"
- Saunas Improve
Heart Failure - WebMD, 3/15/02
-
Researchers Find Wine-Heart Link - Intelihealth, 12/20/01
-
Legumes Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease
- Intelihealth, 11/29/01 -
"participants who consumed legumes at least four
times per week had a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease and an 11%
lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed legumes
less than once a week"
-
Folate Cost-Effective For Prevention Of Coronary Artery Reblockage -
Intelihealth, 11/29/01 -
"The vitamin therapy included a combination of folic
acid (also known as folate or vitamin B9), vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.
Patients who received the vitamins had significantly lower levels of
homocysteine, and lower rates of restenosis and cardiac complications"
-
Vitamin C Inhibits Cell Death In Congestive Heart Failure Patients -
Intelihealth, 10/30/01
- Dry Sauna Heat
Helps the Heart - WebMD, 10/1/01 -
"Two weeks of daily sauna treatment didn't change
the blood vessel function of the normal men -- but it helped most of the
at-risk men ... only two weeks of repeated once-a-day sauna treatment
significantly improved [the blood vessel] function -- about 40% -- of
patients with coronary risk factors"
- After Heart
Attack, Lifting Weights Lifts Mood - WebMD, 9/19/01 -
"lifting a few light weights on a regular basis
actually can lift a guy's spirits, plus it can reduce the risk of another
bad heart episode"
- Folic Acid/Vitamin B12
Show Potential as Heart Disease Treatments
- Doctor's Guide, 8/22/01
-
High Fatty Acid Levels May Mean Sudden Death For Middle-Aged Men -
Intelihealth, 8/14/01 -
"The editorial suggests that increasing omega-3
fatty acids in the diet, which come from fatty fish or canola oil, and
decreasing the intake of omega-6 fatty acids, found in plant seed oils
(corn, safflower, sunflower), is a way to reduce the risk of sudden death"
- Free Fatty
Acids May Be Linked to Sudden Cardiac Death in Healthy Men
- WebMD, 8/14/01 -
"Very high levels of free fatty acids were
associated with "2.5 to three times the risk for sudden cardiac death" ...
Several factors, including cigarette smoking, fasting, hyperthyroidism, or
heart attack, can trigger the release of free fatty acids ... The real risk,
says Leaf, who is professor of clinical medicine at Harvard Medical School,
comes from omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in foods fried in corn,
safflower, or sunflower oils ... By contrast omega-3 fatty acids, which are
found in fatty fish and canola oil are actually heart healthy"
- Newly Hip
Nutrient May Stave Off Heart Disease - WebMD, 6/21/01 -
"the team gave lutein supplements to two types of
heart-disease prone mice. These treated mice had significantly less
atherosclerosis than did similar mice that hadn't received the supplemental
lutein"
- Arterial
Disease Depletes Body of Vitamin C - WebMD, 4/9/01 -
"In atherosclerosis, arteries and other blood
vessels are lined with fat deposits and buildup of cellular materials,
including inflammatory cells, which release unstable molecules called free
radicals. The free radicals do additional damage to the delicate vessels,
says Langlois.
Antioxidants such as
vitamin C seek out and destroy free radicals,
but in the process the antioxidants are themselves destroyed ... PAD appears
to kick the body's inflammatory process into high gear, which then releases
a free radical bombardment, that can "deplete the supply of vitamin C""
-
Fatty Fish -- Not Fried -- Reduces Heart Attack Deaths in Older Adults -
WebMD, 2/28/01 -
"Those who ate at least one serving of fatty fish
every week were 35% less likely to die of a heart attack."
-
Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12 May Help Prevent Heart Disease - WebMD,
12/11/00
-
Tea May Be Heart-Healthy - Intelihealth, 11/14/00
-
Got Magnesium? Those With Heart Disease Should - WebMD, 11/9/00 -
"Similar magnesium supplements are available
over-the-counter in the U.S., but they might not provide similar benefits.
"The product we used is from Germany, where supplements of this kind are
regulated and quality is monitored," Merz says. "Because that is not the
case in the U.S., it is impossible to know what you are getting in a
supplement, or even whether it contains any magnesium at all.""
Other News:
-
About 1 in 4 adults has an often-missed liver disorder linked to higher heart
disease risk - AHA, 4/14/22 - "Lifestyle changes are
the cornerstone of treatment for early NAFLD. Dietary recommendations include
reducing fat intake, limiting the consumption of simple sugars and choosing more
fiber-rich vegetables and whole grains. A Mediterranean-style diet is the only
specific dietary pattern recommended by a consortium of professional groups for
the treatment of NAFLD and NASH. Avoiding alcohol is encouraged since even light
alcohol intake can aggravate NAFLD and interfere with the liver’s ability to
heal"
-
Novel
heart ultrasound measures can be used to predict risk of developing dementia
- Science Daily, 3/22/22 - "When comparing the lowest to
the highest quintile of left atrial function measures (reservoir strain, conduit
strain, and contractile strain), the lowest quintile was significantly
associated with 1.5 to 2.0-fold higher risk of developing dementia. These
associations were independent of cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation.
The research team found that the more common measures of left atrial size were
not significantly associated with dementia"
-
Sustained LDL-Cholesterol
<70 mg/dL is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes in the clinical
setting - Eur J Clin Invest 2021 Dec 14 - "During 5
years of follow-up, 252 patients (21%) suffered major adverse cardiovascular
events (MACE). The incidence rates of MACE were 3.42 events per 100
patient-years (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.17-5.14) in patients with
levels <70 mg/dL and 5.57 (95% CI. 4.87-6.34) in those with ≥70 mg/dL; the rate
ratio was 0.61 (95% CI. 0.39-0.92), p=0.019. On multivariable analysis, patients
with LDL-C levels <70 mg/dL were at lower risk for MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.61
(95% CI. 0.39-0.93) p<0.05). MACE reduction was driven by a decrease in coronary
and peripheral events with no significant effect on stroke ... Long term
sustained LDL-C <70 mg/dl in the clinical practice is associated with reduction
in cardiovascular and peripheral vascular events with no apparent effect on
stroke"
-
Association of Proton Pump
Inhibitors With Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Heart Failure -
Mayo Clin Proc 2021 Oct;96(10):2540-2549 - "Long-term
PPI use was associated with twice the risk of total CVD and HF compared with
nonusers. Our findings are in concordance with other research and suggest
another reason to be cautious of PPI overuse"
-
Elevated stress hormones linked to higher risk of high blood pressure and heart
events - Science Daily, 9/13/21 - "Adults with
normal blood pressure and high levels of stress hormones were more likely to
develop high blood pressure and experience cardiovascular events compared to
those who had lower stress hormone levels ... Studies have shown that cumulative
exposure to daily stressors and exposure to traumatic stress can increase
cardiovascular disease risk. A growing body of research refers to the
mind-heart-body connection, which suggests a person's mind can positively or
negatively affect cardiovascular health, cardiovascular risk factors and risk
for cardiovascular disease events, as well as cardiovascular prognosis over time
... Norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine are molecules known as
catecholamines that maintain stability throughout the autonomic nervous system
-- the system that regulates involuntary body functions such as heart rate,
blood pressure and breathing. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released when one
experiences stress and is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis,
which modulates stress response ... Over a median of 6.5-year follow-up period,
every time the levels of the four stress hormones doubled was associated with a
21-31% increase in the risk of developing hypertension ... During a median of
11.2-years of follow-up, there was a 90% increased risk of cardiovascular events
with each doubling of cortisol levels. There was no association between
cardiovascular events and catecholamines"
-
Long-term exposure to low levels of air pollution increases risk of heart and
lung disease - Science Daily, 2/22/21 - "Researchers
examined hospitalization records for more than 63 million Medicare enrollees in
the contiguous Unites States from 2000 to 2016 to assess how long-term exposure
to air pollution impacts hospital admissions for specific cardiovascular and
respiratory issues. The study measured three components of air pollution: fine
particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). Using
hundreds of predictors, including meteorological values, satellite measurements
and land use to estimate daily levels of pollutants, researchers calculated the
study participants' exposure to the pollutants based upon their residential zip
code ... Data also showed there were surges in hospital admissions for all of
the health outcomes studied with each additional unit of increase in particulate
matter. Specifically, stroke rates increased by 2,536 for each additional ug/m3
(micrograms per cubic meter of air) increase in fine particulate matter each
year ... There was an increased risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation
associated with long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide"
-
Periodontal disease increases risk of major cardiovascular events - Science
Daily, 2/22/21 - "researchers performed positron
emission tomography and computer tomography (PET and CT) scans on 304
individuals to view and quantify inflammation in the arteries and gums of each
patient. In follow-up studies approximately four years later, 13 of those
individuals developed major adverse cardiovascular events. Presence of
periodontal inflammation was shown to be predictive of cardiovascular events,
even after researchers controlled for all other risk factors, such as smoking,
high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes ... Researchers hypothesize that
local periodontal inflammation activates and mobilizes cells signaling through
bone marrow, which triggers the inflammation of arteries, leading to adverse
cardiac events"
-
FDA Warns About Potential
Inaccuracies With Pulse Oximeters - Medscape, 2/19/21 -
"they may not always be accurate ... Several
factors can affect the accuracy of pulse oximeters, including poor circulation,
skin temperature, skin thickness, current tobacco use, use of fingernail polish,
and dark skin pigmentation" - Note: The one I bought from Amazon
shows anywhere from 93% to 97%. The doctor's office consistently shows
99%.
-
Implantable cardioverter
defibrillators in patients with electrical heart disease and hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy: data from the German device registry - Clin Res Cardiol 2020
Apr - "174 patients with HCM [hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy] and 112 patients with electrical heart disease (long-QT
syndrome, Brugada syndrome and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy)
were compared with 5164 other ICD patients. Median follow-up was 17.0 months.
Patients in the control group were significantly older. Of note, overall
mortality after 1 year was 1.8% in HCM patients, 6.6% in patients with
electrical heart disease and 7.3% in the control group. Patients in the control
group presented significantly more severe comorbidities. In contrast to HCM
patients and the control group where primary prevention was the major indication
for ICD implantation, 77.5% of patients with electrical heart disease received
an ICD for secondary prevention. The number of surgical revisions was higher in
patients with electrical heart disease"
-
Comparison of Outcomes of
Beta-Blocker Therapy after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients without Heart
Failure or Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (From the Acute Coronary
Syndromes Israeli Survey [ACSIS]) - Am J Cardiol 2020 Dec 21 -
"The 30-day MACE [Major Adverse Cardiovascular (CV)
Events] rates were similar in patients on vs. not on beta-blockers at discharge
(9.0% and 9.5%, respectively). One year survival did not differ significantly
between those on vs. not on beta-blockers (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.58-1.11, P= 0.18).In
conclusion, beta-blocker therapy did not affect 30 days MACE or one-year
survival after myocardial infarction in patients without heart failure or
reduced ejection fraction" - Note: I threw this in because I
don't understand why cardiologists want to destroy your quality of like with
beta-blockers for such a minuscule gain.
-
Elite Soccer Players Have
Big Hearts and That's Okay - Medscape, 12/18/20 -
"The athletes frequently exceeded normal echocardiographic ranges for left
ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and wall thickness — structural cardiac
parameters responsive to exercise-induced remodeling — but with none showing
pathologic findings that might indicate the need to restrict their participation
in the sport ... Almost one-third (30%) of female athletes and 41% of male
athletes exceeded the American Society of Echocardiography's upper limit of
normal for LV wall thickness, with a measure greater than12 mm seen in 12% of
men and 1% of women ... The majority (51% of females and 59% of males) exceeded
normal ranges for body surface area-indexed LV mass, with 77% and 68%,
respectively, having LV volumes above the normal range ... Baggish stressed in
an interview, however, that these data tell a story about healthy hearts, not
at-risk hearts" - [Science Daily]
-
Common heart defect – repaired or not - may limit exercise ability - AHA,
9/23/20 - "Adults born with a hole in their heart may
lose 20% or more of their exercise capacity regardless of surgical repair ...
Young adults with the defect are known to have poorer exercise ability than
their healthy counterparts, however, it is unclear if exercise capacity would
deteriorate with age ... Based on these findings, researchers suggest adults
born with the heart defect continue outpatient follow-up care for their entire
life."
-
Maintaining heart health may protect against cognitive decline - Science
Daily, 5/18/20 - "Researchers in this study sought to
compare Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Scores (FGCRS), which incorporate
demographic information with traditional cardiovascular risk factors to assess
future risk, to an individual's long-term decline in global and domain specific
cognitive function ... having a higher cardiovascular risk burden was associated
with faster decline in episodic memory, working memory and perceptual speed.
Researchers also looked at MRI data for a subset of patients and found that
higher FGCRS was associated with smaller volumes of hippocampus, cortical gray
matter and total brain. Decreases in hippocampal and gray matter are typical
markers of Alzheimer's dementia-related neurodegeneration. MRIs also showed a
greater volume of white matter hyperintensities, which are white spots on the
brain that cause an area to decline in functionality."
-
Drugs That Worsen Heart
Failure Common in Hospitalized HF - Medscape, 11/11/19 -
"At admission, the most common HF-exacerbating
medications taken by patients were albuterol, diltiazem, and nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), all Level B agents, as well as metformin, a
Level C agent ... Albuterol, diltiazem, and metformin remained the most common
HF-exacerbating medications at discharge ... Albuterol showed the greatest
increase in prevalence between admission and discharge (16% to 22%), while
NSAIDs showed the greatest decreased in prevalence (9% to 3%)" - Note:
I'm not sure this is true regarding metformin:
-
CVD Reduced With Metformin,
Higher With Rosiglitazone - Medscape, 6/24/13 - "In
29 different studies, metformin was associated with a 10% reduction in the risk
of cardiovascular events, with the drug associated with a 10% reduction in the
risk of heart failure in seven studies and a 12% reduction in the risk of MI in
nine studies. In contrast, rosiglitazone was associated with a 21% increased
risk of cardiovascular events in 25 studies, a 27% increased risk of heart
failure in 13 studies, and a 17% increased risk of MI in 21 studies"
-
Biomarker blood test could reveal high risk heart patients in need of treatment
- Science Daily, 11/9/19 - "One of the proteins, high
sensitivity troponin, measures injury to the heart muscle, and the other, called
NT-proBNP, measures stress on the heart muscle," Dr. Pandey explained. "The
presence of these proteins is indicative of subtle long-term cardiac injury,
like wear and tear over time."
-
Optimal fasting glucose
levels with regard to cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in people treated
with or without antidiabetic medication - Diabetes Obes Metab. 2019 Oct 10 -
"fasting blood glucose (FBG) ... For untreated FBG, the CVD risk and mortality
increased linearly from an FBG threshold of 5.6 mmol/L; however, for FBG treated
with antidiabetic drugs there were J-shaped associations with the outcome risks.
For treated FBG levels of 4.4 to 5.5 mmol/L, 7.8 to 8.8 mmol/L, 8.9 to 9.9 mmol/L
and ≥ 10.0 mmol/L, vs 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L, the hazard ratios for major CVD events
were 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.32), 1.06 (95% CI 0.96-1.18),
1.37 (95% CI 1.22-1.53) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.46-1.78), respectively, and those for
all-cause mortality were 1.20 (95% CI 1.11-1.29), 1.05 (95% CI 0.99-1.12), 1.29
(95% CI 1.10-1.50) and 1.69 (95% CI 1.59-1.81), respectively ... These findings
indicate that pharmacological therapy achieving FBG levels of <7.8 to 8.9 mmol/L
and a non-pharmacological approach to maintaining normal glucose levels help
reduce the risk of adverse outcomes, while lowering FBG to normal levels through
antidiabetic drugs is not beneficial or may even be harmful" - See
the conversion. 7.8 mmol/L is 140 mg/dl. 5.0 mmol/L is 90 mg/dl.
I find it hard to believe that a FBG of 140 is good for you heart. Maybe
I'm reading it wrong.
-
A New Drug for Heart
Failure? DEFINE-HF Bolsters Dapagliflozin Cardiovascular Cred - Medscape,
9/17/19 - "In diabetes, SGLT-2 inhibitors work in part
by promoting elimination of glucose in urine, so it has been frequently
questioned whether dapagliflozin in HFrEF is simply "an expensive diuretic,"
..."Frankly, if they have diabetes and heart failure, using one of these
medications is a no-brainer," Kosiborod agreed when interviewed. Their trials
show the drugs can lead to significant reductions in morbidity, mortality, and
symptom burden, he said ... the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given
dapagliflozin "fast track" status for a proposed indication to reduce
cardiovascular death or worsening of heart failure in adults with either
reduced- or preserved-ejection-fraction heart failure"
-
FDA
phase 1 trial shows hydrogel to repair heart is safe to inject in humans -- a
first - Science Daily, 9/11/19 - "There are an
estimated 785,000 new heart attack cases in the United States each year, with no
established treatment for repairing the resulting damage to cardiac tissue.
After a heart attack, scar tissue develops, which diminishes muscle function and
leads to heart failure. This is where VentriGel comes in. Once injected in
damaged cardiac muscle, VentriGel forms a scaffold that acts as a reparative
environment where healthy cells migrate, leading to increases in cardiac muscle,
less scar tissue, and improvements in heart function."
-
Effectiveness of polypill for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular
diseases (PolyIran): a pragmatic, cluster-randomised trial - Lancet vol 394,
issue 10199, P672-683, AUGUST 24, 2019 - "Two formulations of polypill tablet
were used in this study. Participants were first prescribed polypill one
(hydrochlorothiazide 12·5 mg, aspirin 81 mg, atorvastatin 20 mg, and enalapril 5
mg). Participants who developed cough during follow-up were switched by a
trained study physician to polypill two, which included valsartan 40 mg instead
of enalapril 5 mg. Participants were followed up for 60 months ... When
restricted to participants in the polypill group with high adherence, the
reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events was even greater compared
with the minimal care group (adjusted HR 0.43" - [NYT}
-
Long-Term Outcome in
Patients With Heart Failure Treated With Levothyroxine - Medscape, 8/2/19 -
"Ongoing and incident L-T4 treatment in patients with HF
was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular
death, and MACE. Increased risk of MI was observed for ongoing treatment, and
reduced risk was observed for incident treatment"
-
Pulse oximetry in the
diagnosis of acute heart failure - Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2012
Oct;65(10):879-84 - "Baseline oxygen saturation by pulse
oximetry decreased progressively in relation to the presence and the severity of
acute heart failure assessed by Killip classes 1 to 3 (mean: 95, 92 and 85,
respectively; P<.001) or by Radiology Score 0 to 4 (95, 94, 92, 89 and 83,
respectively; P<.001), with a correlation coefficient of 0.66 and 0.63,
respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves disclosed the cut-off of
oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry<93 to have the greatest area, with a
sensitivity of 65%, specificity 90%, and overall test accuracy 83%. Patients
grouped according to lowest oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry showed
significantly different rates of one-year mortality or rehospitalization for
heart failure" - Note: I threw this in because I theorized that
oxygen saturation would be an indication of heart disease. It sounds like
it is. Mine is 98%. See oxygen
saturation monitors at Amazon.com.
-
Erectile dysfunction drug 'effective' as heart failure treatment -
Science Daily, 5/1/19 - "The study of Tadalafil -- which
is in the same class as Viagra -- proves that the drug is biologically effective
as a treatment for heart failure in sheep ... When the animals had heart failure
-- induced by pace makers -- which was sufficiently advanced to need treatment,
the team administered the drug. Within a short period the progressive worsening
of the heart failure was stopped and, importantly the drug reversed the effects
of heart failure ... And the biological cause of breathlessness in heart
failure- the inability of the heart to respond to adrenaline was almost
completely reversed"
-
High Testosterone Levels Bad News for the Heart - WebMD, 3/7/19 -
"Men with a genetic predisposition to high testosterone
levels have a nearly eightfold increased risk of heart failure and twice the
risk of thromboembolism (blood clots that can block veins or arteries leading to
the brain or lungs) ... Although the study focuses on men with naturally high
testosterone, it has implications for aging men who are taking testosterone
supplements to boost their energy levels and improve their sex drive ...
Testosterone is believed to contribute to hardening of the arteries"
-
Even
low levels of air pollution linked with serious changes in the heart, according
to new UK research - Science Daily, 8/3/18 - "The
team found a clear association between those who lived near loud, busy roads,
and were exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or PM2.5 -- small particles of air
pollution -- and the development of larger right and left ventricles in the
heart. The ventricles are important pumping chambers in the heart and, although
these participants were healthy and had no symptoms, similar heart remodelling
is seen in the early stages of heart failure "
-
Loneliness is bad for the heart - Science Daily, 6/9/18 -
"The study investigated whether poor social network was
associated with worse outcomes in 13,463 patients with ischaemic heart disease,
arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), heart failure, or heart valve disease ...
Loneliness was associated with a doubled mortality risk in women and nearly
doubled risk in men. Both men and women who felt lonely were three times more
likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression, and had a significantly
lower quality of life than those who did not feel lonely"
-
Periodontitis is
associated with the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial
disease in Korean adults - Atherosclerosis. 2016 Jul 14;251:311-318 -
"Our data showed that periodontitis is a substantially
important risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease among Korean adults"
-
A Healthy Heart May Protect an Aging Brain - WebMD, 3/16/16 -
"participants who met more heart-healthy goals had
better brain-processing speed at the start of the study. This link was most
apparent for certain lifestyle factors, including not smoking, being at a
healthy weight and having ideal blood sugar levels ... At follow-up, scientists
noted that meeting more heart-healthy goals was linked to less deterioration in
brain processing speed, memory and executive function. Executive function
involves focusing, organization, time management and other cognitive skills"
-
Your heart is a lot older than you are. But you can turn back the clock -
Washington Post, 9/1/15 - "U.S. men's hearts are an
average of 7.8 years older than their chronological ages. Women do a little
better, with hearts an average of 5.4 years older than chronological age ... The
average age of people in the study was 47.8 for men and 47.9 for women. But the
men's hearts were 55.6 years old and women's were 53.3 years old ... The study
pointed out that a 50-year-old man with a variety of risk factors could lower
his heart age by 14 years by quitting smoking for a year, and another six years
by controlling his blood pressure"
-
How gum
disease treatment can prevent heart disease - Science Daily, 4/14/15 -
"using an oral topical remedy to reduce inflammation
associated with periodontitis, more commonly known as gum disease, also results
in the prevention of vascular inflammation and can lower the risk of heart
attack ... The study, titled, "Resolvin E1 Prevents Atheromatous Plaque
Formation," will be published in print in the May issue of Arteriosclerosis,
Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB), a journal of the American Heart
Association. It is the first paper to show a rabbit model of accelerated heart
disease, demonstrating a range of atherosclerotic plaque stages that more
closely resemble those in humans without genetic modification of the animal"
-
Hemoglobin A1c and
Cardiovascular Risk - Medscape, 6/24/14 - "An
approximately J-shaped association was found between A1c and CVD risk
(approximate 20% increased risk at < 4.5% and beginning at ≥5.5%, relative to
the reference category of 5.0%-5.5%)"
-
Hemoglobin
A1C in non-diabetic patients: An independent predictor of coronary artery
disease and its severity - Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2013 Oct 9 -
"We enrolled 299 consecutive individuals undergoing
coronary angiography for suspected ischemia. Patients were included if they had
no history of prior revascularization or diabetes mellitus and had fasting blood
glucose<126mg/dl (7.0mmol/l) and HbA1c<6.5% (47mmol/mol). The severity of the
CAD was also evaluated using the Gensini score ... With increasing HbA1c levels,
there was a significant increase in the prevalence of CAD and number of vessels
involved. In multivariate analysis, HbA1c emerged as an independent predictor of
significant CAD (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3-6.2, p=0.009). Adjusted ORs for the
occurrence of CAD were highest in subjects with both hsCRP and HbA1c in the
upper 2 quartiles (OR: 4.183; 95% CI: 1.883-9.290, p<0.0001). There was a
significant association between Gensini score and increasing HbA1c tertiles
(p=0.038). The ideal cut-off value of HbA1c for prediction of the occurrence of
CAD was 5.6% 38mmol/mol)"
-
Flu shot may cut risk of heart problems, analysis finds - NBC News.com,
10/22/13 - "of the 6,700 patients, half got the flu
vaccine and half the placebo or standard care, only a third of patients had a
history of heart disease. But among those who got the flu shot, we saw a 36
percent lower risk of a major cardiac event"
-
Statins
reduce cardiovascular events in coronary artery disease patients with very low
LDL cholesterol levels - Science Daily, 8/31/13 -
"Major Cardiovascular Events (MACE) ... used the Ibaraki Cardiovascular
Assessment Study (ICAS), a registry of 2,238 patients from 12 hospitals in the
Ibaraki region of Japan ... Based on serum LDL-C levels at initial presentation
participants were classified into three groups: very low (<70 mg/dl, n=214); low
(71-100 mg/dl, n=669); and high (>101 mg/dl, n= 1,355) ... followed up for a
maximum of 3 years ... three years of statin treatment produced significant
reductions in the incidence of MACE in all three groups"
-
Acid
Reflux Drug May Cause Heart Disease, Study Suggests - Science Daily,
7/10/13 - "In human tissue and mouse models, the
researchers found PPIs caused the constriction of blood vessels. If taken
regularly, PPIs could lead to a variety of cardiovascular problems over time,
including hypertension and a weakened heart ... PPIs suppressed the enzyme DDAH,
dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase. That caused an increase in the blood
levels of ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine), an important chemical messenger.
They found ADMA in turn suppressed the production of another chemical messenger,
nitric oxide, or NO, proven by 1998 Nobel Prize winners Furchgott, Ignarro, and
Murad to impact cardiovascular function ... PPIs interfere with the ability of
blood vessels to relax ... PPIs have this adverse effect by reducing the ability
of human blood vessels to generate nitric oxide. Nitric oxide generated by the
lining of the vessel is known to relax, and to protect, arteries and veins"
-
Two
Blood Pressure Drugs Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease in Diabetics -
Science Daily, 7/8/13 - "there is some evidence from
small trials that telmisartan has slightly different properties than other
angiotensin-receptor blockers and may improve cardiovascular health ...
telmisartan and valsartan were associated with a significantly lower risk of
hospitalization for heart attack, stroke or heart failure compared with other
angiotensin-receptor blockers ... at clinically attainable serum concentrations,
telmisartan is unique among these drugs in its ability to structurally interact
with and activate the PPARg receptor, a ligand-activated transcription factor
that regulates lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity"
-
Obesity
may influence heart function through sex hormones - Science Daily, 4/27/13 -
"suggests effects on heart function in healthy men with
artificially raised estrogen levels and artificially lowered testosterone levels
to mimic an obese state ... Estradiol, an estrogen, is primarily known as a
female hormone but it also circulates at very low levels in men. Testosterone is
converted to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase, the activity of which might be
increased in obesity leading to raised estradiol and reduced testosterone ...
The men with obesity-related changes in sex hormones exhibited altered heart
function ... We found that after increasing the estrogen levels and decreasing
the testosterone levels in men for one week the deformation of the left heart
chamber was significantly altered"
-
Hair Cortisol Reveals
Stress, Predicts CVD in Seniors - Medscape, 4/23/13 -
"We found a 2.7-times increased risk of cardiovascular
disease in our participants in the highest hair cortisol quartile compared to
participants in the lowest quartile"
-
Impaired
Fasting Glucose and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Korean Men and Women: The
Korean Heart Study - Diabetes Care. 2012 Sep 21 -
"evaluated the relationship between IFG and CVD or IHD among Korean men and
women ... IFG was categorized as grade 1 (fasting glucose 100-109 mg/dL) or
grade 2 (110-125 mg/dL) ... Incidence rates of CVD (per 100,000 person-years)
were 2,203 for diabetes. Age-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD were 1.17 (95%
CI 1.13-1.20) for grade 1 IFG, 1.30 (1.24-1.35) for grade 2 IFG, and 1.81
(1.75-1.86) for diabetes"
-
Glycated
Hemoglobin is Associated with the Complexity of Coronary Artery Disease, Even in
Non-Diabetic Adults - J Atheroscler Thromb. 2012 Aug 9 -
"Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is associated with an
increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death from any cause. The aim of
this study was to examine the relationship between HbA1c value and coronary
artery lesion complexity ... The complexity of the coronary artery lesions was
evaluated using the SYNTAX score (SXscore). The subjects were divided into
quartiles according to either the HbA1c or the fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
values ... Both the higher HbA1c quartiles (Q1 to Q4) and higher FPG quartiles
were significantly associated with a higher SXscore ... HbA1c is significantly
associated with the complexity of coronary lesions. This association is even
observed in non-diabetic adults. A higher HbA1c value is an independent
predictor of the prevalence of complex coronary lesions"
-
Air
pollution linked to chronic heart disease - Science Daily, 6/5/12 -
"Compared to patients who lived in areas with the lowest
recorded levels of pollution, those in the most polluted environment were 43
percent more likely to have a second heart attack or suffer congestive heart
failure and 46 percent more likely to suffer a stroke. The study also found that
patients exposed to air pollution were 35 percent more likely to die in the
almost 20 year period following their first heart attack than those who were
exposed to lower levels of pollution"
-
A high
normal TSH level is associated with an atherogenic lipid profile in euthyroid
non-smokers with newly diagnosed asymptomatic coronary heart disease -
Lipids Health Dis. 2012 Mar 27;11(1):44 - "The TSH
level, even within the normal range, was positively and linearly correlated with
total cholesterol (TC), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and
triglycerides (TG) (Beta = 0.173, 0.181 and 0.103, respectively, P < 0.01in
all). With 1 mIU/L rise of TSH, the levels of TC, TG and non-HDL-C will increase
by 1.010, 1.064, and 1.062 mmol/L, respectively. The odds ratio of
hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia with respect to the serum TSH
level was 1.640 (95% CI 1.199-2.243, P = 0.002) and 1.349 (95% CI 1.054-1.726, P
= 0.017), respectively"
-
Meat
consumption in relation to mortality from cardiovascular disease among Japanese
men and women - Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 Feb 15 -
"Moderate meat consumption, up to ~ 100 g/day, was not associated with increased
mortality from ischemic heart disease, stroke or total cardiovascular disease
among either gender"
-
Cleaning
your teeth can cut heart attack risk - MSNBC, 11/14/11 -
"According to data compiled by researchers in Taiwan,
people who had their teeth professionally scraped and cleaned had a 24 percent
lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those
who never had a dental cleaning"
-
Change in
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and risk of subsequent hospitalization for
coronary artery disease or stroke among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Am J Cardiol. 2011 Oct 15;108(8):1124-8 - "During a
mean follow-up of 55.8 +/- 23.8 months, 3,023 patients (10.1%) experienced a CVD
hospitalization. After multivariate adjustment, each 5 mg/dl of baseline HDL
cholesterol was significantly associated with a 6% lower CVD hospitalization
risk (hazard ratio 0.94 per 5 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.95, p
<0.0001) and each 5-mg/dl increase in HDL cholesterol was associated with a 4%
CVD risk reduction (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.94 to 0.99, p
<0.003). In the categorical analysis, a ≥6.5-mg/dl HDL cholesterol decrease was
associated with an 11% increased CVD risk (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% confidence
interval 1.00 to 1.24, p = 0.047) and a ≥6.5-mg/dl increase was associated with
an 8% CVD risk reduction (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.84 to
1.01, p = 0.077) relative to those with stable HDL cholesterol"
-
Link
between high cholesterol and Alzheimer's disease revealed in new study -
Science Daily, 9/12/11 - "high cholesterol levels were
significantly related to brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease ...
the cholesterol levels were tested for 2,587 people age 40 to 79 who had no
signs of Alzheimer's disease. Then they examined 147 autopsied people who died
after a long observation period (10 to 15 years) ... People with high
cholesterol levels, defined by a reading of more than 5.8 mmol/L, had
significantly more brain plaques when compared to those with normal or lower
cholesterol levels. A total of 86 percent of people with high cholesterol had
brain plaques, compared with only 62 percent of people with low cholesterol
levels ... insulin resistance, a sign of diabetes, may be another risk factor
for brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease"
-
Egg
consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease in the SUN Project - Eur J
Clin Nutr. 2011 Mar 23 - "Egg intake was assessed using
a 136-item-validated food-frequency questionnaire. Baseline consumption was
categorized into no consumption or <1 egg/week, 1 egg/week, 2-4 eggs/week and >4
eggs/week. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors was assessed by
questionnaire at baseline, and the incidence of CVD was assessed using biennial
assessments. The median follow-up was 6.1 years. Cox regression models were
fitted to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD
(myocardial infarction, revascularization procedures or stroke). Outcomes were
confirmed by review of medical records.Results:During a median follow-up of 6.1
years, 91 new confirmed cases of CVD were observed. No association was found
between egg consumption and the incidence of CVD (HR: 1.10, 95% confidence
interval: 0.46-2.63) for the highest versus the lowest category of egg
consumption after adjusting for age, sex, total energy intake, adherence to the
Mediterranean food pattern and other cardiovascular risk factors"
-
High
cholesterol and blood pressure in middle age tied to early memory problems -
Science Daily, 2/21/11 - "people who had higher
cardiovascular risk were more likely to have lower cognitive function and a
faster rate of overall cognitive decline compared to those with the lowest risk
of heart disease. A 10-percent higher cardiovascular risk was associated with
poorer cognitive test scores in all areas except reasoning for men and fluency
for women. For example, a 10 percent higher cardiovascular risk was associated
with a 2.8 percent lower score in the test of memory for men and a 7.1 percent
lower score in the memory test for women ... Higher cardiovascular risk was also
associated with a 10-year faster rate of overall cognitive decline in both men
and women compared to those with lower cardiovascular risk"
-
U-Shaped Curve for Sleep Duration and Cardiovascular Disease - Medscape,
2/10/11 -
"They list causative mechanisms relating short duration
of sleep to adverse health outcomes as including changes in circulating levels
of leptin and ghrelin, which in turn would increase appetite, caloric intake,
reduce energy expenditure, and facilitate the development of obesity and
impaired glycemic control, with increased cardiovascular risk. Increased
cortisol secretion and altered growth hormone metabolism have also been
implicated. Low-grade inflammation is also activated during short sleep, with
possible implications not only for cardiovascular disease but also for other
chronic conditions, including cancer ... people reporting consistently sleeping
five hours or less per night should be regarded as a higher-risk group for
cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. And that sleeping nine hours or more per
night may represent a useful diagnostic tool for detecting subclinical or
undiagnosed comorbidity"
-
Diet
soda may raise odds of vascular events; Salt linked to stroke risk - Science
Daily, 2/9/11 - "In findings involving 2,564 people in
the large, multi-ethnic Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS), scientists said people
who drank diet soda every day had a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events
than those who reported no soda drinking ... In separate research using 2,657
participants also in the Manhattan study, scientists found that high salt
intake, independent of the hypertension it causes, was linked to a dramatically
increased risk of ischemic strokes (when a blood vessel blockage cuts off blood
flow to the brain)"
-
Sleep
duration predicts cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
of prospective studies - Eur Heart J. 2011 Feb 7 -
"Short duration of sleep was associated with a greater risk of developing or
dying of CHD (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.22-1.80, P < 0.0001), stroke (1.15, 1.00-1.31, P
= 0.047), but not total CVD (1.03, 0.93-1.15, P = 0.52) with no evidence of
publication bias (P = 0.95, P = 0.30, and P = 0.46, respectively). Long duration
of sleep was also associated with a greater risk of CHD (1.38, 1.15-1.66, P =
0.0005), stroke (1.65, 1.45-1.87, P < 0.0001), and total CVD (1.41, 1.19-1.68, P
< 0.0001) with no evidence of publication bias (P = 0.92, P = 0.96, and P =
0.79, respectively). Conclusion Both short and long duration of sleep are
predictors, or markers, of cardiovascular outcomes"
-
Comparison
of Effects of Alpha Receptor Blockers on Endothelial Functions and Coagulation
Parameters in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - Urology. 2011 Jan
20 - "When coagulation tests were evaluated, there were
significant increases in bleeding and coagulation times in the groups using
doxazosin and terazosin. Doxazosin and terazosin lowered arterial blood pressure
significantly compared with other treatments. With regard to effects on
endothelial function, there were significant differences in flow-mediated
dilation rates of the brachial artery at 60 and 90 seconds before and during
treatment in the alfuzosin and terazosin groups ... Alpha receptor blockers can
decrease the risk of cardiovascular complications by both reducing platelet
aggregation and protecting endothelial functions in patients with prostatic
hyperplasia. The only drug with a favorable effect in all 4 areas of interest,
including BPH symptoms, blood pressure, platelet aggregation, and endothelial
functions, was terazosin"
-
From
dusty punch cards, new insights into link between cholesterol and heart disease
- Science Daily, 1/5/11 - "He also found an old punch
card machine to extract their data. Then, with the help of students and research
assistants, he located and contacted 97 percent of the people in Gofman's study
over the next nine years ... Their 29-year follow-up uncovered 363 cases of
coronary heart disease. They found that both HDL2 and HDL3 lowered heart disease
risk, and that a one-milligram per milliliter increase in HDL2 produced a
significantly larger reduction in coronary heart disease risk than a
one-milligram per milliliter increase in HDL3" - I doubt if many people
besides me even remember what punch cards were.
-
High
resting heart linked to shorter life expectancy in stable heart disease
patients, study suggests - Science Daily, 10/26/10 -
"Compared to heart disease patients with the lowest heart rate (58 beats per
minute or less), those who had heart rates greater than 78 had a 39 per cent
increased risk of suffering a major vascular event, a 77 per cent increased risk
of cardiovascular disease death, and a 65 per cent increased risk of all-cause
deaths"
-
Long-term
exposure to elevated blood pressure and mortality from cardiovascular disease in
a Japanese population: the Ibaraki Prefectural Health Study - Hypertens Res.
2010 Oct 7 - "Multivariate HRs (95% confidence interval)
associated with a 10 mm Hg increase in systolic BP were measured in 1993 and
1998, and their averages were 1.11 (1.05-1.16), 1.13 (1.07-1.18) and 1.17
(1.10-1.27), respectively. Multivariate HRs for a 10 mm Hg increase in
time-averaged systolic BP were 1.12 (1.03-1.21) in men and 1.24 (1.13-1.35) in
women. The subgroup analysis of antihypertensive use showed that multivariate
HRs for time-averaged systolic BP were 1.20 (1.11-1.29) in sustained non-users
and 1.17 (1.04-1.32) in sustained users. Similar results were also obtained for
diastolic BP. In conclusion, long-term exposure to elevated BP substantially
associates with excess risk for cardiovascular disease mortality among Japanese
subjects, irrespective of antihypertensive medication use. Thus, appropriate
management of BP is important in both users and non-users of antihypertensive
medication"
-
Resting
heart rate in patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes: a
report from the Euro Heart Survey on Diabetes and the Heart - Eur Heart J.
2010 Oct 8 - "resting heart rate (RHR) ...
cardiovascular events (CVE) ... Overall, median RHR was 70 (62-78) b.p.m. The
RHR quartile stratification was significantly associated with outcome in the
overall population (P = 0.002 and P = 0.021 for survival and CVE, respectively),
whereas it was not in patients without DM. In patients with DM, the RHR
quartiles correlated with survival (P = 0.032). In an adjusted regression model
performed in patients without DM, RHR associated with neither survival [hazard
ratio (HR): 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-1.27; P = 0.804] nor CVE
(HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.71-1.01, P = 0.068). In contrast, a 10-b.p.m. increase in
RHR was independently associated with survival (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.06-1.69, P =
0.015), but not with CVE (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84-1.18; P = 0.359) in patients
with DM. Conclusion The present report, based on patients with stable CAD, is
the first to reveal that the association between RHR and CVE seems to subsist in
those with DM, however, not in those without DM"
-
Persistently noisy workplace more than doubles heart disease risk - Science
Daily, 10/5/10
-
J-curve
revisited: an analysis of blood pressure and cardiovascular events in the
Treating to New Targets (TNT) trial - Eur Heart J. 2010 Sep 16 -
"The relationship between SBP or DBP and primary outcome
followed a J-curve with increased event rates above and below the reference BP
range, both unadjusted and adjusted (for baseline covariates, treatment effect,
and LDL levels). A time-dependent, non-linear, multivariate Cox proportional
hazard model identified a nadir of 146.3/81.4 mmHg where the event rate was
lowest. A similar non-linear relationship with a higher risk of events at lower
pressures was found for most of the secondary outcomes of all-cause mortality,
cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal MI, or angina. However, for the outcome of
stroke, lower was better for SBP. Conclusion In patients with CAD, a low BP
(<110-120/<60-70 mmHg) portends an increased risk of future cardiovascular
events (except stroke)"
-
High
stress hormone levels linked to increased cardiovascular mortality - Science
Daily, 9/9/10 - "urinary cortisol did not increase the
risk of non-cardiovascular mortality but did increase cardiovascular mortality
risk. The third of the subjects with the highest urinary cortisol had a
five-fold increased risk of dying of cardiovascular disease"
-
Hair
provides proof of the link between chronic stress and heart attack - Science
Daily, 9/3/10 - "Cortisol is considered to be a stress
hormone. Its secretion is increased during times of stress. Traditionally it's
been measured in serum, urine and saliva, but that only shows stress at the time
of measurement, not over longer periods of time. Cortisol is also captured in
the hair shaft"
-
Urinary
Cortisol and Six-Year Risk of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality - J
Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Aug 25 - "During a mean
follow-up of 5.7 (SD = 1.2) yr, 183 persons died, of whom 41 died from
cardiovascular disease. After adjustment for sociodemographics, health
indicators, and baseline cardiovascular disease, urinary cortisol did not
increase the risk of noncardiovascular mortality, but it did increase
cardiovascular mortality risk. Persons in the highest tertile of urinary
cortisol had a five times increased risk of dying of cardiovascular disease
(hazard ratio = 5.00; 95% confidence interval = 2.02-12.37). This effect was
found to be consistent across persons with and without cardiovascular disease at
baseline"
-
Periodontal
disease and carotid atherosclerosis: Are hemodynamic forces a link? -
Atherosclerosis. 2010 Jul 29 - "Worse periodontal health
was associated to the presence of carotid atherosclerosis. Patients with carotid
plaques (n=19) had higher periodontal indices compared with subjects without
plaques (n=14) (gingival index: 1.40+/-0.71 vs. 0.69+/-0.64, p=0.006) ... In the
66 examined common carotids, wall shear stress was inversely related to all
periodontal indices (r=0.54, p<0.00001 for peak wall shear stress and gingival
index) ... The present study identifies for the first time a link between
periodontal indices and wall shear stress, suggesting that an alteration of
hemodynamic profile might contribute to atherosclerosis in subjects with
periodontal disease"
-
Elevated
heart rate over time linked to significant risk of death - Science Daily,
8/12/10 - "development of a heart rate of 84 beats per
minute or greater that either developed or persisted in patients during the
study's average five-year time span was linked to a 55 percent greater risk of
cardiovascular death and a 79 percent greater risk of death from all causes ...
A healthy heart rate is between 60 and 80 beats per minute ... every extra 10
beats per minute higher than a normal resting pulse was associated with a 16
percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 25 percent
greater risk of all-cause death ... To date, no medication has been approved in
the United States that can reduce heart rate without side effects, although a
drug (ivabradine) is being tested"
-
Waist
Circumference but Not Body Mass Index Predicts Long-Term Mortality in Elderly
Subjects with Chronic Heart Failure - J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010 Jul 28 -
"Mortality increased as WC increased in elderly subjects
without CHF (from 47.8% to 56.7%, P=.01), and the increase was even greater in
patients with CHF (from 58.1% to 82.0%, P=.01). In contrast, mortality decreased
as BMI increased in elderly subjects without CHF (from 53.8% to 46.1%, P0 =.046)
but not in those with CHF. According to Cox regression analysis, BMI protected
against long-term mortality in the absence but not in the presence of CHF. In
the absence of CHF, WC was associated with a 2% increased risk of long-term
mortality for each 1-cm greater WC (Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.02, 95% confidence
interval (CI)=1.01-1.03; P<.001), versus 5% increased in the presence of CHF
(HR=1.06, 95% CI=1.02-1.10; P<.001)"
-
Egg
consumption and CHD and stroke mortality: a prospective study of US adults -
Public Health Nutr. 2010 Jul 16:1-10 - "'high' egg
consumption (>/=7 times/week v. <1 time/week) was not associated with
significantly increased CHD mortality (HR = 1.13, 95 % CI 0.61, 2.11 (men); HR =
0.92, 95 % CI 0.27, 3.11 (women)). There was a statistically significant inverse
association between 'high' egg consumption and stroke mortality among men (HR =
0.27, 95 % CI 0.10, 0.73), but the estimate was imprecise because of sparse
data. We did not observe a statistically significant positive association
between 'high' egg consumption and CHD or stroke mortality in analyses
restricted to individuals with diabetes, but these analyses may be limited due
to the small number of diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a significant
positive association between egg consumption and increased risk of mortality
from CHD or stroke in the US population. These results corroborate the findings
of previous studies"
-
High
blood cortisol levels significantly increases death rate in patients with acute
coronary syndrome - Science Daily, 5/27/10 - "1036
patients with acute coronary syndrome were studied for an average period of 7.7
years. There were no significant differences in the serum cortisol levels
between patients with and without acute coronary syndrome. However, the patients
with ACS and high cortisol levels had a significantly elevated number of deaths
when compared to the patients with ACS and the lowest cortisol levels. 758 total
deaths were reported during the follow-up period. The ACS patients with the
highest cortisol levels (i.e. the highest 25% serum cortisol) were significantly
more likely to die from fatal cardiovascular events than those with the lowest
cortisol levels (the lowest 25% serum cortisol). (The hazard ratio for highest
versus lowest quartile of SCC was 1.89"
-
Eating
processed meats, but not unprocessed red meats, may raise risk of heart disease
and diabetes, study finds - Science Daily, 5/17/10 -
"eating processed meat, such as bacon, sausage or processed deli meats, was
associated with a 42% higher risk of heart disease and a 19% higher risk of type
2 diabetes. In contrast, the researchers did not find any higher risk of heart
disease or diabetes among individuals eating unprocessed red meat, such as from
beef, pork, or lamb"
-
Study:
Too Much Sugar Increases Heart Risks - Time Magazine, 4/21/10 -
"Compared with people consuming less than 5% of their
daily calories in added sugar, those in the highest consumption group — who got
25% or more of their daily calories in added sugar — were twice as likely to
have low levels of HDL cholesterol, the beneficial lipid that mops up
artery-clogging LDL cholesterol. According to government health guidelines, HDL
levels below 50 mg/dL for women and 40 mg/dL for men are considered low; 43% of
the highest sugar consumers recorded low HDL, while only 22% of the lowest sugar
consumers did ... People eating the most added sugar also recorded the highest
triglyceride levels ... Low HDL and high triglyceride levels are two of the
primary risk factors for heart disease"
-
ApoB/apoA-I
ratio is better than LDL-C in detecting cardiovascular risk - Nutr Metab
Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Feb 18 - "An unfavourable
apoB/apoA-I (>/=0.9 for males
and >/=0.8 for females) was present in 13.9% of 108 patients with LDL-C
<100mg/dL: compared to subjects with lower apoB/apoA-I (<0.9 for males and <0.8
for females), they had more elements of MetS and their lipid profile strongly
correlated with high CV risk. Out of 314 patients with lower apoB/apoA-I, 40.12%
had LDL-C >/=130mg/dL: these retained a more favourable lipid profile than
corresponding subjects with elevated apoB/apoA-I ratio. Finally, we found a
significant correlation between LDL-C and apoB/apoA-I ratio (r=0.48, p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: In NGT with LDL-C <100mg/dL, a higher apoB/apoA-I exhibited an
atherogenic lipid profile, indicating that LDL-C alone is insufficient to define
CV risk. Independent from LDL-level, when apoB/apoA-I is lower, the lipid
profile is, in fact, less atherogenic. This study demonstrates that apoB/apoA-I
is at least complementary to LDL-C in identifying the "effective" CV risk
profile of asymptomatic NGT subjects"
-
Telmisartan:
a Different Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Protecting a Different Population?
- J Int Med Res. 2009;37(6):1662-1679 - "Telmisartan
has a unique profile among ARBs, with a high affinity for the angiotensin II
type 1 receptor, a long duration of receptor binding, a high lipophilicity and a
long plasma half life. This leads to sustained and powerful blood pressure
lowering when compared with the first marketed ARBs, such as losartan and
valsartan. Some pharmacological properties of telmisartan clearly distinguish it
from other members of the ARB class and may contribute to the clinical effects
seen with telmisartan. A class effect for ARBs cannot be assumed. To date,
telmisartan is the only ARB that has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk in
at-risk cardiovascular patients"
- Click here for reasons
to consider telmisartan as a first line treatment for hypertension. See
telmisartan at
OffshoreRx1.com.
-
Low IQ
among strongest predictors of cardiovascular disease -- second only to cigarette
smoking in large population study - Science Daily, 2/9/10
-
Hyperglycemia: New mechanism underlying cardiovascular disease described -
Science Daily, 12/12/09 - "Hyperglycemia starts a
complex chain of events that damages blood vessels and cause cardiovascular
disease"
-
Low
testosterone level as a predictor of cardiovascular events in Japanese men with
coronary risk factors - Atherosclerosis. 2009 Nov 13 -
"Cox proportional hazards models showed that the
subjects with the lowest tertile of plasma testosterone (<14.2nmol/L) had an
approximately 4-fold higher CV event risk compared to those with the higher
testosterone tertiles after adjustment for coronary risk factors including
medication and FMD (unadjusted hazard ratio, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.47-8.86:
multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio, 4.61; 95% CI, 1.02-21.04). Multivariate
analysis did not show any significant association of DHEA-S, estradiol or
cortisol with CV events"
-
Kidney
Function Decline Increases Risk Of Heart Failure And Premature Death -
Science Daily, 11/5/09 - "Among 4,378 eligible
participants in the study, those with rapid kidney decline (1,083 patients)
demonstrated a 32% increased risk of experiencing heart failure, a 48% increased
risk of having a heart attack, and a 67% increased risk of developing peripheral
arterial disease ... Patients whose kidney function dropped by more than 5.6%
per year demonstrated a 30% increased risk of developing heart disease and a 22%
increased risk of dying prematurely compared to patients with stable kidney
function"
-
Low-Cost Drugs Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke - WebMD, 10/1/09 -
"Besides being encouraged to take a daily aspirin,
patients were prescribed a medication bundle, typically lovastatin (40
milligrams a day) to lower cholesterol and lisinopril (20 milligrams a day) to
lower blood pressure ... Compared with the no-exposure group, the low-exposure
group (whose members picked up medicines less than half the time) had a 60%
reduction in hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke"
-
Association
of Kidney Function With Coronary Atherosclerosis and Calcification in Autopsy
Samples From Japanese Elders: The Hisayama Study - Am J Kidney Dis. 2009 Sep
16 - "The autopsy findings presented here suggest that
CKD is associated significantly with severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Patients with CKD should be considered a high-risk population for advanced
coronary atherosclerosis"
-
Increase
In Visceral Fat During Menopause Linked With Testosterone - Science Daily,
8/20/09 - "The culprit is likely not age, as is commonly
believed, but the change in hormone balance that occurs during the menopause
transition ... Of all the factors we analyzed that could possibly account for
the increase in visceral fat during this period in a woman's lifetime, levels of
active testosterone proved to be the one most closely linked with abdominal fat
... in women, it is the change in the hormonal balance – specifically, the
increase in active testosterone – that is predominantly responsible for visceral
fat, and for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease"
-
Stress Raises Belly Fat, Heart Risks - WebMD, 8/6/09 -
"Even compared to other monkeys with the same body mass
index and weight, CT scans showed that the stressed monkeys had a great deal
more belly fat. And when the researchers looked at the animals' arteries, they
found plaque clogging the arteries of the stressed monkeys ... it's not how much
fat you have, but where it is located ... Over time, high cortisol levels cause
belly fat to accumulate. It also makes individual fat cells get larger ... When
you have lots more fat in visceral fat cells and all the characteristics of the
metabolic syndrome, each of these things promotes atherosclerosis"
-
High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimer's - WebMD, 8/4/09 -
"Adults with even moderately elevated cholesterol in
their early to mid-40s appear to have an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease
and related dementias decades later ... Total cholesterol in the high range at
study entry was associated with a 66% increase in Alzheimer's risk, while having
borderline high cholesterol raised the risk for vascular dementia by 52% ...
total cholesterol of 240 or higher is considered high, and a cholesterol of 200
to 239 is considered borderline high" - Maybe that's why most studies on
statins show that statins reduce the odds of having Alzheimer's. - Ben
-
High
Calcium Level In Arteries May Signal Serious Heart Attack Risk - Science
Daily, 7/28/09
-
Link
Between Oral Infections And Cardiovascular Disease Morbidity Explained -
Science Daily, 7/9/09 - "A recent study that will be
cited during the presentation explored the existence of bacteria known to cause
periodontitis and the growth of blood vessel walls, which is a symptom of CVD.
After examining the subjects used, the investigators found a positive connection
between the growth of blood vessel walls and the existence of bacteria found in
dental plaque, causing periodontitis"
-
Cholesterol OK? Statins Still Help Heart - WebMD, 7/1/09 -
"Combined data from 10 trials that included more than
70,000 patients without cardiovascular disease, but with cardiovascular risk
factors, showed a 12% reduction in deaths among patients who took statins ...
The statin group also had 30% fewer heart attacks and 20% fewer strokes over
four years of follow-up"
-
Patients
With Moderate To Severe Periodontitis Need Evaluation For Heart Disease Risk
- Science Daily, 6/30/09 - "Periodontitis is common,
with mild to moderate forms affecting 30 to 50% of adults and the severe
generalized form affecting 5 to 15% of all adults in the USA. In addition, there
is now strong evidence that people with periodontitis are at increased risk of
atherosclerotic CVD — the accumulation of lipid products within the arterial
vascular wall"
-
New
Therapy Found To Prevent Heart Failure In Many Patients - Science Daily,
6/23/09
-
Pioglitazone
Improves Endothelial Function with Increased Adiponectin and High-density
Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Type 2 Diabetes - Endocr J. 2009 Jun 9 -
"After treatment, HbA1c levels equally decreased in both
groups, but PIO-treated group had significantly increased high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and decreased triglyceride,fasting
insulin levels and HOMA-R. After treatment, increases in %FMD, plasma HDL-C and
adiponectin (APN) levels were significantly greater in PIO-treated group than
those in control group. Changes of %FMD showed significant positive correlations
with those of plasma APN and HDL-Clevels. In conclusion, the present study
showed that treatment of T2DM improved endothelial function with greater
increases in %FMD, APN and HDL-C levels in PIO-treated group than those in
control group, suggesting the beneficial effect of PIO on endothelial function
in T2DM" - See pioglitazone at
OffshoreRx1.com.
-
Blood-pressure-lowering Drugs Should Not Be Limited To People With High Blood
Pressure - Science Daily, 5/19/09 - "Blood pressure
lowering drugs should be offered to anyone old enough to be at risk of a heart
attack or stroke (or who is otherwise known to be at risk), regardless of their
blood pressure ... using any one of the main classes of blood pressure lowering
drugs at standard dose reduced fatal and non-fatal heart attacks by about a
quarter and stroke by about a third. Heart failure was also reduced by about a
quarter. The reductions in disease were similar in people with and without
clinical cardiovascular disease and regardless of blood pressure before
treatment ... three drugs together, each at low dose to minimize side effects,
could increase the preventive effect, reducing heart attacks by about 45% and
stroke by about 60%"
-
High,
Low Estradiol Levels and Mortality in Men With Systolic HF - Medscape,
5/19/09 - "Both low and high serum levels of estradiol,
compared with mid-range levels, are significantly and independently associated
with increased all-cause mortality in men with chronic systolic heart failure"
- Note: See my aromatization page for ways
to reduce it. I take a quarter tablet of
letrozole every day. See
letrozole at OffshoreRx1.com
 .
Serum Estradiol Concentration Quintiles as Predictors of All-Cause Mortality
in Men (With Quintile 3 as the Reference Group)
| Parameter |
Quintile 1 |
Quintile 2 |
Quintile 3 |
Quintile 4 |
Quintile 5 |
| Estradiol concentration (pg/mL) |
<12.903 |
12.90–21.79 |
21.80–30.11 |
30.12–37.39 |
>37.40 |
| 3-y survival* (%) |
44.6 |
65.8 |
82.4 |
79.0 |
63.6 |
| Quintile as mortality predictor,* HR (95% CI) vs quintile 3
|
4.17 (2.33–7.45) |
2.15 (1.16–3.99) |
-- |
1.22 (0.64–2.31) |
2.33 (1.30–4.18) |
HR= hazard ratio
-
Different Treatment Options In Chronic Coronary Artery Disease - Science
Daily, 4/27/09
-
Fructose-Sweetened Beverages Linked to Heart Risks - NYTimes.com, 4/23/09 -
"a controlled and randomized study has found that drinks
sweetened with fructose led to higher blood levels of L.D.L, or "bad"
cholesterol, and triglycerides in overweight test subjects, while drinks
sweetened with another sugar, glucose, did not. Both L.D.L. and triglycerides
have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease"
-
Insulin
resistance independently predicts the progression of coronary artery
calcification - Am Heart J. 2009 May;157(5):939-45 -
"After controlling for these variables, higher fasting insulin levels
independently predicted CAC progression"
-
Heart Disease: Combined Treatment Is Best - WebMD, 3/23/09 -
"Heart disease patients who achieve normal blood
pressure and very low cholesterol levels with aggressive drug therapy do better
than patients who achieve only one of these goals ... Patients who achieved LDL
levels below 70 and systolic blood pressures of below 120 had the slowest
progression, as measured by increase in plaque volume"
-
Neck Size Linked to Heart Risk - WebMD, 3/11/09 -
"the bigger a person's neck size, the greater that person's risk of high levels
of LDL "bad" cholesterol and blood fat, insulin resistance, and high blood
sugar"
-
New Test
Successfully Identifies Life-threatening Heart Disease - Science Daily,
3/11/09
-
Heart Disease Tied to Depression, Anger - WebMD, 3/9/09 -
"Chronically angry or hostile adults with no history of
heart disease may be 19% more likely than their peers to develop heart disease"
-
Heart Rate Predicts Women's Heart Risk - WebMD, 2/3/09 -
"among women with the highest heart rates (greater than
76 beats per minute) were more likely to suffer coronary events such as a heart
attack than women with the lowest resting pulse rates (62 beats per minute or
less)"
-
Newer Antipsychotic Drugs Increase the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death - WebMD,
1/14/09 - "because these older agents cause movement
disorders in some patients, they have largely been replaced with newer
medications such as Zyprexa, Risperdal, and Seroquel ... Although the study's
results reaffirmed that people who use the older antipsychotic drugs are twice
as likely as nonusers to have sudden cardiac death, it also showed a similar
increase in risk for the newer medications. For these, the rate of sudden
cardiac death was more than twice that for nonusers"
-
More May Benefit From Cholesterol Drugs - WebMD, 1/13/09 -
"Eight out of 10 middle-aged and older Americans may
benefit from treatment with cholesterol-lowering statin drugs ... All the
participants had elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)
... Over an average of two years of treatment, participants who took the statin
Crestor had half as many heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from cardiovascular
causes as participants randomly assigned to receive a placebo"
-
High
Systolic Pressure a Positive Sign in Chronic Heart Failure - Medscape,
1/5/09 - "In patients with chronic heart failure, higher
systolic blood pressures paradoxically predict better survival ... The decrease
in mortality rates associated with a 10 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure was
13.0%...in the heart failure population ... in patients with cardiac disease but
without chronic heart failure affecting systolic function, mean arterial blood
pressure is largely determined by peripheral vasoconstriction, and higher
systolic pressure indicates poor elasticity of the arteries ... In patients with
heart failure, however, systolic pressure reflects the ejection fraction and
cardiac output ... a higher blood pressure is associated with a decreased
mortality as it serves as an indirect measure of cardiac function"
-
Low Dose
Of Caffeine When Pregnant May Damage Heart Of Offspring For A Lifetime -
Science Daily, 12/16/08 - "the equivalent of one dose of
caffeine (just two cups of coffee) ingested during pregnancy may be enough to
affect fetal heart development and then reduce heart function over the entire
lifespan of the child"
-
Increased Calcium Sensitivity In The Heart Can Make For An Irregular Heartbeat
- Science Daily, 11/20/08
-
JUPITER
hits New Orleans: Landmark study shows statins benefit healthy individuals with
high CRP levels - theheart.org, 11/9/08 - "In a
study of individuals with low LDL cholesterol but elevated C-reactive-protein
(CRP) levels, investigators showed that rosuvastatin (Crestor, AstraZeneca) 20
mg significantly reduced the primary end point—a composite of nonfatal MI,
nonfatal stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, revascularization, and
confirmed death from cardiovascular causes—by 44% compared with individuals
treated with placebo" - Note: They seem to be attributing this to the
reduction in CRP. At 12 months, the CRP of the 20 mg Crestor group was 2.2.
The baseline was 4.2. That's a (4.2 - 2.2)/4.2 = 47.6% reduction in CRP.
Another option to reduce CRP might be Periostat (low dose doxycycline for
periodontal disease). See my
CRP page for other ways to reduce it.
See:
-
Low-dose Periostat (Doxycycline) Shows Benefits in Patients with Heart
Failure - Doctor's Guide, 11/20/02 -
"At six-month follow-up, sub-antimicrobial dose
doxycyline significantly reduced
CRP
levels by 45.8 percent compared to baseline values (p<0.05). The drug was
also associated with a 33.5 percent reduction in interleukin-6 and a 50
percent reduction in metalloproteinase ... The findings are exciting, since
research is now showing that CRP is both a key marker of inflammation
leading to future acute coronary events, but also that CRP itself may
contribute to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis"
-
Novel
Approaches To Heart Disease And Inflammation - Science Daily, 9/30/08 -
"the immune system's role in heart disease is a
relatively recent finding, with the first inklings of its importance discovered
in the early 1980s. Prior to that time, scientists believed that
atherosclerosis, a blockage in the arteries and the underlying cause of most
heart problems, was due to plaque formation caused solely by cholesterol buildup
... inflammatory T cells not only contributed to plaque formation, but they also
played a key role in the rupture of the artery wall, which produces a heart
attack"
-
Top-selling Cholesterol Drug Does Little For Women, Study Suggests - Science
Daily, 9/17/08 - "Not one of the studies that included
women with a mixture of risk factors for heart attacks provided statistically
significant support for prescribing Lipitor or other statins to protect against
cardiovascular problems. Pfizer’s claims of clinical proof that Lipitor reduces
risk of heart attack in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease
does not appear to be scientifically supported for large segments of the female
population ... Lipitor’s advertising repeatedly fails to report that clinical
trials were statistically significant for men but not for women. Unqualified
advertising claims of protection against heart attacks may therefore be
misleading"
-
Treatment Appears To Reduce Heart Attack Risk And Revascularisation In Stable
Coronary Patients - Science Daily, 8/31/08
-
Sex
Hormones Link To Heart Risk - Science Daily, 8/31/08 -
"one of the sex hormones - estradiol - was associated
positively with total cholesterol and negatively with HDL-cholesterol.
Circulating concentrations of another sex hormone - estrone - showed strong
positive associations with both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol ... Thus,
men with the highest concentrations of estrone and estradiol may have the
highest level of cardiovascular risk as their levels of detrimental
LDL-cholesterol are high whilst their cardio-protective HDL-cholesterol is low"
- See my aromatization page for ways to
reduce these.
-
HbA1c
Tied to Cardiovascular Risks in Patients With Symptomatic HF - Medscape,
8/28/08 - "Over a median follow-up period of almost 3
years, the researchers found that for each 1% rise in HbA1c, the risk of
cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization and overall mortality rose
by about 25%. Moreover, this was true in subjects with and without a history of
diabetes and whether or not ejection fraction was reduced or preserved"
-
Air Pollution May Hurt the Heart - WebMD, 8/13/08 -
"Air pollution -- even at levels deemed "acceptable" by the Environmental
Protection Agency -- leads to short- and long-term injury to the heart and blood
vessels, increases rates of heart disease-related hospitalizations, and can even
cause death"
-
Salivary cortisol is related to atherosclerosis of carotid arteries - J Clin
Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Aug 5 - "area under the curve
(AUC), which is a measure of total cortisol exposure while awake, and the slope,
which is a measure of diurnal cortisol decline. Results: Total cortisol exposure
while awake (AUC) was associated with higher plaque scores (beta = 0.08 per SD
of AUC, 95% CI; 0.00 - 0.17, p-value = 0.04) in a fully adjusted linear
regression model. Persons with an AUC in the highest tertile had a higher number
of plaques of carotid arteries compared to those in the lowest tertile (3.08
versus 2.80 ... Our results support the hypothesis that increased total cortisol
exposure is independently associated with atherosclerosis of the carotid
arteries" - See my cortisol page for ways
to reduce it.
-
Lowering Cholesterol Early In Life Could Save Lives - Science Daily,
8/4/08 - "Our review of the literature convinces us
that more aggressive and earlier intervention will probably prevent
considerably more than 30% of coronary heart disease ... Studies show that
fatty streak lesions in the arteries that are a precursor to atherosclerosis
and heart disease begin in childhood, and advanced lesions are not uncommon
by age 30. Why not nip things in the bud?" Such early signs of heart disease
should be taken as seriously as early signs of cancer or diabetes"
-
Erectile Dysfunction May Signal A Broken Heart - Science Daily, 5/20/08
-
Cardiovascular Risk: Low Sodium Diets Might Be Worse Than High Salt Diets
- Science Daily, 5/15/08 - "Contrary to long-held
assumptions, high-salt diets may not increase the risk of death ... The
Einstein researchers actually observed a significantly increased risk of
death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with lower sodium diets"
- This has been going back and forth for years. I try to cut down and use
Morton Lite salt, etc.
-
Inflammatory Markers and Albuminuria Independently Predict Heart Failure
- Medscape, 5/2/08 - "Interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive
protein, and macroalbuminuria are significant predictors of congestive heart
failure, independent of obesity and other established risk factors" -
Also see my inflammation page for ways to
reduce it.
-
Statin Drug Crestor Slows Artery Plaque - WebMD, 4/1/08 -
"A trial of the statin drug Crestor [rosuvastatin]
has been halted early due to "unequivocal evidence" that it reduces heart
attacks, strokes, and deaths due to cardiovascular disease in people with no
signs of heart disease" - See rosuvastatin at
OffshoreRx1.com.
-
Cholesterol Testing Not Enough for Some - WebMD, 3/27/08 -
"once LDL cholesterol is lowered to recommended
levels in high-risk patients, testing for the protein ApoB may more
accurately identify those still at risk for cardiovascular events" -
See my ApoB page fro ways to reduce it.
-
Half
Of Heart Patients Significantly Underuse Effective Heart Medications, Many
Because Of Cost - Science Daily, 2/18/08 -
"American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines
recommend heart attack patients receive treatment with a beta-blocker, a
statin cholesterol-lowering drug, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and aspirin. A combination
of the drugs has reduced coronary heart disease death by 80 percent compared
to placebo"
-
Dangerous Duo: Hostility Plus Depression Elevates Risk For Heart Disease
- Science Daily, 2/11/08
-
Stress At Work Is Linked To Heart Disease - Science Daily, 1/22/08 -
"chronic work stress was associated with CHD and
this association was stronger among both men and women aged under 50 --
their risk of CHD was an average of 68% more than for people who reported no
stress at work"
-
Egg Consumption and Risk of Heart Failure in the Physicians' Health Study
- Circulation. 2008 Jan 14 - "Although egg
consumption up to 6 times per week was not associated with incident HF, egg
consumption of >/=7 per week was associated with an increased risk of HF.
Compared with subjects who reported egg consumption of <1 per week, hazard
ratios (95% confidence intervals) for HF were 1.28 (1.02 to 1.61) and 1.64
(1.08 to 2.49) for egg consumption of 1 per day and >/=2 per day,
respectively, after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol
consumption, exercise, and history of atrial fibrillation, hypertension,
valvular heart disease, and hypercholesterolemia"
-
Insulin-Resistant
Cardiomyopathy - Medscape, 1/15/08 - "Increasing
evidence points to insulin resistance as a primary etiologic factor in the
development of nonischemic heart failure (HF) ... Epidemiological evidence
suggests more than simply a correlation between insulin resistance and HF,
demonstrating that insulin resistance precedes HF rather than occurring as a
consequence of it ... Medications that work primarily by improving insulin
sensitivity (metformin, thiazolidinediones [TZDs]) might theoretically be
the most attractive therapies" - See my web page on
Insulin and Aging.
-
Blood Pressure and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Chinese Men and Women
- Am J Hypertens. 2008 Jan 10 - "Our results
indicate that there is a strong, linear, and independent relationship
between BP levels and the risk of CVD in Chinese adults. Systolic BP is a
stronger predictor of CVD risk compared to diastolic BP"
-
Statins for All Adults with Diabetes? - WebMD, 1/10/08 -
"One-third fewer people with type 1 or type 2
diabetes would suffer heart attacks or strokes if they took
cholesterol-lowering statin drugs"
-
CRP Levels Predict Death in Patients With Chronic Heart Disease -
Medscape, 1/8/08 - "Elevated baseline CRP levels
raised the risk (per unit of log-transformed CRP level change) of the
primary endpoint by 19%, MI by 17%, total death by 19%, and cardiac death by
28%"
-
Healthy Smile May Promote A Healthy Heart - Science Daily, 1/8/08 -
"individuals with periodontal disease whose
biomarkers showed increased bacterial exposure were more likely to develop
coronary heart disease or atherogenesis (plaque formation in the arteries)"
-
Sept. 11 Stress Increases Risk Of Heart Problems, Study Suggests -
Science Daily, 1/7/08 - "Our study is the first to
show that even among people who had no personal connection to the victims,
those who reported high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms in the days
following the 9/11 attacks were more than twice as likely to report being
diagnosed by their doctors with cardiovascular ailments like high blood
pressure, heart problems and stroke up to three years later"
-
ACUTE EFFECTS OF TRIIODOTHYRONINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH
CHRONIC HEART FAILURE AND LOW-T3 SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED
STUDY - J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jan 2 -
"Low-triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome is a predictor of poor outcome in
patients with cardiac dysfunction ... dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) ... In DC
patients, short-term synthetic L-T3 replacement therapy significantly
improved neuroendocrine profile and ventricular performance" - See
T3 at International Anti-aging Systems.
-
Most
Adults With Conditions That Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk Have High
Blood Pressure - Science Daily, 12/17/07 - "High
blood pressure was found in most persons with cardiovascular diseases and
related problems ... 75 percent or more were being treated for hypertension,
but only one-third to one-half of those in treatment reached goal levels for
blood pressure (140/90 milligrams of mercury for most patients, or 130/80
milligrams of mercury for patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease)"
-
Calcium In Coronary Arteries May Be Linked To Increased Risk For Heart
Disease In Low-risk Women - Science Daily, 12/12/07
-
Waist, Hips May Predict Heart Disease - WebMD, 12/10/07 -
"a big waist with comparably big hips does not
appear to be as worrisome as a big waist with small hips"
-
Low Testosterone, Early Death? - WebMD, 11/27/07 -
"The lower a man's testosterone level, the higher
his risk of death -- especially death from heart disease ... Men in the
highest quartile were 41% less likely to die"
-
Chronic Arguing With Your Spouse May Raise Your Heart Disease Risk -
Science Daily, 10/8/07
-
Low HDL Cholesterol, Even When LDL Levels Are Low, Is Cardiovascular
Dynamite, New TNT Analysis Shows - Medscape, 10/3/07 -
"Among patients treated with statins, including those who achieved very low
levels of cholesterol with high-dose statin therapy, high-density
lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels are still predictive of major
cardiovascular (CV) events ... In the determination of the five-year risk of
major CV events across the different quintiles, univariate analysis showed
the event rate to be reduced by 40% in the highest quintile when compared
with subjects with the lowest HDL-cholesterol levels" - See
niacin at Amazon.com.
-
Anger and Stress Contribute To Coronary Heart Disease - Science Daily,
9/26/07
-
Heart Damage Can Be Reversed with Early Treatment - Science Daily,
8/27/07 - "During the first six months of the study,
38 subjects received a placebo, and the other 38 subjects took 160mg of
Valsartan, a drug that blocks a hormone that is detrimental to the blood
vessels and the heart. During the next six months, both groups took
Valsartan ... Those who took the drug for the first six months significantly
reduced their Rasmussen Disease Score compared with those who took the
placebo. At the 12-month mark -- after both groups were taking the drug --
every patient showed better Rasmussen Disease Scores, effectively
demonstrating that Valsartan can slow progression and even reverse early
cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic high-risk patients" - Note:
Diovan® (valsartan) is an ARB.
-
Framingham Study: The apoB/apoA-1 ratio does not provide clinical utility
over total/HDL cholesterol - theHeart.org, 8/14/07 -
"In men, non-HDL cholesterol, apoB, the
total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, the LDL/HDL-cholesterol ratio, and the
apoB/apoA-1 ratio were all positively associated with CHD risk of
approximately the same magnitude and statistical significance. ApoA-1 and
HDL cholesterol were associated with reduced CHD risk. Similar results were
observed for women, but apoA-1 was not significantly associated with
incident CHD. In men and women, LDL and total cholesterol were not
significantly associated with CHD risk"
-
20-year Study Finds No Association Between Low-carb Diets And Risk Of
Coronary Heart Disease - Science Daily, 11/9/06 -
"In the first study to look at the long-term effects
of low-carbohydrate diets, researchers from the Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH) found no evidence of an association between low-carb diets and
an increased risk of CHD in women. Their findings did suggest, however, an
association between low-carb diets high in vegetable sources of fat and
protein and a low risk of CHD"
-
Study Supports Findings That Periodontal Bacteria May Be Linked to Heart
Disease
- Doctor's Guide, 7/21/06 - "acute coronary syndrome
(ACS) ... Seventy-seven percent of the participants in the ACS group and 42
percent in the control group demonstrated evidence of periodontitis"
-
A New Goal for Aging - WashingtonPost.com, 2/21/06 -
"prevention of heart disease needs to begin very
early in life because by middle age, most of the risk factors are already
established ... We need to focus on young adults, even teens"
-
Erectile Dysfunction Common, Linked with Severity of Heart Disease -
Doctor's Guide, 1/24/06 - "Erectile dysfunction (ED)
affects approximately one in five American men, appears to be associated
with cardiovascular and other chronic diseases and may predict severity and
a poor prognosis among those with heart disease"
-
Testosterone
May Actually Help Men's Hearts - WebMD, 5/16/05 -
"The thickness of the wall of this artery is a
predictor of a higher risk of heart disease. The study showed that the wall
thickness increased as testosterone levels dropped"
-
Blood Test May Show Heart Attack Risk - WebMD, 5/16/05 -
"White blood cells are infection-fighting cells that
may increase in response to infection or inflammation. Studies suggest that
hardening of the arteries caused by cholesterol plaque -- atherosclerosis --
is linked to inflammation. Therefore, researchers suggest that measuring
white blood cells may help reveal heart disease risk"
-
WBC Counts Predict Future CVD Events - Physician's Weekly, 4/25/05 -
"Patients with WBC counts greater than 6.7 x 109
cells/L were found to be at high risk, even when clinicians had not
identified traditional CVD risk factors"
-
Periodontitis and CVD: What Is the Link? - Medscape, 3/18/05 -
"An association between periodontal health and
systemic disease is not farfetched in light of research confirming that
Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori (among other organisms) have also
been linked to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.[5] In perhaps the
same manner, periodontitis disturbs systemic homeostasis. It is possible
that chronic damage of epithelial tissues due to periodontitis may induce
the periodontal pocket to ulcerate, allowing access to the bloodstream.[4]
Bacteria and their toxins, localized tissue response to cytokines (proteins
that regulate other cells in the blood), and additional mediators of
inflammation can all disrupt homeostasis when toxins gain entry to the
systemic circulation"
-
Easy Blood Test May Reveal Women's Heart Risk - WebMD, 3/14/05 -
"women with the highest white blood cell counts had
twice the risk of dying of heart disease than those with the lowest levels
... women in the top fourth also had a 40% higher risk of nonfatal heart
attack, 46% higher risk of stroke, and 50% higher risk of death due to any
cause"
- Noise Exposure
Linked to Heart Attacks - WebMD, 9/3/04
- Cause of Most
Heart Attacks Found - WebMD, 8/30/04 - "the
cause of almost all heart attacks can be pinpointed to one or more of the
following: ... Smoking ... Abnormal cholesterol ... Diabetes ... High blood
pressure ... Stress ... Abdominal obesity ... Sedentary lifestyle ... Eating
too few fruits and vegetables ... Abstaining from alcohol"
- Signs of
Depression Put Heart at Risk - WebMD, 2/9/04
- Nitroglycerin
Use Linked to Production of Free Radicals
- WebMD, 2/6/04
- How to Age Well
- WebMD, 10/27/03 -
"What made them different than the other half? One
thing stands out. Those who stayed healthy had perfectly healthy hearts.
They didn't even have "subclinical" heart problems, the ones so minor they
can only be detected by testing ... For men, having subclinical heart
disease was like being 6.5 years older. For women, it was like being 5.5
years older ... refrain from smoking, lower their blood lipids, watch blood
pressure, and avoid obesity through diet and exercise"
-
Nesiritide Outpatient Treatment Dramatically Decreases Hospitalisation
- Doctor's Guide, 10/7/03
-
Death Risk Higher if Anaemia Accompanies Heart Failure
- Doctor's Guide, 9/29/03
-
Nesiritide Evaluation Demonstrates Quality of Life Improvement
- Doctor's Guide, 9/29/03
-
Nesiritide Edges Nitroglycerin for Heart Failure - Doctor's Guide,
9/23/03
- Calcium in
Arteries Signals Heart Death - WebMD, 8/27/03
- Type A Triggers
Heart Disease - WebMD, 7/22/03
-
Efforts to Prevent Heart Disease Should Begin Earlier
- Doctor's Guide, 7/10/03 -
"While there has never been a controlled trial
examining the long-term effects of risk reduction in children, the AHA notes
that, "existing evidence indicates that primary prevention of
atherosclerotic disease should begin in childhood.""
-
Estrogens as Antioxidants – Reducing Heart Disease in Younger Postmenopausal
Women - Doctor's Guide, 7/4/03 -
"If
LDL becomes oxidised its ability to cause heart disease increases. If
HDL
becomes oxidised its ability to protect against heart disease is lessened
...
estrogens can act as antioxidants, which neutralise free radicals, and
hence protect HDL from oxidation. In addition, high levels of HDL are able
to protect LDL from oxidation, and this ability is strongly enhanced when
estrogens are present ... Although recent randomised control trials have
shown that HRT in older women may not reduce the incidence of coronary heart
disease, Dr. Bhavnani believes that this is not the whole story"
-
Steroid-Treated Patients Have High Risk of Cardiovascular Event
- Doctor's Guide, 6/23/03
-
FDA Approves Lescol (Fluvastatin) And Lescol XL For Secondary Prevention Of
Coronary Events In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease
- Doctor's Guide, 5/28/03
-
FDA Approves Lescol (Fluvastatin) And Lescol XL For Secondary Prevention Of
Coronary Events In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease
- Doctor's Guide, 5/28/03
- Low
Testosterone Linked to Heart Disease - WebMD, 5/27/03 -
"men with diabetes and very low testosterone
levels were more likely to develop plaque in their arteries, which can lead
to heart disease and stroke"
-
Surgery Better Than Drugs For Serious Lack Of Blood Flow To The Heart
- Doctor's Guide, 5/27/03
-
Surgery vs. Medication for Heart Disease in the Elderly
- Physician's Weekly, 5/26/03
- Free Testosterone
Inversely Related to Carotid Atherosclerosis
- Medscape, 5/23/03 - "Serum free
testosterone is inversely related to carotid intima-media thickness
(IMT) and plaque score (PS) ... There is evidence to suggest that low
concentrations of testosterone are associated with an increased risk of CVD
in men"
- Calcium in
Heart Scan Predicts Disease - WebMD, 5/12/03
- Infection,
Autoimmune Reaction, Inflammation Trigger Heart Attack
- WebMD, 5/12/03
-
Cognitive Decline After Bypass Surgery Mostly Temporary And Reversible
- Doctor's Guide, 5/6/03
-
Nitroprusside Can Help Critically Ill Heart Patients
- Doctor's Guide, 5/1/03
-
Fluid Retention Reversible In Diabetics With Chronic Systolic Heart Failure
Treated With Thiazolidinedione - Doctor's Guide, 4/30/03
- Some Cardiac
Arrest Victims May Benefit From CPR First, Then Defibrillation
- WebMD, 3/18/03
- Heart Disease
Most Costly Condition - WebMD, 3/14/03
-
FDA Approves Heart Attack Test - CBS News, 2/14/03
- Caregiving
Wives Have More Heart Disease - WebMD, 2/13/03
-
Greater Reduction Of Cardiac Events With Intense Cholesterol-Lowering
Treatment - Doctor's Guide, 2/10/03 -
"The "poor" treatment group included patients who
were neither dieting nor taking lipid-lowering drugs and patients who were
smoking. "Moderate" treatment consisted of the American Heart Association
diet with lipid lowering drugs or a strict diet with less than 10% of
calories from fat. "Maximal" treating consisted of the strict low-fat diet,
regular exercise and lipid active drugs ... During the five-year follow-up
period, cardiac events occurred in 20.3% of the patients in the moderate
treatment group and 30.6% of patients in the poor treatment group. In
contrast, cardiac events occurred in only 6.6% of the patients in the
maximal treatment group"
- Low Estrogen
Linked to Heart Disease - WebMD, 2/4/03 -
"The[y] found that 69% of the premenopausal women who actually had coronary
artery disease (CAD) had low
estrogen levels due to abnormal functioning of the hypothalamus, the
part of the brain that controls hormone production. These women also had low
levels of the hormone estradiol and of follicle-stimulating hormone, which
stimulates the ovary to produce estrogen. Less than a third of the women
without CAD (29%) had low estrogen levels ... stress can lead to significant
reductions in estrogen levels. She adds that the women with low estrogen
levels in this study tended to be more anxious and reported higher levels of
stress ... it is now believed that older women do not benefit because they
have lost the estrogen receptors that allow them to respond to estrogen"
-
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Provides Faster, More Accurate Way Of Diagnosing
Heart Attacks - Doctor's Guide, 1/30/03
- Bypass Surgery
Just Got Easier - WebMD, 1/29/03
- At-Risk Women
Not Getting Heart Drugs - WebMD, 1/21/03 -
"Established drugs for prevention -- including
aspirin, beta-blockers, and cholesterol-lowering drugs are "underused in
these women,""
-
Carbon Monoxide May Aid Arteries - Intelihealth, 1/20/03
- Should Men Get
HRT for Heart Health? - WebMD, 1/15/03 -
"twice as many men with heart disease have low
testosterone
levels compared with men without heart disease. In fact, low testosterone is
linked to a number of risk factors for heart disease ... if male rabbits
have too little testosterone, they develop more atherosclerosis [hardening
of the arteries] than animals with normal testosterone"
- Finger
Arthritis Predicts Heart Disease - WebMD, 1/15/03 -
"Men with osteoarthritis (OA) in any finger
joint were 40% more likely to die of heart disease than their counterparts
without finger OA. ... While "hardening of the arteries" was once thought to
result from a buildup of cholesterol, increasing evidence indicates that
it's the result of some type of inflammation
of blood vessels"
- Intense
Heart-Smart Program Pays Off - WebMD, 1/14/03 -
"The healthy benefits of a low-fat diet,
regular
exercise, and cholesterol-lowering
statin drugs may be much greater in combination than alone in helping
people with heart disease prevent future heart attack,
stroke, and even death. New research shows following a strict program
that combines all three approaches can lower a person's chances of suffering
a major heart-related problem from one in three to one in 15"
- New Arthritis
Drugs May Help Heart - WebMD, 1/13/03
- Too Few Heart
Drugs Prescribed - WebMD, 1/3/03 -
"Too few patients get the drugs they need to prevent
serious heart diseases. The problem isn't cost -- it's doctors ... patients
may need to be their own advocates ... They should make sure that these
medications are a topic of conversation with their doctors"
-
Atherosclerosis Affects Age-Related Renal Changes
- Doctor's Guide, 1/2/03 -
"Atherosclerosis speeds up
kidney shrinkage
and increases in serum creatinine levels on top of the known effects of
aging ... the investigators conclude that atherosclerosis accelerates the
decrease of renal size and the increase in serum creatinine with age"
-
Nesiritide Reduces Length of Hospital Stay, Drug Requirements for Inpatients
with Acute Heart Failure - Doctor's Guide, 12/19/02
-
Natrecor (Nesiritide) Safe, Effective Treatment For Acute Heart Failure
- Doctor's Guide, 12/19/02
-
Immune Modulation Therapy Reduces Morbidity, Mortality In Severe Chronic
Heart Failure - Doctor's Guide, 11/19/02
- Hostility
Predicts Heart Disease - WebMD, 11/18/02
- High-Tech
Treatments for the Heart - WebMD, 11/18/02
-
Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories Decrease Risk Of Recurrent Myocardial
Infarction In Patients Taking Aspirin - Doctor's Guide, 10/30/02 -
"Patients taking aspirin
who were also taking
NSAIDs were significantly less likely to experience recurrent AMI than
those who took only aspirin" - I've got that. See
$8.99 for 500 of 200 mg of ibuprofen. and
$2.50 for 120 of the 81 mg aspirin.
-
Atorvastatin Shown to Decrease Heart Disease and Stroke in Patients with
Hypertension And Low Cholesterol - Doctor's Guide, 10/11/02
-
Researchers Halt Successful Study On Cholesterol, Blood Pressure
- Intelihealth, 10/11/02 -
"Researchers in the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac
Outcomes trial were giving the cholesterol-lowering drug
atorvastatin to patients who have normal or low levels of
cholesterol but are at a risk of a heart attack or
stroke because they have high blood pressure
or other risk factors ... patients taking the prescription drug had
significantly fewer strokes and heart attacks than those taking a placebo"
- Note: Red yeast rice is a non-prescription
statin.
-
Nesiritide Safe for Acute Decompensated Congestive Heart Failure in Patients
with Acute Coronary Syndrome - Doctor's Guide, 9/24/02
- Statins Can
Reverse Plaque Buildup - WebMD, 9/23/02 -
"Statin drugs can do more than just lower your LDL
"bad" cholesterol. In high enough doses, they may be able to reverse the
accumulation of artery-clogging plaques that lead to heart attack and
stroke"
-
Salt Reduction Has Little Impact On Cardiovascular Events Or Mortality
- Doctor's Guide, 9/23/02 -
"Reducing patient dietary
sodium intake has little effect or either cardiovascular events or
mortality ... There also are doubts about effects of salt reduction on
overall health"
- Does Waist Size
Affect Your Heart? - WebMD, 9/19/02 -
"Researchers wanted to find out if waist
circumference is a more accurate measurement than BMI (body mass index) in
determining the risk of heart attack or stroke ... To minimize the risk of
heart disease, men with 35-inch waists and women with 33-inch waists should
not gain any more weight ... To reduce their heart-disease risk, men whose
waists are at least 39 inches and women whose waists are at least 37 inches
should lose weight"
- Death by Angry
Outburst - WebMD, 9/9/02 -
"If you have heart disease, an angry outburst can
cause a fatal heart attack"
-
Most Heart Attack Patients Have Undiagnosed Glucose Metabolism Abnormalities
- Doctor's Guide, 9/3/02 -
"Most patients who present at emergency cardiac care
units with a heart attack have abnormal glucose
metabolism, and most of those patients are
diabetic -- the majority undiagnosed ... many patients may be reaching
the hospital in urgent states of undiagnosed diabetes because of a lack of
communication between endocrinologists -- who treat diabetics but may not be
that familiar with cardiology -- and cardiologists -- who may not be as
familiar with diabetes"
-
Study Indicates Glucose Infusion Could Help Heart Attack Patients Survive
- Intelihealth, 9/3/02
-
Growth Hormone Benefits Cardiomyopathy Patients - Doctor's Guide, 9/2/02
- "Growth hormone
reduces serum levels of proinflammatory
cytokines in patients with chronic heart failure secondary to idiopathic
dilated cardiomyopathy. It also reduces soluble Fas and soluble Fas ligand
system in these patients ... The investigators also observed significant
improvements in peak oxygen consumption"
- Antibiotics Aid
Heart Patients - WebMD, 8/19/02 -
"A year later, those who received an
antibiotic
were 36% less likely to be rehospitalized for a heart attack or chest pain
than those who took a placebo ... The question, Mendall says, is whether the
antibiotics are working by fighting infection or
inflammation in these patients"
- Pound by Pound,
Heart Failure Risk Rises - WebMD, 8/1/02
-
Salmeterol Improves Pulmonary Function In Heart Failure Patients
- Doctor's Guide, 7/31/02
-
Brain Damage After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Doctor's Guide, 7/23/02
-
Levosimendan Found Better Than Dobutamine for Decompensated Heart Failure
- Doctor's Guide, 7/19/02
- Pregnancy Linked
to Heart Disease - WebMD, 7/18/02 - "Women who
experience complications during pregnancy may be at increased risk for heart
disease"
- Brain May Suffer
Long After Heart Bypass - WebMD, 7/15/02
-
Lipids and Blood Pressure Should be Measured at Least Twice Before Risk
Scoring - Doctor's Guide, 7/10/02
- Heart Disease
Starts in Childhood - WebMD, 7/1/02
-
Testosterone Therapy Improves Exercise Ability of Men with Chronic
Congestive Heart Failure - Doctor's Guide, 6/21/02 -
"After 12 weeks, the
testosterone group achieved a 34 percent increase in exercise capacity
compared to 2 percent for the control group ... In addition, the
testosterone treatment improved
depression and heart failure symptoms while causing few side effects"
-
New Hope for an Ailing Heart - Time Magazine, 6/24/02
-
Heart Failure Outcome Predicted By Circulatory Power
- Doctor's Guide, 6/10/02
- Does Stress Really
Cause Heart Disease? - WebMD, 5/23/02
- How Sudden Stress
Raises Heart Risk - WebMD, 5/20/02 -
"Researchers measured the ability of the individual's blood vessels to
dilate (expand) before and 10 minutes after they took the mental stress test
... Following the test, dilation of the blood vessels was reduced by 50%. In
addition, heart rates increased significantly and blood pressure spiked
during the last minute of the stress test. All three events can lead to
atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries that increases heart attack
and stroke risk ... The study authors say this drop in dilation was
completely dependent upon a chemical called endothelin-A. When the
participants were given a drug that blocked the effects of this chemical, no
reduction in blood vessel dilation was found ... Researchers say that
finding suggests that blocking endothelin-A may offer a new way to prevent
atherosclerosis"
-
Study of Heart Transplant Patients Further Demonstrates Periodontitis May Be
A Risk Factor For Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 5/8/02 -
"This study adds one more piece of significant evidence that, along with
high cholesterol and blood pressure, periodontal
disease should be seen as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease ...
It is now common practice for dentists to prescribe antibiotics prior to
oral surgery or even advanced cleaning techniques for patients with
particular heart health profiles. Among the newer methods for administering
antibiotics is the product Arestin(TM), which uses patented microsphere
technology to deliver the antibiotic minocycline beneath the gum, directly
into the infected periodontal pocket, after deep cleaning of the teeth and
gums with a common method of treatment known as scaling and root planing"
- see Arestin.com
- New Test Predicts
Sudden Death Risk - WebMD, 4/15/02 - "those who
suffered sudden cardiac death had higher levels of a substance called
C-reactive protein (CRP) ... CRP is released when blood vessels are inflamed
... the findings of this study show that the levels of CRP in the blood are
even more telling than once thought ... we can intervene with lifestyle
counseling and drugs like statins and
aspirin"
-
Endogenous Hormones Might Lower Atherosclerosis Risk in Some Older Women
- Doctor's Guide, 4/1/02 - "the researchers found no
association between the odds of atherosclerosis and increasing quartiles of
estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate or androstenedione ... Compared
with participants in the lowest quartile of sex hormone-binding globulin,
those in the highest quartile had significantly lower odds of
atherosclerosis. Participants in the highest quartile of total testosterone
also had lower odds of atherosclerosis"
- Fatty Meals Harm
Heart - WebMD, 4/1/02
- Mental Stress
Harms Heart - WebMD, 3/25/02
-
Amiodarone Superior To Lidocaine In Out-Of-Hospital Ventricular Fibrillation
- Doctor's Guide, 3/21/02
-
Three-Month Antibiotic Treatment Reduces Risk Of Future Heart Attack
- Doctor's Guide, 3/11/02
- Pollution
Increases Heart Attack Risk - WebMD, 3/11/02
- Antibiotics May
Aid Heart Patients - WebMD, 3/11/02
- Antibiotic
[Zithromax] Improves Heart Function - WebMD, 2/25/02
- Cool Patients Do
Better After Cardiac Arrest - WebMD, 2/20/02
-
FDA OKs Pocket-Sized EKG Machine - Intelihealth, 1/9/02
-
Heart May Be Able To Repair Itself - Intelihealth, 1/3/02
-
MRI Used To Check For Clogged Arteries - Intelihealth, 12/27/01
- The 'Fab Four' in
Heart Failure Care - WebMD, 12/6/01
- Problems Documented with
Nitroglycerin Use in Some Cardiac Patients
- Doctor's Guide, 11/13/01
- Heart Pump Cuts
Deaths in Severe Heart Failure by Half
- WebMD, 11/12/01
-
Studies Bolster Inflammation-Heart Disease Link; May Prove Better Predictor
Than Cholesterol - Intelihealth, 11/6/01
- FDA Approves Coreg
(Carvedilol) for Severe Heart Failure
- Doctor's Guide, 11/1/01
-
Normal EKGs May Not Mean Healthy - Intelihealth, 10/24/01
-
Cancer Drug [GM-CSF] May Help Heart - Intelihealth, 10/23/01
- FDA Approves Cathflo
Activase (Alteplase) To Clear Blocked Central Venous Access Devices -
Doctor's Guide, 9/5/01
- New Pacemaker
Device Gets FDA Approval to Treat Heart Failure
- WebMD, 8/28/01
- FDA Approves Natrecor
(Nesiritide) For Dyspnea in Congestive Heart Failure Patients - Doctor's
Guide, 8/13/01
-
FDA approves innovative drug for heart failure - USA Today, 8/13/01
-
FDA OKs Heart Failure Breathing Drug - Intelihealth, 8/13/01
-
Calculate Your Risk - Time Magazine, 7/23/01
- Early Invasive Strategy
With Aggrastat (Tirofiban) Reduces Risk of Cardiac Events
- Doctor's Guide, 6/27/01
-
Clot-blusters reduce risk of second heart attack - USA Today, 6/14/01
-
'No-Option' Heart Patient Gets New Lease on Life, Bold, Minimally Invasive
Surgery Bypasses Blocked Artery Via Heart Vein - WebMD, 5/29/01
-
Help for Failing Hearts, Despite Its Name, Heart Failure Is Treatable
- WebMD, 5/17/01 - "This drug cocktail includes
Digoxin to increase the heart's pumping action; diuretics, or water pills,
to help the body eliminate excess salt and water; ACE inhibitors to expand
blood vessels, allow blood to flow more easily, and make the heart work more
efficiently; and beta-blockers to improve the function of the heart's left
ventricle. Beta-blockers also block a natural stress hormone capable of
damaging the heart. Blocking this hormone gives the heart a chance to
recover and helps prevent continued injury ... Though 80% of people with
heart failure should be taking beta-blockers, Packer says that only 15-20%
are currently taking them"
-
Moderate drinking yields heart protection - USA Today, 4/17/01 -
"Compared with abstainers, light drinkers (under
seven drinks a week) were about 20% less likely to die and moderate drinkers
(seven or more drinks a week) were about 30% less likely to die"
-
Studies Suggest If You Have a Bum Ticker, a Little Drink May Not Hurt -
WebMD, 4/17/01
-
Hit 'em Hard and Fast: Statins Early After Heart Attack Improve Outcomes,
Save Lives, Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Work Even if Cholesterol Is Normal
- WebMD, 4/3/01 - "When given to patients with mild
heart attacks, the powerful cholesterol-lowering pill Lipitor not only
lowered their risk of dying from their disease, but also significantly
reduced the risk of future heart attacks and strokes"
- Toprol-XL (Metoprolol)
Extended Release Available In US For Heart Failure - Doctor's Guide,
4/3/01
-
Gene Therapy Grows New Blood Supply in Diseased Hearts - WebMD, 3/22/01
- "60 patients were infused with varying doses of
Ad5-FGF4, a drug created by putting DNA from fibroblast growth factor into a
type of cold virus called adenovirus. This genetic "drug" was then infused
into heart muscle by a catheter threaded deep into the heart. The idea, says
Cindy Grines, MD, lead investigator of the study, is to have the virus
infect the heart cells and then "turn into little factories that keep
producing copies of the growth factor""
-
Novel Pacemaker Resynchronizes Failing Hearts - WebMD, 3/20/01
- Chronic Angina And Heart
Failure Respond to Ranolazine - Doctor's Guide, 3/20/01
- Potential Benefit Found In
Using Ranolazine For Chronic Angina And Congestive Heart Failure -
Doctor's Guide, 3/19/01
-
Lowering Cholesterol Not Enough to Prevent Heart Disease in Young, Healthy
Living Must Begin Early to Prevent Ill Effects - WebMD, 3/19/01 -
"Young people who smoke, have high blood pressure,
or are overweight may already be developing the telltale signs of heart
disease -- even if their cholesterol levels are normal"
-
Study Backs Heart Attack Drug - Intelihealth, 3/19/01 -
"The heart drug
Plavix reduces
the risk of new heart attacks, strokes and death by 20 percent a year in
people being treated for mild heart attacks and bad chest pain"
-
Dr. Sidney Smith chats about heart disease - CNN, 2/27/01
-
Common Infections May Raise Risk Of Hardening Of The Arteries -
Intelihealth, 2/27/01 - "diseases of the heart and
circulatory system are more common in people with chronic bacterial
infections, such as gum disease, sinus infections, bronchitis and urinary
tract infections. The research found that such chronic infections might
triple the risk of atherosclerosis, the build-up of clogging deposits in the
arteries."
-
Death Rates From Heart Disease Still High - WebMD, 2/15/01 -
"heart disease is still the No. 1 killer . . .
"Why? "People are making minimal changes in preventive behaviors""
-
Low-Fat Diets Safe, Beneficial For Kids With High Cholesterol: Study -
Intelihealth, 2/5/01
-
Radiation cuts risk of arteries reclogging - USA Today, 1/24/01
-
Radiation Cuts Risk Of Arteries Reclogging After Blockage Is Cleared -
Intelihealth, 1/24/01
-
Quick Drug Use Improves Heart Attack Survival Chances - Intelihealth,
1/23/01 - "In the study of 19,599 patients, those
given statins at or before their release from the hospital were about 25
percent less likely to die within a year than those who did not receive the
drugs."
-
Sleep-Related Breathing Problems Linked to Heart Disease - WebMD,
1/19/01
-
Feel-Good Club Drug Bad for the Heart, Ecstasy Use May Increase Risk of
Heart Attack - WebMD, 12/18/00
- A Shot in the Arm
for Heart Protection? Flu Vaccine May Protect Against Second Heart Attacks
-- Here's Why - WebMD, 12/18/00
-
Taking Statins Earlier May Reduce Risk of Heart Attack and Death -
WebMD, 11/15/00
- Laser Surgery Halts Chest
Pain Over The Long-Term - Doctor's Guide, 11/15/00
-
High-Tech Healing for the Heart - WebMD, 11/15/00
-
Heart Health of U.S. Women Alarmingly Poor - WebMD, 11/14/00
-
Inflammation appears to do a number on human heart - CNN, 11/13/00 -
"For now, though, doctors at Mount Sinai Medical
Center said they were fairly certain that one cause of inflammation is high
cholesterol -- and that cholesterol-fighting drugs called 'statins' tend to
help."
-
FDA approves treatment for narrowing arteries - CNN, 11/7/00
-
Studies find more heart disease, infection links - CNN, 11/7/00
-
Too Much Iron May Lead to Heart Attack - WebMD, 10/25/00
-
Salt Sensitivity Increases Heart Disease Death Risk - WebMD, 10/25/00
-
Depressed? You May Be More Likely to Develop Heart Disease - WebMD,
10/9/00
-
Researchers Find Heart Rate Worth a Thousand Words, Simple Test Tells Even
Healthy People Their Heart Disease Risk - WebMD, 9/19/00
-
Medication Shows Promise for Treating Severe Heart Failure - WebMD,
9/11/00
-
Health Focus: Homocysteine: How Important? - Intelihealth, 6/7/00
-
Smog May Induce Heart Attacks - Intelihealth, 6/6/00
-
Study Bolsters Link Between Calcium Deposits And Heart Disease -
Intelihealth, 6/6/00
-
Study Finds Link Between Hostility, Heart Disease In Young Adults -
Intelihealth, 5/17/00
-
Study links hostility in young adults with heart disease - CNN, 5/16/00
-
Depressed Men Face Heart Risks - Intelihealth, 5/8/00
-
Irritability, Dominance Linked To Coronary Heart Disease in Men -
Doctor's Guide, 3/23/00
-
New blood test may be best predictor of heart attack - CNN, 3/22/00
- Major Heart Failure Trial
Stopped Due To Life Saving Benefit Of Coreg (Carvedilol) - Doctor's
Guide, 3/21/00
- Plavix (Clopidogrel)
Superior To Aspirin For Preventing Acute Coronary Events - Doctor's
Guide, 3/16/00
- Nicostatin
(Niacin/Lovastatin) Reduces Cholesterol, Triglyceride Levels - Doctor's
Guide, 3/16/00
- Zocor (Simvastatin)
Increases HDL And apo A-I More Than Lipitor (Atorvastatin)
- Doctor's Guide, 3/15/00
-
Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Prevent Deaths After Threatened Or Actual Heart
Attack - Doctor's Guide, 3/14/00
-
Aspirin Greatly Underused By People With Heart Disease - Intelihealth,
3/14/00
- Aspirin Use Low In
Patients With Coronary Artery Disease - Doctor's Guide, 3/14/00
-
Gemfibrozil-Niacin Combination Greatly Increases Good Cholesterol -
Doctor's Guide, 3/10/00
- More Efficient Blood
Pressure Treatment Would Cut Heart Disease By Two-Thirds
- Doctor's Guide, 3/10/00
- Cholesterol Levels Not
Always Indicative Of Cardiac Health, Study Shows - Doctor's Guide,
3/3/00
- TMR With CABG Improves
Survival In Patients With Advanced Artery Disease - Doctor's Guide,
3/3/00
-
Study Links Baldness, Heart Problem - Intelihealth, 1/24/00
-
Preventative measures best weapon against heart disease and stroke -
CNN, 11/30/99
- Multiple Approach - A
Better Way To Treat Heart Attacks? - Doctor's Guide, 11/9/99
- Good Cholesterol (HDL) May
Help In Bypass Surgery - Doctor's Guide, 11/8/99
- Baycol Effects Impressive
LDL-C Reductions In Women - Doctor's Guide, 10/29/99
- Elevated Cholesterol
Linked To Pre-eclampsia - Doctor's Guide, 9/30/99
-
What's your cholesterol IQ? - CNN, 9/1/99
- Gemfibrozil Prevents Heart
Disease And Stroke In Patients With Low HDL
- Doctor's Guide, 8/5/99
-
In Breakthrough, Scientists Find Gene For "Good" Cholesterol
- Intelihealth, 8/3/99
- ReoPro Dramatically
Reduces Risk Of Heart Attack Or Death
- Doctor's Guide, 7/29/99
-
Study suggests inexpensive drug cuts heart-failure deaths by one-third
- CNN, 7/19/99
-
Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Provide Double Protection Against Heart Disease
- Doctor's Guide, 7/12/99
- Lipitor More Effective
Than Zocor And Baycol For Lowering Cholesterol - Doctor's Guide, 5/27/99
- New Risk Factors In
Cardiovascular Disease -- Pulse Pressure - Doctor's Guide, 5/25/99
-
Study Finds "New" Cholesterol (Homocysteine) Is Key To Heart Disease -
Intelihealth, 5/19/99
-
Heart disease top killer of women - CNN, 5/10/99
-
Congestive Heart Failure On Rise In U.S. - Intelihealth, 5/4/99
- Zocor and Lipitor May Have
Different Effects on Lipids, Including HDL - Doctor's Guide, 3/9/99
-
Can Your Cholesterol Be Too Low? - Intelihealth, 2/8/99
- American Heart Association
Recommends Homocysteine Testing In High-Risk Patients
- Doctor's Guide, 1/5/99
- Raising HDL Cholesterol
Reduces Incidence Of Coronary Events - Doctor's Guide, 11/12/98
-
A randomized trial of the effects of atorvastatin and niacin in patients
with combined hyperlipidemia or isolated hypertriglyceridemia - Am J
Med. 1998 Feb;104(2):137-43
-
Dose-response characteristics of cholesterol-lowering drug therapies:
implications for treatment - Ann Intern Med. 1996 Dec
15;125(12):990-1000
|
|
