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Low dietary fiber intake linked to increased cardiovascular risk

Submitted by Fiona McPherson on

Data from the very large U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), involving 23,168 people, has found a significant association between low dietary fiber intake and risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular inflammation, and obesity.

Dietary fiber intake was also consistently below recommended intake levels: 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. Mean dietary fiber intake was only 16.2g per day across all groups.

Diet success may depend on your DNA

An animal study comparing five diets shows that one diet really doesn't fit everyone, and what works for some may not be best for others.

There were four groups of genetically (almost-)identical animals, with genetic differences between any two of the groups translating to roughly the same as those of two unrelated people. The test diets included: an American-style diet (higher in fat and refined carbs, especially corn); Mediterranean (with wheat and red wine extract); Japanese (with rice and green tea extract); and ketogenic, or Atkins-like (high in fat and protein with very few carbs). The fifth diet was the control group.

One of the four genetic types did very poorly when eating the Japanese-like diet, developing signs of liver damage. Two types did well on the Atkins-like diet, but two did very badly (one became very obese, while the other became 'skinny-fat' — apparently a healthy weight but with a high percentage of body fat.

Two types became very obese, with signs of metabolic syndrome, on the American-style diet, while the other two were less negatively affected. With the Mediterranean diet, some groups were healthy, while others experienced some weight gain.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-11/tau-dsm113017.php

Barrington, W. T., Wulfridge, P., Wells, A. E., Rojas, C. M., Howe, S. Y. F., Perry, A., … Threadgill, D. W. (2018). Improving Metabolic Health Through Precision Dietetics in Mice. Genetics, 208(1), 399-417. Retrieved from https://www.genetics.org/content/208/1/399

Why dark chocolate is good for your heart

Submitted by Fiona McPherson on

A study involving 44 middle-aged overweight men who consumed 70 grams of dark chocolate per day over two periods of four weeks, has found that dark chocolate helps restore flexibility to arteries while also preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels. Both arterial stiffness and white blood cell adhesion are known factors that play a significant role in atherosclerosis.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-02/foas-wdc022714.php

Mediterranean diet may lower risk of diabetes

Submitted by Fiona McPherson on

A review of 19 studies involving over 162,000 people has found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 21% reduced risk of diabetes, with a greater effect (27%) for those at high risk for cardiovascular disease. The association was found in both European and non-European groups.

The research was presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-03/acoc-mdm032614.php

Eating blueberries every day improves heart health

A six-month study involving 138 overweight and obese older adults (50-75) with Metabolic Syndrome found that eating one cup of blueberries per day resulted in sustained improvements in vascular function and arterial stiffness, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by 12-15%. There was no benefit of a smaller 75 gram (half cup) daily intake of blueberries.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-05/uoea-ebe053019.php

Curtis, P. J., van der Velpen, V., Berends, L., Jennings, A., Feelisch, M., Umpleby, M., … Cassidy, A. (2019). Blueberries improve biomarkers of cardiometabolic function in participants with metabolic syndrome—results from a 6-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 109(6), 1535-1545. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/109/6/1535/5499342

Calcium and vitamin D improve cholesterol in postmenopausal women

Submitted by Fiona McPherson on

A new study from the Women's Health Initiative has found that calcium and vitamin D supplements after menopause can improve women's cholesterol profiles, with much of that effect tied to raising vitamin D levels. Taking the calcium and vitamin D supplements was especially helpful in raising vitamin D levels in women who were older, women who had a low intake, women who had levels first measured in the winter, and women who didn’t smoke and who drank less alcohol.

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