|
|
|
Welcome to the Quality Counts. For those health conscious consumers and medical professionals that are looking to purchase nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbs, learning about medications, losing weight, health food, low carbs, high protein nutrition, and exercise, you have come to the right place. Quality Counts serves both the medical practitioner and consumer interested in nutritional therapy and alternative medicine.
Home >
Health Conditions > Heart Disease
Heart Disease
Related Topics:
Popular Supplements:
Alternative News:
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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
Pine Bark/Pycnogenol products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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 Jarrow Formulas, Ubiquinol QH-Absorb, 100 mg, 60 Softgels at iHerb
.
-
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 Juice Extracts at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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
Jarrow Green Tea
extract at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb.

-
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
Pine Bark/Pycnogenol products at iHerb
and
Jarrow Ubiquinol at iHerb.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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 products at iHerb.
-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 extracts at iHerb.
-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb
,
Mega Twin EPA at iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb ,
Jarrow Formulas, CarotenALL, Mixed Carotenoid Complex, 60 Softgels
at iHerb ,
Green tea products at iHerb
and
Jarrow FamilE (contains all eight members of the vitamin E family, includes Tocomin) at iHerb .
-
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
Jarrow Ubiquinol at iHerb
.
-
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
OPC + 95 products at iHerb
and
resveratrol products at iHerb.
-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb.

-
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 iHerb.

-
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 iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Formulas, Magnesium Optimizer Citrate, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb.

-
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 iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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
Jarrow Formulas, Magnesium Optimizer Citrate, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets at iHerb.

-
'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 products at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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
Jarrow Formulas, Arginine 1000, 1000 mg, 100 Easy-Solv Tablets
at iHerb.

-
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
Jarrow Formulas, Cran Clearance, 680 mg, 100 Capsules at iHerb.

-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb.

-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb.
-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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
Twinlab niacin 1000mg at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 products at iHerb.

-
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 (for men), Promensil (for women) at iHerb.

-
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
Jarrow Formulas, Cran Clearance, 680 mg, 100 Capsules at iHerb
and
OPC + 95 products at iHerb.
-
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
Jarrow Formulas, Cran Clearance, 680 mg, 100 Capsules at iHerb
and
OPC + 95 products at iHerb.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb
and
glucosamine products at iHerb .
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Twinlab niacin 1000mg at iHerb
.
-
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
Twinlab niacin 1000mg at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea extract at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea extract at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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
OPC + 95 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 extracts at iHerb
and
bilberry products at iHerb .
-
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
CLA products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
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/turmeric products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Twinlab niacin 1000mg at iHerb
(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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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
coenzyme Q10 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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
OPC + 95 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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) at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea extract at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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) at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Ubiquinol at iHerb
.
-
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
OPC + 95 products at iHerb
.
-
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
OPC + 95 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Ubiquinol at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow green tea at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
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 iHerb
and
Jarrow Max DHA at iHerb .
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/turmeric products at iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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
I3C products at iHerb
.
-
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
Doctor's Best, Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid Na-RALA
at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Jarrow Resveratrol 100 at iHerb
.
-
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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
iHerb
.
-
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 iHerb
.
-
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
iHerb
.
-
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
iHerb
.
-
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
iHerb
or
Vitacost
grape seed extracts.
-
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
Vitacost
or
iHerb .
-
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
iHerb
or
Vitacost
green tea products.
-
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
Vitacost
or
iHerb .
-
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
Drugstore.com aspirin products
.
-
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
iHerb
or
Vitacost
DHEA products.
-
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
iHerb
or
Vitacost
folic acid products.
-
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
iHerb
or
Vitacost
folic acid products.
-
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
Vitacost
or
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
and
Vitacost
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
iHerb
or
Vitacost
green tea products.
- 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"
-
Vitamins C, E May Prevent Artery Damage
- Vitacost, 9/11/02
- 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
iHerb
and
Vitacost
CLA products.
- 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.""
-
Orange Juice Improves Hypercholesterolemic Blood Lipids - Doctor's
Guide, 11/9/00
-
Study Says Vitamin C Helps Prevent Strokes - Intelihealth, 10/27/00
- Vitamin E
Reduces Levels Of Protein That Predicts Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide,
10/24/00
-
Folic Acid and the Heart Turning Into Fast Friends - WebMD, 8/31/00
-
Hawthorn: Old Reliable for the Heart - Nutrition Science News, 8/00
-
For Reducing Heart Disease Risk, Fish Oil Isn't Snake Oil - WebMD,
8/8/00
-
3 B's Block Cardiovascular Disease - Nutrition Science News, 7/00
-
How CoQ10 Protects Your Cardiovascular System - Life Extension Magazine,
4/00
-
Hearts & Bones: Calcium's Many Applications - Nutrition Science News,
2/00
-
Chocolate: A heart-healthy confection?
- CNN, 2/2/00
-
Ginkgo biloba, a potential to treat heart disease
- CNN, 8/6/99
-
Fiber may reduce women's risk of heart disease - CNN, 6/1/99
-
Low-fat diet,
not wine, fights heart disease in France - CNN, 5/28/99
-
Sidestep Heart Disease -
Nutrition Science News, 3/99
-
Prolonged treatment with slow release nicotinic acid in patients with type
II hyperlipidemia - Pol Arch Med Wewn. 1997 Nov;98(11):391-9
-
The effect of long-term Enduracin monotherapy on the clinical and
biochemical status of patients with ischemic heart disease - Ter Arkh.
1997;69(9):41-5
-
A comparison of the efficacy and toxic effects of sustained- vs
immediate-release niacin in hypercholesterolemic patients - JAMA. 1994
Mar 2;271(9):672-7
CME/CEM:
Videos:
General Information:
Other News:
-
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
OffshoreRX.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
OffshoreRX.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 OffshoreRX.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 OffshoreRX.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 products at iHerb
.
-
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
Related Searches:
70811
|