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Writer makes an interesting association between milk carbohydrates (and

sugar) and CVD.

 

Diet-induced Folate Deficiency 23 November 2002

 

Bill D. Misner, R & D

E-CAPS Inc. Spokane, Wa. USA 99205

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It would appear that an the association between the C677T polymorphism of

methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and deep vein thrombosis may

present a predisposition to Homocysteine-related cardiovascular disease.

Grant emphasized dietary links to ischemic heart disease (IHD) and coronary

heart disease (CHD) mortality from a correlation from for various age groups

aged 35+. His paper presented a multi-country statistical approach involving

32 countries suggesting dietary links to IHD and CHD. For IHD, milk

carbohydrates were found to have the highest statistical association for

males aged 35+ and females aged 65+, while for females aged 35-64, sugar was

found to have the highest association. In the case of CHD, non-fat milk was

found to have the highest association for males aged 45+ and females aged

75+, while for females 65-74, milk carbohydrates and sugar had the highest

associations, and for females aged 45-64, sugar had the highest association.

A number of mechanisms proposed in the literature to explain the milk

carbohydrate or non-fat milk association. One of the most prominent theories

is that animal proteins contribute to homocysteine (Hcy) production; however,

milk more than meat lacks adequate B vitamins to convert Hcy to useful

products. Lactose and calcium in conjunction with Hcy from consumption of

non-fat milk may also contribute to calcification of the arteries [1].

Homocysteine Hcy plays an important role in the etiology of heart disease

through its role in the development of atherosclerosis. Hcy is derived from

the amino acid methionine, more common in animal proteins than in vegetable

proteins, and can be converted back to methionine with the help of folic acid

and vitamin B12. It can also be eliminated from the body through the action

of vitamin B6. Those who have elevated levels of Hcy are generally found to

be deficient in the B vitamins [2, 3, 4], which can be overcome by vitamin

supplementation [5, 6, 7, 8]. When dietary vitamin deficiency is factored

along side of genetic predisposition, the significance may hypothetically far

exceed the presented of " highly significant [9] " value. Preventative medicine

supports folate supplementation for reducing the dietary and genetic

influences on cardiovascular disease.

References

[1]-Milk and Other Dietary Influences on Coronary Heart Disease, W. B.

Grant, Ph.D. In Altern Med Rev 1998;3(4):281-294.

[2] Ubbink JB, Vermaak WJH, van der Merwe A, Becker PJ. Vitamin B-12,

vitamin B-6, and folate nutritional status in men with hyperhomocysteinemia.

Am J Clin Nutr 1993;57:47-53.

[3] McCully KS. Homocysteine, folate, vitamin B6, and cardiovascular

disease. JAMA 1998;279:392-393.

[4] Rimm EB, Willett WC, Hu FB, et al. Folate and vitamin B6 from diet and

supplements in relation to risk of coronary heart disease among women. JAMA

1998;279:359-364.

[5] Barber GW, Spaeth GL. The successful treatment of homocystinuria with

pyridoxine. J Pediatrics 1969;463:463-478.

[6] Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PWF, et al. Vitamin status and intake as

primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA

1993;270:2693-2698.

[7] Ubbink JB, Vermaak WJH, van der Merwe A, et al. Vitamin requirements for

the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in humans. J Nutr 1994;124:1927-1933.

[8] Ubbink JB, Becker PJ, Vermaak WJH, Delport R. Results of B- vitamin

supplementation study used in a prediction model to define a reference range

for plasma homocysteine. Clin Chem 1995;41:1033-1037.

[9] Wald DS, Law M, Morris JK. Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease:

evidence on causality from a meta-analysis. BMJ 2002; 325: 1202- 6.

Bill Misner Ph.D. C.S.M.T. Director R & D E-CAPS Inc.

Competing interests:   The author declares competing interests in exogenous

supplements industry.