Guest guest Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Soothing the Burning Heart Oct 17, 2005 12:26 PDT Inflammation and Heart Disease " Soothing " the Burning Heart Doctors increasingly consider inflammation as the cause of heart disease. Here's why – and what you can do about it… http://www.willner.com/article.aspx?artid=33 ©2004 By Jack Challem Over just the past several years, researchers and physicians have been redefining the cause of coronary artery (heart) disease. The old view was that high-fat diets led to cholesterol deposits in arteries, choking off the blood supply and eventually causing a heart attack. The new view is that heart disease begins as an inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels, with cholesterol-laden lesions forming after the initial damage to arteries. This is a fundamentally different way of explaining the leading cause of death among Americans. Some 60 million people have coronary heart disease, resulting in approximately 725,000 deaths each year. As you might imagine, new thinking on the cause heart disease leads to different strategies for prevention. LDL Cholesterol and Inflammation About 15 years ago, researchers began piecing together exactly how the " bad " low-density lipoprotein (LDL) form of cholesterol was related to inflammation and heart disease. In a series of human and cell studies, Ishwarlal " Kenny " Jialal, M.D., then with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, discovered that normal LDL did not promote heart disease. LDL caused heart disease only when it became " oxidized, " or damaged by harmful molecules known as free radicals. Jialal's studies found that the immune system responded to oxidized LDL much the way it did to bacteria. White blood cells would attack and engulf " globules " of oxidized LDL, but they would ignore normal LDL. After capturing oxidized LDL, the white blood cells would then become lodged in the walls of arteries, creating the initial lesions that most people call " cholesterol deposits. " Jialal also found that vitamin E, an antioxidant, prevented LDL oxidation and reduced the activity of white blood cells against LDL. C-Reactive Protein and Inflammation Still, it was not until 2000 that the role of inflammation in heart disease gained momentum. Paul Ridker, M.D., of the Harvard Medical School, developed a new blood test, known as high-sensitivity C- reactive protein (CRP), to measure inflammation. He reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that people with elevated blood levels of CRP were four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, compared with people who had normal CRP levels.1 CRP is both an indicator and a promoter of inflammation. It is part of a family of molecules called " cytokines " , which cells use to communicate with each other. CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and many other cytokines tell immune cells to mount an inflammatory response. Other types of cytokines let cells know when it is time to reduce inflammation. Some researchers believe that inflammation, stimulated in part by CRP and white blood cells, directly damages blood vessel walls. Another view is that inflammation " destabilizes " cholesterol deposits, prompting them to break apart and block a blood vessel. A Pro-Inflammatory Diet Although the research points to a strong cause-and-effect relationship between inflammation and heart disease, a crucial question remains: What causes this chronic inflammation? The answer may lie in our eating habits. Two of the body's principal arbiters of inflammation are the omega-6 and omega-3 families of fats, and the building blocks of these fats are found in foods. The omega-6 family of fats generally promotes inflammation, whereas the omega-3 family reduces inflammation. Ancient human diets contained relatively equal portions of these fats. However, modern processed foods—convenience foods and fast foods— have tilted this ratio to about 30:1 in favor of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats. These fats are found in common cooking oils (such as corn, safflower, peanut, and soybean oils), as well as in salad dressings and mayonnaise, potato chips, fries, bread and other baked goods. Many of these foods also contain trans fats, which interfere with the body's " processing " of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. Furthermore, research by Simin Liu, M.D., Sc.D., of the Harvard Medical School, has shown that sugars, refined carbohydrates and other high-glycemic foods (such as potatoes) increase CRP levels. Diets high in sugars and refined starches also displace more nutritious antioxidant-rich vegetables, which can reduce LDL oxidation and CRP levels. Adopting an Anti-Inflammatory Diet To restore a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory fats, it is important to emphasize coldwater fish (such as alaskan salmon, fresh tuna, and herring), which contain substantial amounts of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. Chicken and beef from free-range (not grain fed) animals also have large amounts of omega-3 fats with relatively small amounts of saturated fat. In addition, opt for cooking oils that contain large amounts of anti-inflammatory omega-9 fats. These oils include extra-virgin olive oil and macadamia nut oil. Also, eat nonstarchy vegetables (such as salads, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans) and nonstarchy fruits (such as blueberries, raspberries, and kiwi). These foods are rich in antioxidants, which curtail inflammation. Meanwhile, reduce your consumption of foods with sugars and refined starches, and avoid all foods with trans fats (found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils). Taking Anti-Inflammatory Supplements Several supplements have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and, not surprisingly, have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease. • Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been used since the 1940s to prevent and treat heart disease. Several clinical studies have found that natural-source vitamin E can lower CRP levels by 30 to 50 percent.4,5 Its anti-inflammatory effect has also been corroborated in two studies of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.6,7 Try 400 IU daily. • Fish oil supplements. Fish oil supplements provide a concentrated source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. These fats reduce the risk of blood clots and heart-rhythm abnormalities. Try 1,000 to 3,000 mg daily. • Other antioxidants. Vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, mixed carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene), and flavonoids (such as Pycnogenol and grape-seed extract) may also reduce inflammation and CRP levels. Finally, you can reduce CRP levels by losing weight. Fat cells, particularly those that form around the belly, produce their own CRP—which may be why obesity is a risk factor for heart disease. Jack Challem is the author of The Inflammation Syndrome (John Wiley & Sons, 2003). This article was originally published in GreatLife magazine and is reprinted with permission of the author. © Jack Challem. For additional information, visit www.inflammationsyndrome.com References: 1. Ridker PM, Hennekens CH, Buring JE, et al. C-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation in the prediction of cardiovascular disease in women. New England Journal of Medicine, 2000;342: 836- 843. 2. Buffon A, Biasucci LM, Liuzzo G, et al. Widespread coronary inflammation in unstable angina. New England Journal of Medicine, 2002;347:5-12. 2. Liu S, Manson JE, Buring HE, et al. Relation between a diet with a high glycemic load and plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in middle-aged women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2002;75:492-498. 4. Upritchard JE, Sutherland WHF, Mann JI. Effect of supplementation with tomato juice, vitamin E, and vitamin C on LDL oxidation and products of inflammatory activity in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2000, 23:733-738. 5. Devaraj S, Jialal I. Alpha tocopherol supplementation decreases serum C-reactive protein and monocyte interleukin-6 levels in normal volunteers and type 2 diabetic patients. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2000; 29:790-792. 6. Edmonds SE, Yinyard PG, Guo R, et al. Putative analgesic activity of repeated oral doses of vitamin E in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Results of a prospective placebo controlled double blind trial. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 1997;56:649-655. 7. Helmy M, Shohayeb M, Helmy MH, et al. Antioxidants as adjuvant therapy in rheumatoid disease—a preliminary study. Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research, 2001;51:293-298. 8. Dwyer JH, Allayee H, Dwyer KM, et al. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase promoter genotype, dietary arachidonic acid, and atherosclerosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 2004;350:29-37. 9. Ernst E, Saradeth T, Achhammer G. n-3 fatty acids and acute-phase proteins. European Journal of Clinical Investigatio Disclaimer The information provided on this site, or linked sites, is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. Product information contained herein has not necessarily been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. _________________ JoAnn Guest mrsjo- www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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