PREVIOUS ISSUES
TOP NUTRITION NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 1, NO 3, MARCH 1998
Editorial
This is the third edition of TOP NUTRITION NEWSLETTER in 1998. The March 1998 Edition is devoted to several interesting issues in nutrients and factors related in cardiovascular heart disease.
Although several factors are related to the aetiology of cardiovascular heart disease which is still the second highest cause of death in Thailand after injury and accidents, the most interesting subject is the garlic capsules and powder consumption in United States. Garlic related products are still the highest sales in OTC health and drug stores. Several mechanism of actions have been explored in the past but the delay of aorta stiffening is the first study. Protective effect of chronic garlic intake (at least 2 years) attentuated age-related increase in aortic stiffness.
The 11 year follow-up study on U.S. male physicians on incidence of sudden cardiac death and the relation to fish intake is the reliable prospective cohort study. The editorial of JAMA 1998;279:65-66 suggested to consume 2 fish servings per week for patients with cardiac disease. What about the healthy adult? Although statistical significance has not reached, it was indicated that a reduction in risk was correlated with n-3 fatty acid content in fish.
Regulatory authorities could not easily approve the claims of antioxidant vitamins and are reviewing several evidences to support the benefits in health. The effect of antioxidant vitamins like C and E may act to restore endothelial nitric oxide. This study in 20 healthy volunteers were fed a high-fat meal, low-fat meal, and high-fat meal plus vitamins C (1g) and E (800IU). Reduced endothelial function after high-fat meal appears to be blocked by pretreatment with antioxidant vitamins.
Two studies from Harvard University involved 127,000 health professionals indicated that vitamin E supplement and not vitamin C were associated with reduction in risks of CHD. This is the review of articles from 1993 New England Journal of Medicine which should closely be analyzed. Vitamin E and the risk of coronary artery disease.......hope more evidences will be coming.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors enjoyed high volume sales in developed and developing countries due to high incidence of hypercholesterolemia. More cases of liver dysfunction were reported due to chronic consumption. Physicians are finding hard to substitute with antilipemic diet or nutrients due to patients compliance. Lipid-lowering effects of red yeast rice (Current Therapeutic Research 1997;58(12):964-78) is an interesting article to review and find the way to avoid expensive drug intake.
This is a simple calculation that to lower the fat intake, you must increase protein or carbohydrate intake. Increasing consumption of a starchy food to reduce fat intake provides practical proof against weight gain and present thinking advocates low-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diets for the treatment of obesity.
Best regards
Dr Shwe Win
Editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Can garlic delay stiffening of the
aorta?
More evidence for heart-healthy
fish
What is the potential of
antioxidant vitamins to prevent atherosclerosis?
Vitamin E and the risk of coronary
artery disease
Lipid-lowering effects of red
yeast rice
Dietary fat reduction achieved by
increasing consumption of a starchy food - an intervention study