The Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil, and whole grains, has been shown to prevent heart disease, cancer, obesity, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Heart-healthy nutrients in the Mediterranean diet include fish oils (EPA and DHA), oleic acid (from olive oil), folic acid, and vitamins A, B-6, D, and E. Now research reports that supplementation with these nutrients can lower heart disease risk factors in heart attack patients.
The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, investigated the effectiveness of heart-healthy nutrients on risk factors in heart attack patients following a cardiac rehabilitation program. Researchers in Granada, Spain, administered either 500 mL of semi-skimmed milk fortified with EPA, DHA, oleic acid, folic acid, and vitamins A, B-6, D, and E or semi-skimmed milk fortified with vitamins A and D, to 40 heart attack patients. The participants received exercise classes, lifestyle and nutritional recommendations at a cardiac rehabilitation unit. Blood samples analyzed for heart disease risk factors were obtained from the participants at the beginning of the study and every three months for one year
The researchers found that heart disease risk factors including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apoliprotein B and C-reactive protein were decreased in the EPA-fortified milk group. Serum homocysteine (a heart disease risk factor) levels were decreased in both groups. Findings also revealed that heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac electrocardiographic measurements remained unchanged in both groups.
"Therapeutic lifestyle changes, effected through a cardiac rehabilitation program comprising regular exercise and the intake of a combination of dietary nutrients, reduced a variety of risk factors in myocardial infarction patients, which supports the rationale for nutritional programs in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease," the study authors write.
REFERENCES:
1. Carrero JJ et al. Intake of fish oil, oleic Acid, folic Acid, and vitamins B-6 and e for 1 year decreases plasma C-reactive protein and reduces coronary heart disease risk factors in male patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program. J Nutr 2007 Feb;137(2):384-90.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on February 12, 2007 03:18 PM
