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Oats, vitamin E open arteries after fatty meal
A side dish of oatmeal
or an appetizer of vitamin E may help prevent some of the damage
to arteries caused by fatty foods and may lower heart disease
risk, researchers suggest.
A new study found that a bowl of oatmeal or 800 international units (IUs)
of vitamin E helped maintain blood flow in the arteries of
individuals who had just consumed high levels of fat. Fat has
been shown to cause arteries to constrict, thereby reducing
blood flow and raising the risk of heart disease.
"Our work...suggests
that a high-fat meal impairs blood vessel function," Dr. David
Katz, the study's lead author, told Reuters Health. "We now also
know that eating oats can help protect blood vessels from the
adverse effects of fat ingestion." He added that follow-up
studies should confirm the effects of oats in people at risk of
heart disease.
In the study,
published in a recent issue of the American Journal of
Preventive Medicine, 50 nonsmoking adults with no signs of heart
disease drank a milkshake made of ice cream, cream of coconut
and eggs, on three separate occasions. Study participants also
consumed a bowl of oatmeal, wheat cereal or a vitamin E capsule
along with the milkshake.
Ultrasound testing revealed that blood flow declined by more than 13% when adults consumed wheat cereal with the milkshake--indicating arteries were constricted. However, there was no decline when they ate oatmeal or took a vitamin E supplement, which indicates arteries were kept open.
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In
This Issue...
News...
Oats, vitamin E open arteries after fatty meal |
1 |
Personal Stories...
Stories from the Heart |
2 |
Research...
Study: Fish oil lowers heart disease death rate |
3 |
FAQ...
Questions & Answers |
4 |
Nutrition Guide...
Does Your Diet Match Your Gender? |
5 |
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"People, especially those
at risk for heart disease, should certainly consider both
restricting intake of saturated fat and including oats in their diet
on a regular basis," said Katz, from Yale University in New Haven,
Connecticut, in a prepared statement.
Vitamin E is an
antioxidant, which can help the body reduce damage caused by free
radicals. These reactive compounds can lead to chronic disease and
other effects of aging. Free radicals help neutralize these
cell-damaging compounds, Katz explained.
Soluble fiber, which is also found in apples and dried beans, has already been shown to lower LDL
("bad") cholesterol, thereby lowering heart disease risk. It may
also slow the absorption of fat in the bloodstream, the study
reveals.
The study was funded by Quaker Oats. |
The
Team