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Cholesterol effect of soybeans from plant sterols A USDA study using a lowfat soy sterol extract has found that while a lowfat diet can reduce plasma cholesterol by around 7.3 - 8.5 percent, adding soybean sterols increased the effect to 14.1 - 18.2 percent. The level of sterol was around 2.2g per day, much greater than is provided by the usual intake of vegetable oils which might provide around 0.25g/d. There was no group with the sterols with a higher fat diet, such as one rich in mono- and polyunsaturates. It would be important to discover this because a diet with a near normal fat content, say 30 percent of energy now recommended by the US new draft Dietary Guidelines, is much easier to achieve than a lowfat diet which can be unpalatable. Percentage reduction in Total chol LDL TG Lowfat, no sterol 14.1 18.2 16.2 Lowfat, + sterol 7.3 8.4 7.3 Source: Judd J, Baer D, Clevidence B, Chen S and Meijer GW: Effect of dietary sterol esters in salad dressings on blood lipids, lipoproteins and carotenoids. Does a diet rich in vegetables fruit and cereals help prevent colon cancer? More exercise needed in weight control A study by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has found that only one-fifth of overweight people in the USA have activity levels which meet recommended levels. This is based on data from almost 73000 people in a 1998 survey. Only about half of these overweight obese people said they were actively trying to lose weight, depressing in itself. But although 63 percent said they engaged in exercise for at least 30 minutes, only 28 percent did so on at least five days a week, whereas they should do it almost every day. Walking was the most common form of exercise, much more than jogging, weightlifting, golfing, aerobics, or gardening (see graphic). It is clear that increased exercise is desperately needed as a national goal. And not just in the USA. Source: Morbid Mortal weekly Rep 2000;49:326-329. Gerald Reaven has been a significant contributor to our understanding of this complex of insulin resistance with obesity, atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension and hyperuricemia, but he was not the first to observe the relationship. Away back in 1956, Jean Vague in a little-noticed paper first described the syndrome, but it was neglected as he published in a fairly new journal, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Others contributing have included New Zealand's Ian Prior during his studies of the Pacific peoples, who are at high risk. Perhaps that is why the experssion "Reaven's syndrome" has never caught on. Now Reaven, of Stanford University, is promoting a book he has written which describes the condition and promotes a predictable six-step program to mitigate its effects. Clearly the underlying genetic factors cannot be altered. He recommends: 1. Six routine tests and a self-assessment program to evaluate risk. 2. The diet which is 15% energy from protein, 40 percent from fat (mainly monounsaturated, low in saturates), and 45% from carbohydrate. By having a moderate carbohydrate level he expects to reduce insulin levels, loew high plasma triglyeride, and increase HDL levels. 3. Weight loss: there are menu plans at three levels, 1200, 1500 and 1800 calories. 4. Physical activity. Exercise guidelines and workouts are given. 5. Alcohol only in moderation and smoking cessation. 6. Medical intervention: drugs that may be necessary. You may say there is nothing new here, and you would be right. But no doubt it will be hailed as the latest breakthrough. The book however is a modest US$25. Source: ShamanBotanicals. Fish oil may prevent preterm delivery Danish studies of around 100 women with a history of complicated pregnancy have found that fish oil supplements, when compared to olive oil controls, while not reducing the risk of maternal hypertension or poor fetal growth, reduced the prevalence of preterm delivery from 33 percent to 21 percent. The benefit was not found with twin pregnancies however. The rate of intracranial haemorrhage was 7 infants in the fish oil group and 3 in the control group. Since the likely beneficial effect might be due to omega-3 fatty acids modifying prostaglandin balance, the might also increase the risk of bleeding, an established effect of omega-3. However small for dates preterm infants are prone to such haemorrhage anyway, so more work is needed before we can be sure the intervention is overall beneficial. Source: Olsen SF et al: Brit J Obstet Gynaecol 2000; 107:382-395. High-intensity exercise can stunt your growth Studies in California have found that young bodybuilders, wrestlers, and frantic exercisers can produce an anaerobic state which will reduce growth. The study has established this is due to suppression of growth hormone release. The effect seems to be mainly with very high-intensity, unpaced exercise, and the same amount of exercise over a longer period with breaks will minimise the effect. This is confirmed by finding that such teens may be more muscular but they tend to have shorter stature. Source: Kleinman M and Cooper D: paper at FASEB 2000. Defatted cocoa good antioxidant Studies with defatted cocoa show that rabbit arteries are protected from the evil effects of cholesterol. The rabbit is especially prone to atherosclerosis on certain diets. Unfortunately the cocoa used was not the high-fat form found in chocolate and drinking cocoa. It does show that the flavonoids present in cocoa, which re often removed in processing, have beneficial effects, presumably by reducing cholesterol oxidation. Modification of traditional cocoa or chocolate may permit the benefit to be exploited. Source: Kappagoda T: Paper at FASEB 2000. Calcium benefit ceases when supplements stop It is now conventional to recommend that young people especially have a high calcium diet to maximise bone strength and avoid the later ravages of bone loss and osteoporosis. But new studies find that the benefit of high calcium intake only remains while the level of intake is maintained. First of around 300 men and women over 65 years, a three year calcium supplement regimen did produce increased bone density, but within a year of stopping there was no residual gain. The effect was worse in women than men, but even they after two years had no benefit. Even worse, in children aged 6-14 years, the same problem was found. Clearly calcium enrichment must be a lifelong process, not just a few years of popping pills. Source: Dawson-Hughes B (Tufts), and Abrams S (Houston Child Nutrition Research Center): papers at FASEB 2000. |
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