Nutrition

"June 21, 2006 | Michael O'Riordan Rome, Italy - One of the possible ways in which long-chain omega-3 fatty acids play a role in decreasing cardiovascular events is by entering advanced atherosclerotic plaques. According to the results of a new study, investigators were able to show that the incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) into advanced plaque was associated with a decreased expression of various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) involved in causing plaque instability, as well as with decreased plaque inflammation. These are results of the Omacor Carotid Endarterectomy Intervention (OCEAN) study, presented here this week at the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis by Dr Philip Calder (University of Southampton, UK). "By increasing the availability of omega-3 fatty acids, they appear in advanced atherosclerotic plaques, indicated in this study by the carotid artery, and this results in lower numbers of macrophages, foam cells, and T cells, as well as the lower expression of inflammatory markers," said Calder. "Histologically, this results in a plaque that appears to be less inflamed and more stable. This may contribute to reduced mortality in patients consuming omega-3 fatty acids, for example, in the GISSI Prevenzione trial.""

Relationship of dietary linoleic acid to blood pressure. The International Study of Macro-Micronutrients and Blood Pressure Study [corrected] Miura K, Stamler J, Nakagawa H, Elliott P, Ueshima H, Chan Q, Brown IJ, Tzoulaki I, Saitoh S, Dyer AR, Daviglus ML, Kesteloot H, Okayama A, Curb JD, Rodriguez BL, Elmer PJ, Steffen LM, Robertson C, Zhao L; International Study of Macro-Micronutrients and Blood Pressure Research Group. Hypertension. 2008 Aug;52(2):408-14. Epub 2008 Jul 7. Erratum in: Hypertension. 2008 Sep;52(3):e29. PMID: 18606902 doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.112383 Dietary linoleic acid intake may contribute to prevention and control of adverse blood pressure levels in general populations

Alpha-linolenic acid and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction. Campos H, Baylin A, Willett WC. Circulation. 2008 Jul 22;118(4):339-45. Epub 2008 Jul 7. Erratum in: Circulation. 2008 Sep 16;118(12):e492. PMID: 18606916 doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.762419 Conclusions - Consumption of vegetable oils rich in {alpha}-linolenic acid could confer important cardiovascular protection. The apparent protective effect of {alpha}-linolenic acid is most evident among subjects with low intakes.

Cardiovascular risk and alpha-linolenic acid: can Costa Rica clarify? Harris WS. Circulation. 2008 Jul 22;118(4):323-4. Epub 2008 Jul 7. Review. PMID: 18606912 doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.791467

"July 9, 2008 | Michael O'Riordan Boston, MA - The consumption of a diet containing vegetable oils rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is associated with significant reductions in the risk of nonfatal MI, a new study has shown [1]. Investigators say the protective effect of ALA is evident among individuals with low intakes, suggesting the greatest benefit might be in developing countries, where fatty-acid consumption is limited. "The potential for benefit is great when the baseline intake is low," said lead investigator Dr Hannia Campos (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA). "In countries where people eat very little fish-and some of these countries have almost no sources of omega-3 fatty acids because they cook with corn or sunflower oils-the consumption of vegetable oils with ALA could have a major impact on heart disease." In an editorial accompanying the published study [2], Dr William Harris (University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls) said that the data are suggestive and would be good news for individuals who will not or cannot eat fish, but more studies are still needed. "If ALA were able to do the same 'heavy lifting' that [eicosapentaenoic acid] EPA and [docosahexaenoic acid] DHA do, this would be welcomed news, because the capacity to produce ALA is essentially limitless, whereas there are only so many fish in the sea," he writes. "

A nutrition blog by Dr. Ayers Inflammation is the foundation for cancer and degenerative/autoimmune diseases. Small changes in diet and exercise, e.g. omega-3 oils, vitamin D, low starch, plant antioxidants, and maintaining muscle mass, can dramatically alter predisposition to disease and aging, and minimize the negative impact of genetic risks. Based on my experience in biological research, I am trying to explain how the anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle combat disease. Anti-Inflammatory Diet All health care starts with diet. Here are my recommendations for a basic Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Lifestyle. There are over 140 articles on diet, inflammation and disease here, and more articles by Dr. Ayers on Suite101 .

"Anti-inflammatory Diet Components of an Anti-inflammatory Diet (focus on meats, fish, eggs and leafy vegetables)"

Animal Pharm (drbganimalpharm) -a nutrtion blog

Hyperlipid: a nutrition blog

"Peter at Hyperlipid and Stephan at Whole Health have dispelled yet again myths regarding the indictment of the 16:0 long-chained saturated fatty acid Palmitic Acid as the prime instigator of insulin resistance (IR). Researchers are always wrong -- it's... HIGH CARBS PLUS Palmitic acid. Their brilliant posts discuss below: --Sportzaid (FRUCTOSE) + Palmitate = IR RETARDNESS --High Carb Lab Chow + Palmitate = IR in the brain Yes. Such inferences applied to low carbers (LCers) is pure ridiculousness. Non-applicable. Low/no carb + Palmitic Acid = GOOD THING. All the low-carb/high saturated fat (palmitic acid) and ketosis trials by Hays JH, Volek JS, and Krauss RM have shown reductions in blood insulin, blood glucoses (BG) and peripheral tissue insulin resistance (IR). Directly contrary to the high carb animal or human studies. Palmitic acid has a special evolutionary, adaptive role in mammalian metabolism. Stephan showed that it likely 'fills in' when blood glucose starts to decline. "

"I like palmitic acid. It causes insulin resistance. Thank goodness. Ted sent me this link. It's depressing. I'm going to discuss a thought drug. I'm going to call it Palmitofake, and it can be developed by Pfizer, no, Fort Dodge. I particularly dislike FD for anaesthesia related reasons. So what does Palmitofake do? BTW, if you didn't need any other hint you can tell this drug is going to bomb as there is neither an x, y or z in its name. Trust FD to screw up (in my mind). Palmitofake is a fluoride substituted analogue of palmitic acid which irreversibly binds to the acyl-CoA interaction site of JNK1 and so inhibits the pathway by which palmitic acid keeps GLUT4 transporters off of the cell surface membrane, whole body-wide. The logic to this is that the lipotoxin, palmitic acid (nature's second biggest mistake, the biggest was obviously cholesterol) can no longer keep glucose out of cells and metabolism can run, unimpaired by fat, for ever on glucose. Woo hoo bring on the glucose."

"We've been having an interesting discussion in the comments about a recently published paper by Dr. Stephen C. Benoit and colleagues (free full text). They showed that a butter-rich diet causes weight gain and insulin resistance in rats, compared to a low-fat diet or a diet based on olive oil. They published a thorough description of the diets' compositions, which is very much appreciated! They went on to show that infusing palmitic acid (a 16-carbon saturated fat) directly into the brain of rats also caused insulin resistance relative to oleic acid (an 18-carbon monounsaturated fat, like in olive oil). Here's a representation of palmitic acid. The COOH end is the acid end, and the squiggly line is the fatty end. Thus it's called a "fatty acid", various forms of which are the fat currency of the body."

"This is an alphabetical list of Foods containing Lectins, from edible Plant and Animal sources. Most lectins, in plant species, are NOT ABO blood type specific. Even fewer EDIBLE plants have lectins that are ABO type specific. This list does conflict with the information of the various incarnations of 'blood type diets', as far as specific foods agglutinating certain of the ABO blood types only. However, this information below has been derived directly from the published scientific literature and studies which are listed in the references which follow this list. It is not known where the authors of these diet books came up with their ABO blood-type agglutination data, it is definitely false when compared to published scientific studies. The first section has a list of foods, in alphabetical order for easier searching, their scientific names, and which blood types are agglutinated by them."

"Lectins are sugar-binding proteins which are highly specific for their sugar moieties. They typically play a role in biological recognition phenomena involving cells and proteins. For example, some viruses use lectins to attach themselves to the cells of the host organism during infection"

Do dietary lectins cause disease? Freed DL. BMJ. 1999 Apr 17;318(7190):1023-4. PMID: 10205084

"While research in lectinology is in its infancy this information is critical to your health and it is important to begin to understand lectins NOW. Read the following report carefully. I'll get specific about how this all applies to you. ALL foods contain lectins. Some are your friends, others neutral, and others may be your enemies. Know your lectins. Avoid your enemies. DEFINITION Protein or glycoprotein substances, usually of plant origin, of non-immunoglobulin nature, capable of specific recognition of and reversible binding to, carbohydrate moieties of complex glycoconjugates without altering the covalent structure of any of the recognized glycosyl ligands. This group includes monovalent lectins (i.e. bacterial and plant toxins). These lectins bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes and thereby change the physiology of the membrane to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes in the cell. (agglutination- clumping; mitosis-multiplication or division of a cell forming two daughter cells) High levels of lectins (specialized proteins) may be found in grains (also known as cereals or pulses), legumes (that is 'beans' including peanuts), dairy and plants in the nightshade family. Many other foods contain lectins but are less well studied and the amounts of lectins present are not thought to be as high or as potentially toxic.!

"Can fifty thousand years of human evolution be wrong? What are we really "designed" to eat? Are high carbohydrate "Food Pyramid" diet standards a health disaster? What do paleolithic fossil records and ethnographic studies of 180 hunter/gatherer groups around the world suggest as the ideal human diet? Find out in nationally acclaimed author and nutritionist Robert Crayhon's interview with paleolithic diet expert, Professor Loren Cordain, Ph.D. "

"I know what you may be thinking: "Fish oil?! I thought fish oil was supposed to be healthy! One day you say we should take it, now you're saying it puts us at risk for Swine Flu?" Well, there is a reasonable answer, but it doesn't come in the form of a simple "fish oil is good" or "fish oil is bad" kind of package. The truth is that eating fish and taking fish oil is very often extremely beneficial for a great number of health conditions. But there is no substance on Earth that is 100% healthy under every conceivable circumstance. Take water, for example. Drinking plenty of pure water is a healthful practice. On the other hand, drinking excessive amounts (water intoxication) can lead to serious bodily damage and even death. The August issue of the Journal of Nutrition reports on a study conducted on two groups of mice fed either a fish oil or corn oil enriched diet. (4) All the mice were infected with the flu virus and were then examined over a two week period. Several interesting observations were made at the conclusion of the trial: * The mice receiving the fish oil exhibited lower levels of lung tissue inflammation. This confirms the known anti-inflammatory activity of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. * However, these same mice suffered a "40% higher mortality rate", a "70% higher lung viral load" and "a prolonged recovery period following infection". * The researchers also noted a decline in NK (natural killer) cells in the spleens of the mice that were fed fish oil and a decrease in CD8+ T cells. NK cells and cytotoxic T cells are vital players in the body's ability to deal with infections."

Fatty acid intake and the risk of community-acquired pneumonia in U.S. women. Alperovich M, Neuman MI, Willett WC, Curhan GC. Nutrition. 2007 Mar;23(3):196-202. Epub 2007 Jan 22. PMID: 17236748 doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2006.11.007. Conclusions Fatty acid intake may affect the risk of community-acquired pneumonia in young and middle-aged women. Higher dietary intake of palmitic acid and possibly DHA and EPA may increase the risk of community-acquired pneumonia in women while higher oleic acid intake may decrease the risk.

Fish oil-fed mice have impaired resistance to influenza infection. Schwerbrock NM, Karlsson EA, Shi Q, Sheridan PA, Beck MA. J Nutr. 2009 Aug;139(8):1588-94. Epub 2009 Jun 23. PMID: 19549756 doi:10.3945/jn.109.108027 These results suggest that the antiinflammatory properties of fish oil feeding can alter the immune response to influenza infection, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality.