Nutrition, persistent organic pollutants, and cardiovascular disease risk

Nutrition and CVD

Cardiovascular disease or CVD is a disorder affecting the heart or the body system of blood vessels (American Association for Clinical Chemistry 2009). Most cases of CVD are usually attributed to obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, too much smoking and alcohol use, and low vegetable and fruit intake (Perspectives in Health 2007). It is believed that a combination of treatment and education is the best approach to CVD. Singling out smoking as a major cause, former Pan American Health Organization Director George Allayne pointed to tobacco taxation as a most cost-effective intervention for this disease. He also said that cost-effective medical treatments should include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers, off-patent statins and aspirin. A polypill, which incorporated many medications, for long-term use was considered ideal. But education should cap all efforts. Health care workers must assiduously follow clinical guidelines. Patients must be educated on the importance of following their medical regimens and doctor's orders (Perspectives in Health).

Organic Pollutants Cause CVD

Studies showed that exposure to persistent organic pollutants or POPs can be another cause of CVD (Ha et al. 2007). POPs are lipophilic stable chemicals, which can accumulate in adipose tissue. Eventually, they become a lasting toxic body burden. Findings of the studies revealed that exposure to these pollutants increases atherogenic serum lipid levels in both man and animal. They damage the endothelial cells through oxidative stress. The rise of serum lipid levels and the damage to endothelial cells combined to pose the risk of CVD. Another study conducted in other areas contaminated with POPs found that residents had a higher incidence of coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 with 889 participants (Perspectives in Health).

N-3 Fatty Acids and CVD

Increased consumption of N-3 fatty acids, mainly from fish, could reduce coronary artery disease, several studies said (Erkkila et al. 2003). A five-year Finish cohort study of the European Action on Secondary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events made this conclusion on four groups of 415 participants. On follow-up, 36 of them had died, 21 with myocardial infarctions and 12 with strokes. Those with high levels of fatty cholesterol esters had greater CVD risks than those with lower cholesterol levels. Fish consumption was associated with lower risk of death. This was on account of higher serum levels of N-3 fatty acids in serum lipids found (Erkkila et al.).

Garlic Does Not Lower Cholesterol Level

Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, reported this finding (Feder 2007). In a team study, which he headed, found that garlic works only in a test tube, on cells and in rats, but not in human beings. The finding contradicted those of previous investigations. These claimed that garlic's active ingredient, allicin, can reduce cholesterol levels. Gardner said those previous studies were sponsored by food supplement manufacturers or used poor methodology. This Stanford study was commissioned by the federal government. It reviewed 1,800 studies on the health benefits of garlic or three months, specifically in lowering cholesterol levels. It said that studies lasting three months or less came out with that conclusion. But longer-term studies did not (Feder).

Despite this new finding, the sale of garlic supplements remained brisk and popular (Feder 2007). It sold at $150 million a year. The Stanford study was independently conducted. It aimed at determining if raw garlic and garlic supplements could really reduce cholesterol in persons with moderately high cholesterol levels. It drew from the common and accepted belief that LDL, the bad cholesterol, could increase the risk of heart disease. Hence, patients are prompted to lower LDL level through diet, exercise and medication. The Stanford survey used 192 respondents with cholesterol levels high enough to attract concern. They were given raw garlic, Garlicin-powdered garlic, Kyolic-aged garlic or placebo for six months. After that time, the researchers were dismayed to find that the participants' LDL levels remained the same throughout the study. In view of the finding, an editorial by the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that garlic does not significantly lower LDL cholesterol. It is, thus useless in preventing heart disease. It only seems to lower blood pressure (Feder).

Poor-Quality Nutrition and CVD

Low income among ethnic populations accounts for a high level of CVD risk because of poor-quality diet (Jilcott et al. 2007). This was the conclusion of the Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women across the Nation project conducted recently. It was administered to low-income, midlife 236 women in the said populations in the South.

The Alternate Healthy Eating Index, the Diet Quality Index and the Diet Quality Index-Revised were used to quantify the quality of their overall diet. Serum carotenoids were also measured in measuring their dietary intakes. The Actigraph accelerometer was used to objectively measure their physical activity. (Jilcott et al.).

Then the results were compared with those of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center conducted on 104 women. Dietary assessment tools were needed to correct the populations' poor diet, considering that they were considered high-risk and underserved.

A previous version of the tool was validated in order to incorporate more recent information on a heart-healthy diet. The modified or updated Dietary Risk Assessment specifically aimed at providing the needed guidance so as to reduce CVD. This new one had to accurately measure all dietary aspects associated with CVD risk. It was, therefore, found appropriate in helping reduce or prevent the incidence among underserved, midlife women in particular (Jilcott et al.). The findings showed the connection between poor nutrition and the occurrence of CVD. #