Coronary heart disease nutritional effects

Nutrition. Fats and oils are recognized as important nutrients for both humans and animals because they provide a concentrated source of energy, contain essential fatty acids, and serve as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins. Research studies have also indicated a relationship between saturated fats, cholesterol, and trans-isomers and the incidence of coronary heart disease. In many cases, shortening functionality can be maintained with formulations limiting cholesterol, the identified saturated fatty acids, and tran -isomers. Shortening formulation can also aid in reductions of fat consumption by development of more effective products to reduce the levels required to produce the desired functionality and finished product quality. 

Kris-Etherton, P.M., Zhao, G., Binkoski, A.E., Coval, S.M. and Etherton, T.D. (2001) The effects of nuts on coronary heart disease risk. Nutrition Rev., 59, 103-111. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested a minimum of 30g/day of a combination of nuts, seeds, and pulses as part of a recommendation focusing on prevention of some types of cancer and coronary heart disease (CHD) [3]. Nutrition research has demonstrated that as little as 30g of nutrient-dense nuts per day can have a positive effect on health. Moreover, tree nuts are a nutrient-dense, shelf-stable, nonperishable, whole food source of valuable micro- and macronutrients, which are crucial considerations in countries with limited controlled storage or processing facilities. 

We have seen in Section F that the dietary factors linked with the incidence of coronary heart disease reflect complex relations that cannot be simply based on ratios of polyunsaturated to saturated fats. It is now evident that not all saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats play the same role in nutrition, n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids are not particularly effective in lowering serum cholesterol, but markedly reduce serum triacylglycerols in hypertriglyceridic subjects. The recent tendency has been to make nutritional recommendations on the basis of total fat intake and on the ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Reducing n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be an effective way of utilizing relatively low and more practical amounts of fish oils. 

The nutritional value of nut and seed products is closely associated with the fatty acid content of the oil. High Unoleic acid content decreases shelf-life. Increasing the oleic/linoleic acid ratio produces a more stable oil with a longer shelf-life. Nutritionally, a high linoleic acid content is desirable, because this acid is an essential fatty acid and produces a hypocholenic effect. Of more than 100 fatty acids, three are essential, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic. The consensus is that polyunsaturated fat (fatty acids) lowers total blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels. Lx)w levels of these substances are associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease and atherogenesis. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids may be beneficial in lower blood cholesterol (Sheppard and Rudolf, 1991). 

Soybeans contain about 40% protein (dry basis) and are rich in amino acids lysine and threonine. However, low content of the essential amino acid L-methionine hmits nutritive value of soy protein. Globulins, referred to as glycinin and conglycinin, are the most abundant protein types in soybeans. Health benefits of soybean proteins have been studied extensively. Positive effects of soybean proteins on hypertension and heart disease, osteoporosis, bone health and certain cancers have been reported (Friedman and Brandon, 2001). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a health claim on the role of soy protein in reducing risk of coronary heart disease. The FDA rule permits a statement on the soybean containing product labels indicating that Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 g of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease (FDA, 1999). 

The KO models confirm the essential adaptive roles of oq-ARs in the heart, where the A and the B are required for chronic trophic or nutritional effects that depend ultimately on anabolic, transcriptional, metabolic, and antiapoptotic processes. The A and the B mediate inotropic effects, which depend on the preparation, and the D causes coronary vasoconstriction. The distinct roles of the A and the B in heart remain to be worked out. Clinically, the results emphasize concern about the use of nonselective oq-antagonist drugs in patients with hypertension or prostate disease. On the other hand, D-selective antagonists might have advantages. 

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease. Thus, the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), conducted from 1992 to 1994, found that 27% of the USA adult population had hypertension. The prevalence varies with age, race, education, and many other variables. Sustained arterial hypertension damages blood vessels in kidney, heart, and brain and leads to an increased incidence of renal failure, coronary disease, cardiac failure, and stroke. Effective pharmacologic lowering of blood pressure has been shown to prevent damage to blood vessels and to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Many effective drugs are available. Knowledge of their antihypertensive mechanisms and sites of action allows accurate prediction of efficacy and toxicity. As a result, rational use of these agents, alone or in combination, can lower blood pressure with minimal risk of serious toxicity in most patients. 

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