Veggie diet 'protects heart'

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1412000/1412238.stm

Veggie diet 'protects heart'

 

The presence of a key chemical in fruits and vegetables may explain why

vegetarians are protected against heart disease.

The foods contain called salicylic acid which is a key ingredient in aspirin.

Aspirin is prescribed to reduce the risk

of heart attacks. It is also thought to help prevent bowel, breast and lung

cancers, and perhaps Alzheimer's disease.

 

Vegetarians are already known to have less heart disease and bowel cancer than

meat-eaters. But this study, carried out

by scientists at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, in Dumfries, looked at

whether salicylic acid was the key.

 

Comparisons

 

The researchers looked at blood samples from 37 vegetarians and 39 meat and

fish-eaters, all in their early 40s, from a

Buddhist monastery and the community who were not taking aspirin. They also

examined samples taken from 14 diabetic

patients in their late 50s who were taking 75 mg of aspirin every day. They

found levels of salicylic acid were up to

12 times higher in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians. But the average level

for vegetarians was still significantly

lower than that of the diabetic patients.

 

However, the scientists did find an overlap between the two groups, with eight

vegetarians having higher concentrations

of salicylic acid than the lowest found in the aspirin-taking group. Six of the

diabetics had concentrations lower than

the highest level amongst the vegetarians. But the researchers point out in

their study, published in the Journal of

Clinical Pathology, that there were wide variations within the two groups, with

much higher concentrations of the acid

within the group taking aspirin.

 

Medical implications

 

The Dumfries scientists admit diet will not provide the same anti-inflammatory

protection as aspirin. But they say even

low levels of salicylic acid may help protect against heart disease and other

conditions.

 

They write that if the anti-inflammatory properties of salicylic acid at the

concentrations found in food can be

confirmed: " It is possible that dietary salicylates will prove to be one of the

reasons why diets rich in fruit and

vegetables protect against colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease. "

 

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

gowatson