Onions 'cut heart disease risk'

[Guest guest]

I think the scientists should read my old health books!

 

Jo

 

Onions are a good source of quercetin

Eating a meal rich in compounds called flavonoids reduces some early

signs of heart disease, research shows.

An Institute of Food Research team focused on one of the compounds,

quercetin, which is found in tea, onions, apples and red wine.

 

The Atherosclerosis study examined the effect of the compounds

produced after quercetin is broken down by the body.

 

They were shown to help prevent the chronic inflammation which can

lead to thickening of the arteries.

 

The effect is more subtle than laboratory experiments using the

parent compound

 

Dr Paul Kroon

Institute of Food Research

 

Previous research has shown quercetin is metabolised very quickly by

the intestine and liver and is not actually found in human blood.

 

So instead the researchers concentrated on the compounds that enter

the bloodstream after quercetin is ingested, absorbed and

metabolised.

 

The compounds were used - in concentrations similar to those that

would be produced following digestion - to treat cells taken from the

lining of the blood vessels.

 

Lower dose, bigger impact

 

Lead researcher Dr Paul Kroon said: " We tested compounds that are

actually found in the blood, rather than the flavonoid in food before

it is eaten, as only these compounds will actually come into contact

with human tissues and have an effect on arterial health.

 

" The effect is more subtle than laboratory experiments using the

parent compound.

 

" But the metabolites still have an effect on the cells lining the

blood vessels. "

 

The research found that, in the case of one inflammatory process, a

lower dose of the compounds - achievable by eating 100g to 200g of

onions - actually had a bigger impact.

 

Bridget Aisbitt, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition

Foundation, said: " Inflammation is an important process in the

furring up of arteries that can lead to heart disease and stroke and

this study gives us clues as to why a diet rich in fruit and

vegetables appears to reduce the risk of these conditions.

 

" In the UK we are only consuming about two portions of fruit and

vegetables per day on average, so this study underlines the

importance of getting your five a day to stay healthy throughout

life. "