Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from fish oil lowers triglyceride levels.
Now, a study in Japan reports that adding EPA to low-dose statin therapy lowers the risk for certain major coronary events, including nonfatal heart attacks, unstable angina and the need for revascularization procedures). Continue reading The JELIS study: Fish oil, statins, and heart disease
Dr. David Jenkins and colleagues at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto have published research showing that diversifying cholesterol-lowering components in the same diet increases the effectiveness of diet as a treatment of high blood cholesterol levels.
Continue reading Complementary therapies as a foundation for effective cholesterol control
A literature review published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found 15 supplements that had been studied for their benefits in preventing or treating coronary heart disease.
According to the researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle…
Researchers from the University of Yamanashi in Japan reviewed studies of soy isoflavones (ie, phytoestrogens [plant estrogens] found chiefly in soybeans) and report “It decreases bone loss in the spine.”
But… Continue reading Reviewing the benefits of soy isoflavone on bone in menopausal women
Older adults who follow diets high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega-3 fatty acids have higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines — especially when they have coexisting symptoms of depression.
It’s important because depression is linked to the development of heart disease — a relationship that appears to be due to increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (eg, interleukins and tumor necrosis factor alpha). Continue reading Exploring the relationship between depression, diet, and heart disease
Two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have a number of positive actions against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and its complications.
An article by the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association documents the benefits, with dosing details.
Continue reading Reviewing the benefits and dosing recommendations for omega-3
Most studies show that the risk of having a heart attack increases as blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) get higher. In fact, in any group of people the risk for heart attack is twice as high for those in the upper third of CRP levels compared to those whose CRP is in the lower third.
This study shows that taking about 30 grams of fiber per day can significantly lower blood levels of CRP.
Continue reading Using fiber to lower C-reactive protein blood levels
Hormone replacement therapy may increase breast cancer and cardiovascular disease risk in menopausal women. But what is the effect of black cohosh extract — a popular alternative for reducing menopausal symptoms? Continue reading Black cohosh, menopausal symptoms, and the risk of breast cancer and heart disease
Taking concentrated oat beta-glucan per day for 6 weeks produced a significant reduction from baseline in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol.
But is that enough to achieve any real benefit in protecting from heart disease?
Continue reading Lowering LDL-cholesterol with concentrated oat beta-glucan
Researchers from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, UK studied people with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and III heart failure.
In other words, their condition ranged from mild symptoms and slight limitation during ordinary activity to marked limitation in activity due to symptoms, even during less-than-ordinary activity. Continue reading The benefits of tai chi on exercise tolerance in people with moderate heart failure
A clinical study and an FDA report look to more informed dietary decisions as a pathway to better health.
The report appears on the Mayo Clinic website.
Here are the highlights. Continue reading Massage helps patients recover after heart surgery
Isoflavones are one of the phytoestrogens found mainly in soybeans. Here’s a somewhat technical study from researchers at the Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong where isoflavones had beneficial effects on blood flow in people at risk for cardiovascular complications. Continue reading Probing the value of isoflavones in patients at risk for cardiovascular complications
A study reported during the American Academy of Family Physicians 2007 Annual Scientific Assembly concluded, “tai chi is comparable to but not quite as effective as a brisk walk for raising heart rate variability.” Continue reading Effect of tai chi vs a brisk walk on heart rate variability
As summarized here, JELIS is the acronym for “Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study.” It showed that adding eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) — an active component of omega-3 fatty acids — to low-dose statin therapy lowered the risk for certain major problems involving the heart.
The results are finding their way into mainstream recommendations for hypercholesterolemia treatment. Continue reading Incorporating the JELIS results in cholesterol-lowering treatment plans
The Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study reports “Panic attacks are relatively common among postmenopausal women and appear to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in older women.”
Let’s review the study and then the CAM connection. Continue reading The health risks of panic attacks in postmenopausal women and CAM options
Baicalin (Chinese skullcap) comes from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. This anti-inflammatory herbal is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer, liver disease, allergies, skin conditions, and epilepsy. Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is a member of the stain class of drugs used to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Continue reading Herb-drug interaction between baicalin and rosuvastatin
Three criteria determine drug reimbursement decisions: therapeutic value, cost effectiveness, and burden of disease. Now, an article from Erasmus University in The Netherlands questions whether it’s sufficient for a drug to meet these criteria, and proposes a 4th hurdle.
Consider how CAM would hold up under such scrutiny based on what we know today. Continue reading Is CAM cost effective treatment?
High concentrations of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia) have been linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease for almost 40 years!
What’s this got to do with CAM? Continue reading Negative results for folic acid plus B vitamin therapy in kidney disease
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat stroke, as well as heart disease, atherosclerosis, and blood clotting abnormalities.
The Cochrane Collaboration updated an earlier review of danshen to treat ischemic stroke — the most common kind of stroke, caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain (as when a clot blocks a blood vessel). Continue reading Danshen safety and effectiveness to treat stroke