healthbriefs


Vegan Diet Benefits Kids’ Heart Health R


esearch from the Cleveland Clinic has found that a plant-based diet could be more effective than even the American Heart Association’s


recommended five-food-groups diet for reducing childhood heart disease. The research, led by Cleveland Clinic pediatrician Michael Macknin, tested


28 obese children between the ages of 9 and 18 that had high cholesterol levels. For four weeks, 14 of the children ate the American Heart Association diet, while the other half ate a vegan, plant-based diet. Children on the plant-based diet were found to have significantly lower weight, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol numbers, and improved mid-arm cir- cumference, body mass index and level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. They also had lower levels of insulin and two heart disease markers, myeloper- oxidase and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein—all indicating improvements in their cardiovascular health. By comparison, children on the American Heart Association diet saw


significantly lower weight, waist circumference, mid-arm circumference and myeloperoxidase levels, indicating enhanced immunity, but did not exhibit the other improvements. “As the number of obese children with [unhealthy] high cholesterol continues to


grow, we need to have effective lifestyle modifications to help them reverse their risk factors for heart disease,” says Macknin. “Cardiovascular disease begins in childhood. If we can see such significant improvements in a four-week study, imagine the poten- tial for improving long-term health into adulthood if a whole population of children began to eat these diets regularly.”


Black Raspberries Bolster Heart Health R


Astaxanthin Aids Muscle Recovery A


study of Serbian soccer players has found that astaxanthin can significantly decrease inflammation and improve the rate of muscle re- covery. Astaxanthin supplements are derived from golden microalgae such as Haematococcus pluvialis. Conducted by researchers from


esearch from Korea University Anam Hospital, in Seoul, South Korea, has found that black raspberries significantly decrease artery stiffness and increase heart-healthy endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), which assist in repairing damaged blood vessels. The study tested 51 patients that met at least three criteria for metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference measurements, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and/or symptoms of glucose intolerance. The subjects were split into two groups; one received 750 milligrams per day of black raspberry extract for 12 weeks, while the other group received a placebo. The researchers assessed the radial artery augmentation index, a measure for


blood vessel wall stiffness, and values for this measurement decreased by 5 percent in the black raspberry group. The placebo group’s levels increased by 3 percent. In addition, EPC counts increased in the black raspberry group by 19 microliters,


versus a drop of 28 microliters in the placebo group. Black raspberries contain a number of heart-healthy compounds, including phenolic acids, resveratrol, flavonoids and tannins.


the University of Belgrade School of Medicine, the double-blind study tested 40 young athletes for 90 days. The players were recruited from a Serbian soccer club and split into two groups. Half were given four milli- grams of astaxanthin per day, while the control group received a placebo. After three months of astaxanthin supplementation, the researchers found that muscle enzymes had de- creased, indicating the rate of players’ muscle recovery had improved. They also found decreased neutrophils and C-reactive protein (CRP), both mark- ers for inflammation, signifying a corresponding reduction. In addition, the group taking as-


taxanthin showed significantly higher levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), an immunity defense system in the mucosal membranes of the mouth, digestive system, lungs and other regions. Increases indicated a rise in first-defense immunity among these athletes. This same group also showed significantly lower oxidative stress levels, contributing to an improvement in exercise recovery.


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