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Heart Disease: Eating More Walnuts and Broccoli Could Protect Women from Dying of Heart Disease
Harvard researchers recently presented their findings at The American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2004 conference revealing how higher dietary levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) could protect women from dying of heart disease and sudden cardiac death (death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function). ALA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, canola oil, green leafy vegetables and walnuts.
The researchers studied dietary information obtained from the Nurses Health Study, which included 76,763 women. During the studys sixteen year follow-up, 1,325 women experienced a non-fatal heart attack, 169 underwent sudden cardiac death and 564 died from coronary artery disease.
The women were categorised into five groups based on how much ALA they consumed, with the average intake ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 grams a day. Women with the highest ALA intake had a 46 per cent lower risk of dying from sudden cardiac death compared to women who consumed the least amount. Women in the highest intake group were also 21 per cent less likely to die from coronary heart disease than women in the lowest intake group. This high level of intake corresponded to about two capsules of flaxseed oil the richest food source of ALA.
Dr Christine M. Albert, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University Medical School, and the studys lead author, explained the teams findings: In this study, we examined whether ALA was associated with a lower risk of dying from heart disease or sudden cardiac death. Sudden cardiac death is usually the result of a fatal rhythm disturbance. So, if this fat were to prevent sudden cardiac death, it would support the hypothesis that these oils were preventing fatal arrhythmias [irregular heartbeat].
A clinical trial that randomly assigns people to ALA supplements or to a diet high in ALA would be needed to know for sure that ALA lowers risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death,
Dr Albert added.
HSI promises to keep a close eye out for further studies taking place in this area and will report on the research findings as soon as they become available. In the meantime, it makes sense to eat plenty of ALA-rich foods regardless of your gender, as omega-3 fatty acids have been found to have heart-protective benefits for both men and women. Alternatively you can supplement with two capsules of flaxseed oil a day.
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