HIGH PROTEIN FOODS BOOST CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Eating foods rich in amino acids could be as
good for your heart as stopping smoking or getting more exercise -- according
to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA)
A
new study published today reveals that people who eat high levels of certain
amino acids found in meat and plant-based protein have lower blood pressure and
arterial stiffness.
And
the magnitude of the association is similar to those previously reported for
lifestyle risk factors including salt intake, physical activity, alcohol
consumption and smoking.
Researchers
investigated the effect of seven amino acids on cardiovascular health among
almost 2,000 women with a healthy BMI. Data came from TwinsUK -- the biggest UK
adult twin registry of 12,000 twins which is used to study the genetic and
environmental causes of age related disease.
They
studied their diet and compared it to clinical measures of blood pressure and
blood vessel thickness and stiffness.
They
found strong evidence that those who consumed the highest amounts of amino
acids had lower measures of blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
But
they found that the food source was important -- with a higher intake of amino
acids from plant-based sources associated with lower blood pressure, and a
higher intake from animal sources associated with lower levels of arterial
stiffness.
Lead
researcher Dr Amy Jennings, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "This
research shows a protective effect of several amino acids on cardiovascular
health.
"Increasing
intake from protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, dairy produce, beans,
lentils, broccoli and spinach could be an important and readily achievable way
to reduce people's risk of cardiovascular disease.
"Results
from previous studies have provided evidence that increased dietary protein may
be associated with lower blood pressure. We wanted to know whether protein from
animal sources or plant-based sources was more beneficial -- so we drilled down
and looked at the different amino acids found in both meat and vegetables.
"We
studied seven amino acids -- arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine,
histidine, leucine, and tyrosine. Glutamic acid, leucine, and tyrosine are
found in animal sources, and a higher intake was associated with lower levels
of arterial stiffness.
"All
seven amino acids, and particularly those from plant-based sources, were
associated with lower blood pressure.
"The
really surprising thing that we found is that amino acid intake has as much of
an effect on blood pressure as established lifestyle risk factors such as salt
intake, physical activity and alcohol consumption. For arterial stiffness, the
association was similar to the magnitude of change previously associated with
not smoking.
"High
blood pressure is one of the most potent risk factors for developing
cardiovascular disease. A reduction in blood pressure leads to a reduction in
mortality caused by stroke or coronary heart disease -- so changing your diet
to include more meat, fish, dairy produce and pulses could help both prevent
and treat the condition.
"Beneficial
daily amounts equate to a 75g portion of steak, a 100g salmon fillet or a 500ml
glass of skimmed milk," she added.
Prof
Tim Spector from the department of Twin Research at King's college London said:
"The finding that eating certain meat and plant proteins are linked to
healthier blood pressure is an exciting finding. We need to understand the
mechanism to see if it is direct or via our gut microbes."
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