Alphalinolenic acid (ALA) reduces C-reactive protein and LDL cholesterol

[Guest guest]

Looking at ALA and mortality, I got two that specifically

relate to ALA:

West, Sheila G; Boseska, ; Wagner, ; Schoemer,

L; Zhao, Guixiang; Maddox, Deborah H;

Kris-Etherton, Penny M P85

Alpha-Linolenic Acid from Walnuts and Flax Increases

Flow-Mediated Dilation of the Brachial Artery in a

Dose-Dependent Fashion. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis &

Vascular Biology. 24(5):E-15-E-16, May 2004

Alphalinolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid of plant

origin, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease

morbidity and mortality, even in the absence of improvements

in the lipid profile. We recently showed that dietary ALA

significantly reduces C-reactive protein and LDL

cholesterol, relative to values on a typical American diet.

In summary, increasing dietary ALA intake 7-fold (from 0.8%

to 6.5% of total energy) significantly increased {flow

mediated dilation (FMD)}, and this effect was only observed

at the higher dose of dietary ALA. These data suggest that

improved endothelial function is an important mechanism for

the cardioprotective effects of dietary ALA, and they

confirm that vascular benefits are seen at doses that can be

attained through dietary modification.

Nestel, J.; Pomeroy, Sylvia E.; Sasahara, Takayuki;

Yamashita, Takeshi; Liang, Yu Lu; Dart, M.;

Jennings, Garry L.; Abbey, Mavis; Cameron, D.

Arterial Compliance in Obese Subjects Is Improved With

Dietary Plant n-3 Fatty Acid From Flaxseed Oil Despite

Increased LDL Oxidizability. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis &

Vascular Biology. 17(6):1163-1170, June 1997

Abstract

The compliance or elasticity of the arterial system, an

important index of circulatory function, diminishes with

increasing cardiovascular risk. Conversely, systemic

arterial compliance improves through eating of fish and fish

oil. We therefore tested the value of high intake of

alpha-linolenic acid, the plant precursor of fish fatty

acids. Fifteen obese people with markers for insulin

resistance ate in turn four diets of 4 weeks each:

saturated/high fat (SHF), alpha-linolenic acid/low fat

(ALF), oleic/low fat (OLF), and SHF. Daily intake of

alpha-linolenic acid was 20 g from margarine products based

on flax oil. Systemic arterial compliance was calculated

from aortic flow velocity and aortic root driving pressure.

Plasma lipids, glucose tolerance, and in vitro LDL

oxidizability were also measured. Systemic arterial

compliance during the first and last SHF periods was 0.42

+/- 0.12 (mean +/- SD) and 0.56 +/- 0.21 units based on

milliliters per millimeter of mercury. It rose significantly

to 0.78 +/- 0.28 (P < .0001) with ALF; systemic arterial

compliance with OLF was 0.62 +/- 0.19, lower than with ALF

(P < .05). Mean arterial pressures and results of oral

glucose tolerance tests were similar during ALF, OLF, and

second SHF; total cholesterol levels were also not

significantly different. However, insulin sensitivity and

HDL cholesterol diminished and LDL oxidizability increased

with ALF. The marked rise in arterial compliance at least

with alpha-linolenic acid reflected rapid functional

improvement in the systemic arterial circulation despite a

rise in LDL oxidizability. Dietary n-3 fatty acids in flax

oil thus confer a novel approach to improving arterial

function. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.

1997;17:1163-1170.)

Regards.