Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries. Eventually these fatty deposits become altered and begin to create blockages in the arteries that provide blood to the heart and brain.
However, there is favorable evidence between a reduction in the progression of atherosclerosis and the intake of certain dietary fiber. More specifically, the intake of viscous fiber, especially pectin affords protection against intimal media thickness: the thickening of the arterial wall.
573 participant (47% women) age 40-60 years who did not have heart disease were recruited for a study. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries was measured ultrasonographically at the baseline examination and at two follow-up examinations, dietary intakes were assessed with six 24-hour recalls, blood samples were analyzed at baseline and at both follow-up examinations.
A significant inverse association was observed between intima-media thickness progression and the intake of viscous fiber and pectin. In addition, the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol was inversely related to the intakes of total fiber, viscous fiber and pectin. In short, more dietary soluble fiber (especially pectin) lessens the progression of clogged arteries and has a positive effect on HDL cholesterol.
Soluble or viscous fiber is more concentrated in oats, barley, soybeans, dried beans and peas, prunes and citrus fruit. Insoluble or nonviscous fiber is concentrated in whole wheat and most vegetables.
More about pectin, in an animal study by The University of Florida College of Medicine, subjects were fed a high fat (atherogenic) diet for 360 days. Cholesterol levels rose rapidly. Half the subjects were then fed a diet in which 3% grapefruit pectin was substituted for cellulose, and the remaining subjects maintained the original diet.
Subjects were then examined 270 days later, and the extent of atherosclerosis was determined. Pectin reduced the extent of atherosclerosis in both the aorta and coronary arteries. The mean surface area covered by atherosclerosis in the aorta was 13.6% in the group that did not receive pectin compared with 5.3% in the group that did receive pectin. The mean coronary artery narrowing was 45% without pectin and 24% with pectin.
This study suggests that pectin may have a direct beneficial effect on atherosclerosis independent of cholesterol levels. Prunes are a potent source of pectin. As such, a serving of oatbran with diced prunes is a healthful start to the day.
Source:
Dietary fiber and progression of atherosclerosis: the Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study
Huiyun Wu, Kathleen M Dwyer
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 78, No. 6, 1085-1091, 2003
Inhibition of atherosclerosis by dietary pectin in microswine with sustained hypercholesterolemia
JJ Cerda, SJ Normann, MP Sullivan
Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Circulation, Vol 89, 1247-1253, 1994
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