Asleep at the Wheel

Asleep at the Wheel

Put the average driver behind the wheel of a car under normal conditions and he’s not likely to cause an accident. But give him a few drinks and put him behind the wheel, and things get dangerous.

That’s how it is with cholesterol. Under normal conditions, LDL and HDL cholesterol perform the necessary function of moving fats away from the liver. Your liver wouldn’t last very long without them. But potential danger looms with LDL oxidation, which is a primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to plaque formation on artery walls).

So – inhibit oxidation, and the concept of driving down your LDL numbers to absurdly low levels is not nearly as important as drug companies would like you to believe.

LDL undone

Earlier this year I told you about a French study in which researchers demonstrated a link between low levels of selenium and cognitive function decline. Selenium has also been shown to support the effectiveness of vitamin E, increase insulin efficiency, and enhance immune system function while providing defense against autoimmune disorders and even certain types of cancer.

A new study shows that your cardiovascular system also gets more than a little help from selenium.

STUDY PROFILE

Researchers at the Free Radical Research Group (associated with Italy’s National Research Institute for Food and Nutrition) recruited 14 healthy subjects between the ages of 35 and 40

Blood samples were taken from each subject before and after a high fat meal

Over the ten days following the meal, each subject took 110 micrograms of selenium daily

At the end of the 10-day intervention, blood samples were again taken from each subject before and after the same high fat meal

In the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, researchers described the results: “Selenium supplementation fully prevented the meal-induced increase in LDL susceptibility to oxidation.”

The U.S. RDA for selenium is 55 mcg for women and 70 mcg for men. And although very high doses of selenium are toxic, doses of 200 micrograms per day have been shown to be safe for most people. In fact, a 200 mcg dose is probably the minimum necessary to enhance selenium’s anti-cancer benefits. Talk to your doctor before including high doses of selenium in your daily regimen.

Over protective

The development of atherosclerosis is a complicated process that involves more than just LDL oxidation. Fortunately, selenium is not the only supplement that helps reduce arterial plaque accumulation.

The e-Alert “Take it to Heart” (2/24/04), detailed a UCLA study in which researchers examined the effect that diet plays on atherosclerosis in subjects who are genetically inclined to develop the condition. Results showed that an intake of omega-6 fatty acids significantly enhanced the formation of arterial plaque while higher omega-3 intake impeded formation. The ideal diet supplies a 1:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, but very few of us actually achieve that ratio because processed foods, loaded with simple carbohydrates, deliver omega-6 in abundance.

And in the e-Alert “Old Flame” (8/7/06), I told you how inflammation might also play a role in atherosclerosis. But does inflammation set the stage for atherosclerosis, or does atherosclerosis trigger inflammation? The answer to that question is probably, “Yes, and yes.” In either case, research has shown that magnesium, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and regular exercise all combine to help reduce inflammation.

Sources:
“Selenium Supplementation Prevents the Increase in Atherogenic Electronegative LDL (LDL Minus) in the Postprandial Phase” Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, Published online ahead of print, September 2007, elsevier.com