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Two important international research
studies now show that diets high in bioflavonoids reduce the risk of developing heart disease. While saturated fat
intake was the most important risk predictor, bioflavonoids in the diet accounted for
25 percent of the variation in heart disease rates from country to country. In these studies, bioflavonoids tied with cigarette
smoking as the second most important risk predictor.
There are some 5,000
flavonoids, and they are part of a diverse group of chemical compounds called
polyphenols. They are present in virtually all plants in the pigments that give plants then
characteristic colors. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of flavonoids, especially when
their pigments fall in the red or purple category such as cherries, grapes and plums. Many plants used as botanical
medicines are also rich sources of flavonoids, along with many herbal and green teas.
Scientists indicate that flavonoids can
protect LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation-a chemical process that makes cholesterol’s effect more toxic on blood
vessel walls. Flavonoids help reduce the tendency of blood platelets to clot; they
also strengthen arteries and capillaries in the heart, which helps avert disease.
No one has tested whether extra flavonoid supplements directly protect against heart attacks. However, most experts now recommend diets high in bioflavonoids including five fruit and vegetable servings daily.
Since natural flavonoids cannot be
patented, drug companies are reluctant to invest money to test their value for treating
diseases. Nevertheless, significant re-search is beginning to emerge, and some drugs such as cromylin sodium are made
from synthetic flavonoids. In the non-drug category, other research supports the benefits of
bioflavonoids particularly the subgroup proanthocyanidins, which are strong antioxidants. Research from the University of Arizona found that Pycnogenol a
product containing 50 percent to 65 per-cent proanthocyanidins, improved immune function in mice infected with a leukemia
retrovirus.
Additionally, double-blind studies in
humans suggest that Ginkgo biloba is moderately but significantly beneficial for certain forms of senility; the silymarin in
milk thistle (Silybum marianum) benefits the treatment of hepatitis; hawthorn (Cragaegus
pinnatifida) may help people with angina; and bilberry (Vaccinum myrtillus) may improve night vision and
strengthen the capillaries. In each case, the flavonoids in these botanical medicines are the active beneficial agents.
One word of caution: Although the
flavonoids in red wine might contribute to the relatively low heart-disease rates found
in France and Italy, alcohol itself has a pro-oxidation effect and is toxic to many
organs. Therefore, avoid a high alcohol intake-with or without bioflavonoids. For further reading, I included
numerous
scientific references (see below). If your local hospital’s medical library does
not have these articles, the librarian can easily obtain a copy through the federal
government’s National Library of Medicine.
NSN
Richard Podell, M.D., M.P.H., is clinical
professor, Department of Family Medi-cine
at New Jersey’s UMDNJ-Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hertog, M. Archives of Internal Medicine,
155:381-6,1995.
Hertog, M. Lancet, 342: 1007-l 1,1993.
Cheshier, J. Pharmacology Letters, 58:87-
96,1995.
Corbe, C. J Fr Opthalmol, 11:453-60,
1988.
Itil, T. Psychopharmacology Bulletin,
31:147-158,1995.
Salmi, H. Scandinavian Jnl. of Gastroen-terologv,
17:517-521,1982.
Weng, W. Jnl of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, 4:2934, 1984.
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