A high fat diet can destroy yourarteries earlier than what
was previously expected. It has also been identifiedas one of the primary
causative factors of high blood pressure (BP).
MarieBillaud and
colleagues, from the University of Virginia School of Medicine,initiated a
study in mice and the results have been reported in the Journal of
Cardiovascular TranslationalResearch.
As anindividual grows
older, the internal wall of the large intestine becomes thinnerand increasingly
elastic and this in turn leads to obesity, metabolic disease,atherosclerosis
and abnormally high BP.
Although,at present,
researchers and physicians are engaged in measuring arterialcompliance of the
large arteries (as a means to evaluate arterial stiffness)during the advanced
stages of a health condition, it is not expected to provideadequate information
about the initiation or progress of the disease.
Earlierstudies have
indicated that changes in the walls of small arteries are the mostpotent
indicators of CVD and, early detection of these changes is important inthe
treatment and management of the condition.
Billaudand
colleagues, as part of their research, compared the arterial compliance oftwo
arteries of different sizes-the carotid artery (large) and thoracodorsalartery
(smaller)- in mice.
The micewere divided
into two groups. One of the groups was given high -fat diet forsix weeks and
the other, which formed the control group, was fed a normal diet.
Subsequentlyscientists observed rapid changes
in the structural and mechanical propertiesof the small arteries in mice that
were fed for six months on high-fat diet.
Thescientists
conclusively state, "These results suggest that, at an earlystage of
obesity, the structural properties of small and large arteries arealtered
whereas arterial stiffness is only observed in small vessels."
Otherstudies have
shown that in humans the adipose cells surrounding the coronaryarteries tend to
become highly inflamed and this, in turn, could causeinflammation in the blood
cells surrounding the arteries. When mice were fedwith high-fat diet the
inflammation of the fat tissues around the arteries increased.
The fact remains that
inflammation of the adipose tissues around arteries is an importantevent in
atherosclerosis, and that the lipid or cholesterol levels in thesepatients can
appear normal.
Research therefore cautions us to go easy on high -fat diet and prompts us to adopt regular exercise to stay fit. After all, a healthy heart not only prolongs life but also adds quality to one's years.!