Drinking Juice to Reduce Cholesterol and Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease effects many of us in the UK, more sogrape skin extracts elicit a greater antiplatelet effect
than in many other countries, but there is a strongwhen used in combination than when used individually
possibility that this could be changed simply byin dogs and humans. Shanmuganayagam D, Beahm
changing our attitude towards food and consumingMR, Osman HE, Krueger CG, Reed JD, Folts JD.
more juice.Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of
The term 'heart disease' includes several conditionsWisconsin, Madison 53792,
such from Congenital heart defects seen at birth toUSA.
atherosclerosis (hardened arteries) that develop later.6 Atherosclerosis. 2001 Sep;158(1):195-8. Pomegranate
It is a complex issue with several inter-relatedjuice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin
factors. Hardening of the arteries and angina are aconverting enzymeactivity and reduces systolic blood
result of the inner walls of the bodies arteriespressure. Aviram M, Dornfeld L. The Lipid Research
narrowing due to a build up of plaque (fat, LDLLaboratory, Technion Faculty of Medicine, The
cholesterol and other substances). Plaque build up isRappaport Family Institute for Research in the
increased in people who have high levels LDL (bad)Medical Sciences, 31096 Haifa, Israel.
cholesterol and low levels HDL (good) cholesterol.7 J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Sep;16(9):570-6. Pomegranate
Oxidation of excess LDL cholesterol results in anjuice inhibits oxidized LDL uptake and cholesterol
increase of plaque. The HDL cholesterol helps tobiosynthesis in macrophages. Fuhrman B, Volkova N,
prevent the LDL cholesterol from increasing theAviram M. Lipid Research Laboratory, Technion
plaque, moving it instead to the liver. Plaque build upFaculty of Medicine, The Rappaport Family Institute
alone may be enough to cause pain (angina) or heartfor Research in the Medical Sciences, Rambam
attack. However, if the plaque is ruptured or torn itMedical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel.
can block the artery causing a coronary thrombosis8 J Nutr. 2001 Aug;131(8):2082-9. Pomegranate juice
(heart attack). Atherosclerosis can also be caused bysupplementation to atherosclerotic mice reduces
inappropriate platelet activation causing the plateletsmacrophage lipid peroxidation, cellular cholesterol
in the blood to clot.accumulation and development of atherosclerosis.
Grape Juice inhibits AtherosclerosisKaplan M, Hayek T, Raz A, Coleman R, Dornfeld L,
Many of us will have seen news items claiming redVaya J, Aviram M.
wine helps to keep our hearts healthy. This is due toThe Lipid Research Laboratory, Bruce Rappaport
a substance in the grapes that used to make theFaculty of Medicine, Technion, The Rappaport Family
wine known as polyphenols. However, recent testsInstitute for Research in the Medical Sciences and
have shown that although less polyphenols areRambam Medical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel.
present in grape juice than red wine, grape juice is9 Adv Exp Med Biol. 2002;505:113-22. Polyphenol
better at inhibiting atherosclerosis [1]. Purple Grapeantioxidants in citrus juices: in vitro and in vivo studies
juice has also been found to help patients withrelevant to heart disease. Vinson JA, Liang X, Proch J,
coronary artery disease due to significantly improvingHontz BA, Dancel J, Sandone N. Department of
the function of the cells (endothelial) lining theChemistry, University of Scranton, PA 18510-4626,
hardened arteries as well inhibiting inappropriateUSA.
platelet activation [2]. Purple grape juice's action as a10 Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Nov;72(5):1095-100.
potent platelet inhibitor is important as Platelets areHDL-cholesterol-raising effect of orange juice in
involved in the development of Atherosclerosis [3].subjects with hypercholesterolemia. Kurowska EM,
Other research has shown grape seedSpence JD, Jordan J, Wetmore S, Freeman DJ, Piche
proanthocyanidin extracts reducing Atherosclerosis byLA, Serratore P. Departments of Biochemistry,
up to 50% in animals. [4] Although that study wasUniversity of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
for grape seed extract alone, other studies have11 Clin Chem. 2000 Nov;46(11):1818-29. Influence of
shown that the combination of grape seed extractincreased fruit and vegetable intake on plasma and
and grape skin, as you would find in the juice, is morelipoprotein carotenoids and LDL oxidation in smokers
effective [5].and nonsmokers. Chopra M, O'Neill ME, Keogh N,
Fruit Juices Reduce CholesterolWortley G, Southon S, Thurnham DI. Northern Ireland
Pomegranate juice also offers wide protectionCentre for Diet and Health, School of Biomedical
against cardiovascular diseases6 and has been shownSciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County
to reduce cholesterol build up in plaque [7] and reduceLondonderry, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA, United
the development of atherosclerosis [8].Kingdom.
In laboratory tests orange juice has been found to12 J Nutr. 2000 Sep;130(9):2200-6. Moderate
lower cholesterol and significantly inhibitintervention with carotenoid-rich vegetable products
atherosclerosis [9]. A 750ml serving of orange juicereduces lipid peroxidation in men. Bub A, Watzl B,
daily has been shown to decreased the LDL-HDLAbrahamse L, Delincee H, Adam S, Wever J, Muller H,
cholesterol ratio by 16% in tests on people [10].Rechkemmer G. Institute of Nutritional Physiology,
Tests on smokers has shown that carrot and orangeFederal Research Centre for Nutrition, D-76131
juice combined significantly susceptibility of LDL toKarlsruhe, Germany.
oxidation [11] (the process that increases plaque).13 Lipids. 1998 Oct;33(10):981-4. Tomato lycopene
As little as 330 mL of tomato juice [12] has also beenand low density lipoprotein oxidation: a human dietary
shown to significantly reduce LDL oxidation [13]intervention study. Agarwal S, Rao AV. Department
Adding garlic to vegetable juices takes some gettingof Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University
used to, but garlic has also been shown to decreaseof Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
bad LDL cholesterol while increase HDL cholesterol14 J Nutr. 2001 Mar;131(3s):994S-9S. Study of garlic
[14] as well as reducing LDL oxidation [15].extracts and fractions on cholesterol plasma levels
Plant sterols and stanols found in high quantities inand vascular reactivity in cholesterol-fed rats. Slowing
veg like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower16 haveK, Ganado P, Sanz M, Ruiz E, Tejerina T. Department
been found to reduce LDL cholesterol [17]. Oneof Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Complutense
report says around 2g per day of plant sterol esterUniversity, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
can decrease LDL cholesterol levels from 9% to 20%15 J Nutr. 2001 Mar;131(3s):985S-8S. Suppression of
[18]LDL oxidation by garlic. Lau BH. Department of
Ginger has also been shown to significantly reduceMicrobiology and Molecular Genetics, School of
LDL cholesterol and abnormal cell tissues (AorticMedicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
atherosclerotic lesion) [19] in the arteries around the92350, USA.
heart.16 Curr Opin Lipidol. 2000 Dec;11(6):571-6. Therapeutic
With so much evidence proving the benefits of fruitpotential of plant sterols and stanols. Plat J,
and vegetable juices why on earth would we notKerckhoffs DA, Mensink RP. Department of Human
want to include them in our diet?Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the
1 Atherosclerosis. 2001 May;156(1):67-72. Red wine,Netherlands.
dealcoholized red wine, and especially grape juice,17 Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jan;75(1):79-86. An increase in
inhibit atherosclerosis in a hamster model. Vinson JA,dietary carotenoids when consuming plant sterols or
Teufel K, Wu N. Department of Chemistry, Universitystanols iseffective in maintaining plasma carotenoid
of Scranton, Linden and Monroe Streets,concentrations. Noakes M, Clifton P, Ntanios F,
2 Adv Exp Med Biol. 2002;505:95-111. Potential healthShrapnel W, Record I, McInerney J. CSIRO Health
benefits from the flavonoids in grape products onSciences and Nutrition, Adelaide, Australia.
vascular disease. Folts JD. Coronary Thrombosis18 Circulation. 2001 Feb 27;103(8):1177-9. AHA Science
Research Laboratory, University of Wisconsin MedicalAdvisory. Stanol/sterol ester-containing foods and
School, Madison, USA.blood cholesterollevels. A statement for healthcare
3 J Nutr. 2000 Jan;130(1):53-6. Grape juice, but notprofessionals from the Nutrition Committee of the
orange juice or grapefruit juice, inhibits human plateletCouncil on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism
aggregation. Keevil JG, Osman HE, Reed JD, Folts JD.of the American Heart Association. Lichtenstein AH,
Cardiology Section of Department of Medicine,Deckelbaum RJ.
University of Wisconsin, Madison,19 J Nutr. 2000 May;130(5):1124-31. Ginger extract
WI 53792, USA.consumption reduces plasma cholesterol, inhibits LDL
4 ol Cell Biochem. 2002 Nov;240(1-2):99-103. Beneficialoxidation and attenuates development of
effects of a novel IH636 grape seedatherosclerosis in atherosclerotic, apolipoprotein
proanthocyanidin extract and a niacin-bound chromiumE-deficient mice. Fuhrman B, Rosenblat M, Hayek T,
in a hamster atherosclerosis model. Vinson JA,Coleman R, Aviram M. Lipid Research Laboratory,
Mandarano MA, Shuta DL, Bagchi M, Bagchi D.Technion Faculty of Medicine, The Rappaport Family
Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton,Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences and
Scranton, PA, USA.Rambam Medical Center, Haifa,
5 J Nutr. 2002 Dec;132(12):3592-8. Grape seed andIsrael.