Every 34 seconds, an American man or woman dies of cardiovascular disease. Now, research suggests that a diet rich in soybean oil can help. Two new studies shed light on the power of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) to reduce heart disease risk. Soybean oil provides an excellent source of ALA, as do leafy greens, some nuts and flax.
Scientists now believe that ALA decreases C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation strongly associated with heart disease. In one study, Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton of Penn State University studied the effects of three experimental diets: the average American diet, a linoleic acid (LA) diet and an ALA diet. After six weeks, the researchers found that CRP declined after both the LA and ALA diets, but much more significantly in the ALA diet.
The study chose 23 participants who represented the typical individual at risk for cardiovascular disease, selecting 20 men and three women who were overweight, about 50 years old on average, and had moderately elevated total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The study appears in the November issue of the Journal of Nutrition.
In a second study, Dr. Christine Albert of Harvard Medical School examined the diets of women taking part in the Nurses Health Study. Dr. Albert found a protective association between ALA intake and coronary heart disease among the women she observed in the study. The Nurses Health Study has monitored 76,000 women's lifestyles and health over a sixteen year time period. Dr. Albert presented the research at a recent meeting of the American Heart Association.