High Fiber Intake Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

High dietary fiber intake, especially from a variety of sources, is related to a reduction in many cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Increased dietary fiber intake is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The results of a study published in the December 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition added unique insight to the growing body of evidence linking higher dietary fiber intake with reduced risk of heart disease.

Data was collected from roughly 2,500 men and 3,500 women (5,961 total). These individuals were already participating in the SU.VI.MAX Study, a trial designed to evaluate the effect of antioxidants on cancer and heart disease incidence over an eight year period. Participants from this study were selected because the SU.VI.MAX Study already required detailed dietary information, making it easy to estimate fiber intakes for the participants.

Higher total and insoluble dietary fiber intakes were associated with reductions in the risks of elevated waist-to-hip ratio (a marker of obesity), hypertension (high blood pressure), plasma apolipoprotein B (LDL cholesterol), apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I ratio (LDL to HDL ratio), triacylglycerols, and homocysteine. Fiber from cereals was associated with a lower body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and homocysteine concentration; fiber from vegetables with a lower blood pressure and homocysteine concentration; and fiber from fruit with a lower waist-to-hip ratio and blood pressure. Fiber from dried fruit or nuts and seeds was associated with a lower body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and fasting apo B and glucose concentrations.

The findings of this study illustrate the significance of increasing fiber intake from various dietary sources. The results also indicate that 25 grams total dietary fiber per day may be the minimum intake required to attain a significant protective effect against cardiovascular disease, and that total dietary fiber intakes of 30-35 grams/day might provide an even greater protective effect.

Lairon D, Arnault N, Bertrais S, Planells R, Clero E, Hercberg S, Boutron-Ruault MC. Dietary fiber intake and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in French adults. 2005. AJCN 82(6):1185-94.

USANA Nutritionals Pharmaceutical Grade

Pharmaceuticals must meet certain standards for quality as established by the United States Pharmacopeia (or USP). The USP is a non-profit organization that works closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the pharmaceutical industry, and health care professionals to establish authoritative standards. These standards are enforceable by the FDA and the governments of more than 35 other countries, and are recognized worldwide as the hallmark of pharmaceutical manufacturing quality.

As you may have noticed, the following statement appears on many USANA product labels:

"Laboratory tested, quality guaranteed. Meets USP specifications for potency, uniformity, and disintegration where applicable."

USANA voluntarily adheres to a rigorous quality assurance program modeled after the pharmaceutical industry. This high standard of manufacturing separates USANA from many other dietary supplement companies.

USANA occasionally receive inquiries asking whether the FDA has audited USANA's facilities for Pharmaceutical GMP compliance. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Because the FDA uses the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) as its legal guideline, our products - regardless of advanced voluntary quality control measures - can only be audited according to DSHEA rules, which currently require adherence to Dietary Supplement GMPs only.

However, please note that USANA products are considered over-the-counter drugs in Canada and Australia, and USANA continues to be audited to drug GMP equivalents by the regulatory organizations in these countries.

Omega–3 Fatty Acid Intake & The Incidence of Age-related Macular Degeneration

Results recently published from a long-term study indicate that people at risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may significantly reduce the risk of this disease by increasing their dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish, nuts and seeds, and fish oil supplements.

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for the vascular and neural health of the retina and may influence the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet. In the dry form, normal tissue in the macula slowly disappears, leaving a pale area referred to as central geographic atrophy (CGA). In the wet form, or neovascular (NV) AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the macula. These vessels leak serum or blood and eventually cause the normal macular tissue to be replaced by scar tissue.

Researchers recently investigated whether omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with a reduced risk of developing both wet and dry forms of AMD. The study involved 1837 people from the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study (AREDS) who were at moderate to high risk of developing AMD. Clinical measurements were obtained in this group over a period of 12 years (from 1992 to 2005).

Participants who reported the highest omega–3 fatty acid intake were 35% less likely than their peers to develop dry (CGA) AMD, and 32% less likely to develop the more common, wet form (NV) AMD.

Over the 12 years of this study, the incidence of CGA and NV AMD was lowest for those reporting the highest consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found primarily in oily fish, nuts and seeds, and fish oil supplements. If these results are applied to the general population, dietary intervention may have a significant preventive effect on the development and progression of AMD.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Dec;90(6):1601-7


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Quercetin Reduces Blood Pressure in Adults with Hypertension

Quercetin, an antioxidant found in onions, berries, and apples, is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Supplementation with quercetin has been shown to reduce hypertension in animal models, but until now has never been tested in hypertensive humans.

Researchers at the University of Utah, in collaboration with USANA Health Sciences, conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to test the effectiveness of quercetin supplementation in lowering unhealthy blood pressure levels. The subjects were divided into two groups: prehypertensives (120-139 mm Hg systolic/80-89 mm Hg diastolic) or stage 1 hypertensives (140-159 mm Hg systolic/90-99 mm Hg diastolic). Over 28 days, the participants were given either 730 mg quercetin/day or placebo.

Blood pressure remained unchanged in prehypertensives after supplementation with quercetin. In contrast, stage 1 hypertensive subjects showed significant reductions in both systolic (-7 mm Hg) and diastolic (-2 mm Hg) blood pressure after quercetin supplementation. This is the first published study to show that quercetin supplementation can reduce blood pressure in hypertensive adult humans. Additionally, it is important to note that quercetin supplementation did not influence the blood pressure of non-hypertensive individuals.

J. Nutr. 137:2405-2411, November 2007

Vitamin D Levels Linked to Healthy Lung Function

Vitamin D may play a role in keeping our lungs healthy, with higher concentrations of vitamin D resulting in positive effects on lung function and health.

Low concentrations of vitamin D have been associated with a number of diseases. Research out of New Zealand indicates that serum concentrations of vitamin D may also influence pulmonary (lung) function.

In a study published in the journal Chest, original analysis was performed on data from 14,091 adult subjects (all participants in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1988 and 1994). Lung function was measured in two ways: by the volume of air that could be forcibly blown out in total (forced vital capacity, or FVC), and the volume blown out in one second (forced expiratory volume, or FEV1). Vitamin D was measured using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a standard indicator of vitamin D levels.

After adjusting for age, gender, height, body mass index, ethnicity, and smoking history, the difference in lung function between the groups with the highest and lowest vitamin D intake was substantial in both the FVC and FEV1 tests (172 mL and 126 mL respectively, p <0.0001). Further adjustment for physical activity, vitamin D supplementation, milk intake, and serum antioxidant status revealed additional strong correlation between the highest and lowest intake groups (142 mL (FVC) and 106 mL (FEV1), p < 0.0001).

Although further studies are necessary to determine whether vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in cases of chronic respiratory disease, this study has shown that vitamin D may have a positive influence on pulmonary health, with greater levels of vitamin D associated with more positive benefits.

Chest 2005 Dec;128(6):3792-8

Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence

In a large sample of U.S. adults, new research indicates that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease.

Inadequate vitamin D levels are known to be associated with certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but until recently the association between vitamin D levels and the prevalence of CVD had not been comprehensively examined in the general U.S. population.

In a recent study published in Atherosclerosis, researchers examined data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a population-based sample of more than 16,000 U.S. adults.

In the total survey population, 1,308 subjects had some form of CVD. Using the standard definition of vitamin D deficiency (a serum level below 20 ng/mL), participants with CVD had a higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency (29.3%) than those without CVD (21.4%). After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, season of measurement, physical activity, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, and vitamin D use, the researchers showed that subjects deficient in vitamin D had a 20% increased risk of CVD.

The results of this analysis indicate a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and CVD prevalence in a large, highly representative sample of the U.S. adult population.

Atherosclerosis 2009 Jul; 205(1):255-60.

What USANA Products for Pregnant or Breast-feeding Women?

The Essentials can serve as an excellent prenatal multivitamin. Proper amounts of folic acid, zinc, and other important vitamins and minerals are all present in this product.

It is important for women who are planning to become pregnant (and those who are currently pregnant) to consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid per day. A full daily dosage of the Essentials provides 1,000 mcg of folic acid. If a mother does not have adequate intake of folic acid within the first few months of pregnancy, the fetus may develop neural tube defects (such as spina bifida). Studies show that taking at least 400 mcg of folic acid can reduce the risk of these birth defects by as much as 70%.

It is important for every expectant mother to ask a doctor about taking an iron supplement, as iron is not included in the Essentials. During pregnancy, women should generally supplement with somewhere between 28 and 90 mg of elemental iron per day, depending on their needs.

Research has also shown that essential fatty acids are critical for developing babies. It may be a good idea to supplement with BiOmega during pregnancy. Before taking any additional or different supplements, discuss them fully with your doctor, as it is important to protect the growing baby and mother.

READ VERY CAREFULLY - The following products, taken as directed, are strongly recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating:

* Essentials
* Active Calcium
* BiOmega

The following products, taken as directed, are generally recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating, based on individual needs:

* USANA Foods (Nutrimeal, Nutrition Bar, Fibergy)

The following products, taken as directed, are recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating ONLY on the advice of a physician:

* HealthPak
* Proflavanol &amp; Proflavanol 90
* E-Prime
* Poly C
* Ginkgo-PS
* Visionex

The following products are NOT generally for use by pregnant or lactating women:

* CoQuinone 30
* Hepasil DTX
* Procosa II
* PhytoEstrin
* Palmetto Plus