Higher cholesterol levels are associated with higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin which lower the risk of heart disease

This study was published in the Journal of Nutrition 2004 Sep;134(9):2387-94

 

Study title and authors:

Correlates of serum lutein + zeaxanthin: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Gruber M, Chappell R, Millen A, LaRowe T, Moeller SM, Iannaccone A, Kritchevsky SB, Mares J.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA. mgruber@facstaff.wisc.edu

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15333733

Lutein and zeaxanthin, are two carotenoids that are concentrated in tissues of the eye and studies have suggested that people with higher levels of these carotenoids are at lower risk for common eye diseases associated with aging (age-related maculopathy and cataracts). Other studies have also shown that lutein and zeaxanthin may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, particularly those of the breast and lung. Emerging studies suggest as well a potential contribution of lutein and zeaxanthin to the prevention of heart disease and stroke see here.

The aim of this study was to investigate health and lifestyle factors that influence levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. The study included 7,059 participants aged 40 years or older.

The study found:
(a) Those who consumed the most lutein and zeaxanthin had 77% higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin compared to those who consumed the least.
(b) Those with the highest lutein and zeaxanthin levels had 17% higher cholesterol levels compared to those with the lowest lutein and zeaxanthin levels.

The data from the study shows that high consumption of lutein and zeaxanthin and higher cholesterol levels are associated with higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin which may lower the risk of common eye diseases associated with aging and also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Low-fat, low-cholesterol diets lead to growth failure in children

This study was published in the American Journal of Diseases of Children 1989 May;143(5):537-42

 

Study title and authors:

Growth failure. A complication of dietary treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Lifshitz F, Moses N.

Department of Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY 11030.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2718985

This study describes the effects of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet on eight children as treatment for "high cholesterol".

The study found that the low-fat, low-cholesterol diet caused growth failure:
(i) Three children had nutritional dwarfing. (Nutritional dwarfing is where there is a marked retardation in growth due to insufficient food consumption).
(ii) In five children, weight loss or insufficient weight gain occurred.

Regarding the diet, the study found:
(a) Children with growth failure consumed significantly less energy and zinc compared to children growing well.
(b) The dietary intakes of the three children with nutritional dwarfing were the most markedly deficient in total energy, fat, and micronutrients.

The data from the study suggests that the diagnosis and dietary treatment of "high cholesterol" may have potentially adverse health consequences. The application of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet may lead to growth failure due to inadequate intake of energy, vitamins, and minerals.