European Heart Journal Advance Access originally published online on February 13, 2007
European Heart Journal 2007 28(5):638; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehl516
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Traditional diet: hope for our children
Department of Diabetes
Shushrusha Hospital
698B Ranade Road
Dadar
Mumbai
India
Tel: +91 2224123975 Fax: +91 2224457067 E-mail address: drmanishatalim{at}yahoo.com
The study by Di Salvo et al.1 shows abnormal myocardial deformation properties in obese, non-hypertensive children. Today, children consume a high intake of snack foods (which have N6 PUFA and transfats), confectionery (simple sugars), and carbonated drinks, and a low intake of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and milk.2
A high intake of N6 PUFA, transfats, MUFA, and simple sugars all lead to an increase in triglycerides.3 Plasma triglycerides are a marker of oxidative stress and ectopic lipid deposition in the heart; mild intracellular deposition leads to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and marked deposition to systolic dysfunction.4 The faulty diet of children today (leading to triglyceride deposition) appears to be the most likely cause of abnormal myocardial deformation properties seen here.
Limiting above faulty dietary factors and supplementing omega 3 fat5 would be beneficial. In addition, energy requirements can be met with short-chain saturated fatty acids (present in milk, ghee), which can be readily utilized without mitochondrial beta oxidation and hence will not be a contributor to oxidative stress that would damage the myocardium. Milk, ghee, and unhydrogenated coconut oil have been used in India safely for centuries and India had the lowest incidence of heart disease. After the switch to vegetable oils, the incidence has only been on the rise.
We need to make urgent amends in our recommendations about saturated fats as only long-chain saturated fatty acids (as well as N6 fat and transfat) lead to oxidative stress and insulin resistance.
Reverting back to a traditional low fat cereal-based predominantly lactovegetarian diet supplemented by omega 3 fat and devoid of fatty, fried, refined, preserved, and processed food will pave the way for a healthy and happy future for our children.
References
- Di Salvo G, Pacileo G, Del Giudice EM, Natale F, Limongelli G, Verrengia M, Rea A, Fratta F, Castaldi B, D'Andrea A, Calabro P, Miele T, Coppola F, Russo MG, Caso P, Perrone L, Calabro R. (2006) Abnormal myocardial deformation properties in obese, non-hypertensive children: an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, standard echocardiographic, and strain rate imaging study. Eur Heart J 27:2689–2695.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Gregory J and Lowe S. (2000) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Young People Aged 4 to 18 years: Findings(The Stationary Office, London) 1:.
- Raheja B and Talim M. (1998) Dietary fats and their lipid toxicity: role in pathogenesis of CHD, diabetes and cancer. J Diab Assoc India 38:1–11.
- De las Fuentes L, Waggoner A, Brown A, Darila-Roman V. (2005) Plasma triglyceride level is an independent predictor of altered left ventricular relaxation. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 18:1285–1291.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Todoric J, Loffler M, Huber J, Bilban M, Reimer M, Kadl A, Zeyda M, Waldhausl W, Stulnig T. (2006) Adipose tissue inflammation induced by high fat diet in obese diabetic mice is prevented by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Diabetologia 49:2109–2119.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
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