View clinical trials related to Diet Therapy.
Filter by:Our antibiotic studies indicated that cholesterol lowering was seen when fecal bifidobacterial counts were increased. Due to the dangers associated with prolonged antibiotic use we have been funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation to see if gut bacteria can be modified by non-antibiotic means. Inulin a dietary fiber found in artichokes, chicory, leaks, onion, etc., (which also produces flatulence) has been shown to increase bifidobacteria and also appears to lower serum cholesterol. We will therefore test the fiber to determine its effectiveness in lowering serum cholesterol and whether it can be used to maximize the cholesterol-lowering effects of soy protein foods and viscous fiber foods (e.g. oats and psyllium).
To assess the effects of almonds on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors (serum lipids, measurements of oxidative stress and nitric oxide production) when added to the diets of subjects with high cholesterol. Also, to assess whether the amount of almonds consumed (i.e. almond dose) decreases CHD risk factors in a dose dependent manner. We hypothesize that since almonds have been shown to reduce serum lipids, we believe they will also increase nitric oxide levels related to their high levels of arginine and reduce markers of oxidative stress related to their content of bioactive phenolics. We anticipate that a dose-dependent relationship will be observed resulting in greater reductions in risk factors for coronary heart disease when greater doses of almonds are consumed.
Low and very low carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins' Diet, have recently gained attention for their potential health benefits from weight loss and have gained some scientific support from a growing number of studies. Benefits have been noted in relation to raised "good" cholesterol, lower "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides. Other studies have shown an advantage in substituting vegetable fat for carbohydrate in insulin resistant individuals and in some instances in type 2 diabetes where improvements were seen in "good" cholesterol and blood sugars. At the same time, our research have been exploring diets containing less processed carbohydrates and other components which in combination (portfolio diet) have a similar cholesterol lowering effect to drug therapy. Therefore we wish to determine whether our cholesterol-lowering components (portfolio diet) should be incorporated into lower carbohydrate diets especially to preserve "good" cholesterol and lower "bad" cholesterol for decreasing the risk of heart disease.
An alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) rich diet in the Lyon Heart Study reduced sudden cardiac deaths possibly by reducing cardiac arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation (Lancet 1994). Since then, there has been a growing interest in ALA as a cardioprotective nutrient. Much of the interest has focused on the potential antiarrhythmic effect of ω-3 fatty acids, especially the longer chain ω-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, derived from fish. We therefore concluded it important to test whether the shorter chain ω-3 vegetable oil ALA also had antiarrhythmic effects, since this might also explain the beneficial effects seen on cardiovascular mortality in the Lyon Heart Study.
To determine if tree nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Peanuts, Macadamia nuts, Pecans, Walnuts and Cashews) improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, as assessed by HbA1c and serum fructosamine, and to assess whether these outcomes relate to improvements in cardiovascular health (i.e. plasma lipids and measures of oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers and nitric oxide generation). The investigators have found that nuts tend to reduce the glycemic index of bread and have little effect of raising blood glucose on their own. Therefore the investigators believe that they would be ideal foods to displace high glycemic foods from the diet and lower the dietary glycemic load. This will result in improved blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes, with additional benefits on coronary heart disease risk factors due to other effects of nuts.
An alpha linolenic acid (ALA) rich diet in the Lyon Diet Heart Study reduced sudden cardiac deaths possibly by reducing cardiac arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation (Lancet 1994). Since then, there has been a growing interest in ALA, ω-3 fatty acid family precursor, as a cardioprotective nutrient. Much of the interest has focused on the potential antiarrhythmic effect of longer chain ω-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, derived from fish. We therefore concluded it important to test wether vegetable source ω-3 also had antiarrhythmic effects, as shown in animals by Leaf and McLennan, since this might also explain the beneficial effects seen on cardiovascular mortality in the Lyon Diet Heart Study.
The Question posed is: Does an barley protein concentrate have health benefits similar to those demonstrated for soy protein foods which would justify the use of the non-fiber components of barley as functional food ingredients? Hypotheses: 1. Cholesterol Lowering: There is good evidence indicating that soy protein lowers serum cholesterol levels. The evidence was strong enough for a health claim for coronary heart disease risk reduction to be approved by the FDA. In addition, we have found that wheat gluten significantly reduced serum triglyceride levels. However, there is a need to assess the possible health benefits other vegetable protein sources. Barley is grown in relatively large amounts in Canada and barley protein would be a readily available vegetable protein source if health attributes could be ascribed to it. In addition other components of barley, including plant sterols and phenolics, may have hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant properties. 2. Antioxidant: In addition to cholesterol-lowering and possibly of equal importance in terms of prevention of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, the barley phenolics associated with barley protein and may have added benefits as antioxidants. 3. Markers of Inflammation: Barley components are considered to be hypoallergenic. Hence their use in the cosmetic industry. Auto-immune and inflammatory responses are associated with increased CHD risk. Barley protein consumption may therefore reduce the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines; and the acute phase proteins. 4. Arterial Dilatation: Barley proteins may also have beneficial effects on vascular reactivity which may reduce CHD risk on account of their higher arginine:lysine ratio. Arginine enhances nitric oxide synthesis associated with endothelial relaxation and arterial dilatation. Barley may therefore increase pulmonary nitric oxide levels.
The problem is the lack of data from randomized controlled trials to throw light on the ALA-prostate cancer issue. There is therefore a need to acquire evidence from a randomized controlled study to illustrate the effect of ALA on a surrogate marker for prostate cancer, namely prostate specific antigen (PSA). Demonstration that atrial fibrillation recurrence was reduced after cardioversion and that there was no adverse effect of 1 years of ALA feeding on PSA would go a considerable way to providing the required evidence that ALA in the human diet has no adverse effect on the prostate and so allow its use for cardiovascular risk reduction. hypothesis: The effect of ALA on PSA levels over time will be no different from the control, so providing supportive data for the view that ALA is not cancer promoting.
The primary purpose of this study was to compare weight loss achieved through a behavioral online intervention vs. a commercial self-help website. The investigators hypothesized that there would be no difference in weight loss between groups.