Everyone knows that aspirin protects against heart disease, right?
Well, it turns out that aspirin may only protect some people from heart disease, and for others, it can actually slightly increase the risk of heart disease. It all seems to depend on a variant of the COMT gene.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is the gene that codes for an enzyme that breaks down dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, as well as other substances. There are many studies on the common genetic polymorphisms of the COMT gene, and most of the studies focus on the neurological aspects of the enzyme.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association looked at the effect of a common COMT polymorphism on cardiovascular disease. The study also looked at the combined effect of the variant along with either aspirin or vitamin E and cardiovascular disease. (more…)
There has been a decades-long debate about which type of fat is best: saturated fat or polyunsaturated fat. Those in the paleo and ketogenic world are quick to tout the benefits of saturated fat; the American Heart Association promotes polyunsaturated fats[ref]. And most people remain just a bit confused about the arguments on either side...
It may depend on your genes as to which answer is right for you. Individualized diet advice instead of generalities that apply to the majority!
Genetic Studies:
There have been several studies that investigated the effects of a high saturated fat diet on cardiovascular disease stratified by genetic variants. (more…)
Wondering if you should cut down on red meat and fat to lower your blood pressure? According to a new study, it could depend on your genes. A recent study in the Journal of the Read more…
Hemochromatosis is a fairly common genetic disease that causes iron to build up in the body. Knowing that you carry the genetic variants for hemochromatosis can literally add years to your life since you can Read more…
Thiamine (thiamin), also known as vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin that serves as a cofactor in the metabolism of carbohydrates, branch chain amino acids, and fatty acids. It is essential and needed in the Read more…
As the weather here turns colder, thoughts turn to preventing colds and the flu. My “go to” method of preventing sickness has always been by loading up on vitamin C, even though recent studies haven’t Read more…
Adiponectin, a hormone discovered in the 1990’s, is secreted by adipose (fat) tissue. It is an anti-inflammatory protein, protective against the effects of low-grade inflammation that are associated with obesity. Although it is made in adipose tissue, Read more…
Butter is evil. Butter is the best! Only cook with Canola oil. Wait — everyone switch back to saturated fats. Olive oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, cold pressed, expeller pressed…. is palm oil now good? Read more…
Coffee — is it good or bad for you? Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, second only to tea! It is sometimes controversial due to its caffeine content. Large, population-wide studies Read more…
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US and around the world, and hand-in-hand with heart disease goes the often demonized cholesterol. Standard medical advice on ideal cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease is Read more…
