A
study published in the prestigious journal Acta Physiologica provides new
evidence on the benefits of healthy dietary habits in controlling
cardiovascular diseases. The research describes how dietary intervention can
achieve beneficial effects, both functional and molecular, similar to those
provided by pharmacological treatment.
This
study was conducted by researchers from the Metabolism and Vascular Function Research Group (MET-VASC) at
Universidad CEU San Pablo, led by Dr. Beatriz
Somoza, alongside Dr. Fernández-Alfonso
from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and Dr. Chowen from the Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús. The study is
part of a project funded by the Ministry
of Economy and Competitiveness and the Fundación
Universitaria San Pablo CEU/Banco Santander.
In
Spain, 3 out of 10 annual deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease, and 80%
of them could have been prevented, according to the World Health Organization
(WHO), by following a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk factors. Among these
risk factors, obesity stands out due to its high prevalence and its association
with the development of diseases such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and
heart or kidney failure, the main causes of death in Western countries.
The
role of diet in prevention is well known, however, as Beatriz Somoza explains,
"this study demonstrates how the
alteration of the AMPK/CREB/HO-1 pathway, responsible for endothelial damage
associated with obesity, can be a new therapeutic target. Dietary intervention
activates this pathway, demonstrating the effectiveness of non-pharmacological
approaches in the context of vascular damage associated with obesity."
Dr. Somoza highlights the fact that, on the other hand, a healthy diet over
time "allows not only weight loss
but also significantly improves glucose tolerance, which can delay or even
prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, as well as other metabolic disorders."
Although
there is ample evidence supporting the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle
in preventing the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, this
study highlights that dietary intervention can even reverse established
alterations, making it a fundamental pillar of non-pharmacological treatment in
patients with obesity.
This
interesting result could contribute to increasing patients' motivation to
change their dietary habits and, therefore, improve their chances of success in
improving their cardiovascular health. In this experiment, a mouse model with
diet-induced obesity over 8 weeks was used. Half of them had their diet
replaced with a balanced diet during the last 2 weeks. This short period was
sufficient for the dietary intervention group to show significant metabolic and
vascular changes: weight was reduced, and lipid, glycemic, and vascular control
improved.
These
effects were explained by an increase in the activity of the AMPK protein,
which acts as an "energy sensor" for cells. This protein plays a key
role in regulating metabolism and vascular tone by maintaining endothelial
function and reducing oxidative stress. Returning to a healthy diet increased
vascular AMPK activity and the expression of antioxidant proteins catalase and
heme oxygenase. Additionally, it increased the synthesis and availability of
nitric oxide, one of the most important factors in maintaining endothelial
function and, therefore, preventing the development of cardiovascular disease.