Monthly Archives: July 2017

A recent research review, conducted by Dr. Vladimir Vuksan at St. Michael’s Hospital, stated that consuming barley or products containing barley products ceases components of “bad cholesterol”–low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels by seven percent. Published in The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the paper also emphasizes that barley is shown to be equally effective as oats in reducing bad cholesterol levels and overall cardiovascular risk.

One of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease are surging cholesterol levels and diabetes. Although, drugs form the primary therapy, it is also pertinent to consider dietary and other lifestyle modifications that can make a lot of difference in curbing down the risk factors. The review encompasses 14 clinical trials from seven countries, including Canada and is the first to investigate the effects of barley on LDL, non-HDL and apolipoprotein B (apoB); a lipoprotein carrying total bad cholesterol in the blood.

According to the review, many studies have documented barley’s positive effects not only towards lowering bad cholesterol but also apoB, which is a pivotal element in assessing cardiovascular risk. These findings hold much importance for high risk populations (e.g. Type 2 diabetes) who show normal LDL levels but actually have high non-HDL or apoB levels. Benefits of barley consumption is not limited to just high-risk populations but also people without cholesterol hike since it is fibre-rich; has twice the protein and half the calories of oats. Consumption of barley to cut short cardiovascular risk has already been implemented in the Canadian strategy. Several other authorities have also approved health benefits of barley.

A new study, lead by Dr. Florian Herse, has demonstrated that preeclamptic women contain lower levels of placenta’s immune protein CD74 and higher levels of certain inflammatory factors, which is responsible for abnormal placenta formation during pregnancy. The fetus receives nourishment from mother through the placenta. Preeclampsia happens when there is disrupted placental growth and is manifested as high blood pressure, water retention and protein in urine. It can also affect fetal growth and development.

Preeclampsia has been nicknamed “the disease of theories” as its exact cause is yet unclear. Published in the Circulation, the study performed translational research using human subjects, cell cultures and animal models; applied comprehensive methodology to get robust results and provided solid evidence of correlation between CD74 receptor protein of immune cells and preeclampsia. The CD74 receptors are found on active large phagocytic cells (macrophages) in the placenta, which interact with and stimulate other placental cells (trophoblasts). Scientists, in preparatory research, identified fewer than expected CD74 receptors on placental macrophages in preeclamptic women. Researchers then went in depth and restrained CD74 receptor production on placental macrophages in cell cultures and observed that the cells produced pro-inflammatory factors in response.

Further, the structures of placentas in mice without CD74 receptor protein were disrupted and less functional than in control mice. Based on this finding, the study emphasizes that interrupted macrophage-trophoblast interaction is the underlying cause of inflammation and abnormal placental growth and that this interaction should be perfect during pregnancy to avert the occurrence of preeclampsia.