Metabolism Nutrients: A Double Hitter for Weight and the Heart
WEIGHT BALANCE
Lynn Toohey
PhD
My January The American Chiropractor article focused on nutrients that support metabolism to foster a healthy weight balance. Obviously, weight balance also has a healthy aspect, i.e., stabilizing insulin receptors and hormones, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, etc. that regulate glucose control. Another healthy aspect of supporting metabolism is the effect it has on the heart. The same mechanisms that help maintain weight, such as increasing ATP (energy) to burn calories, also help support the heart’s energy and ability to pump blood efficiently.
Coleus forskohlii optimizes metabolism support. Many scientists believe that this same mechanism used for weight metabolism support is responsible for the heart benefits seen with supplementation. (Pateraki I. et al. Total biosynthesis of the cyclic AMP booster for skolin from coleus forskohlii. Elife. 2017 Mar 14;6.) This is emphasized by positive reports involving coleus forskohlii and benefits seen in heart-related scenarios. (Mitra M, et al. Coleus forskohlii: advancements... Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Mar; 104(6):2359-2371.)
You would expect that the positive support of coleus forskohlii on the heart would extend to the blood vessels, and it does. Maintaining vessel strength with normal blood flow and pressure is indeed seen with supplementation. (Ma C, et al. Extracts of Coleus forskohlii ... J Cell Biochem. 2019 Jun;120(6).9648-9655; Metzger H, & Lindner E. The positive inotropic-acting for skolin... Arzne im itte Iforschung. 1981;31 (8): 1248-50.)
D-Ribose is another nutrient that supports both digestive/weight metabolism and also heart metabolism. Qualities include beneficial influences on the amount of blood pumped from the heart with each contraction (ejection fraction), diastolic function (energy dependent), and heart integrity. In fact, a recent, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study involving 216 people resulted in a conclusion that, “These findings support the use of these supplements in addition to standard therapeutic treatments” for supporting blood pumped from the heart. (Pierce JD, et al. ... D-ribose in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Am J Cardiol. 2022 Aug 1;176:79-88.)
Reduced oxygen caused by lower metabolism leads to lower cellular energy levels, which affects a cell’s integrity and function. Scientists have reported that ribose has demonstrated significant abilities in supporting cellular energy levels following lowered oxygen levels. (Recent Pat Cardiovasc Drug Discov. 2010 Jun;5(2): 13842.) The patented uses of d-ribose.... Shecterle LM(1), Terry KR, St Cyr JA.) In fact, researchers state that, “Ribose appears to provide a solution to the problem in ... depressed ATP levels and functional status of patients.” (J Diet Suppl. 2008;5(2):213-7. Ribose in the heart. Herrick J, St Cyr J.)
Flavonoids are double hitters. They consist of a group of natural substances high in polyphenols and antioxidant power that exhibit many health properties, among which are support for weight metabolism and support for heart health. Pomegranate and blueberries are examples of nutrients high in flavonoids and, hence, high in healthy polyphenols.
Hesperidin is a specific bioflavonoid. The polyphenols in hesperidin are correlated with many metabolic benefits, such as healthy weight maintenance and metabolic fat oxidation. (Meydani M & Hasan, ST. Dietary Polyphenols and Obesity. Nutrients. 2010 Jul; 2(7): 737-751.) Like many other flavonoids, hesperidin has been noted to affect heart metabolism. Results are very positive when observing the influence of flavonoids on metabolic cardiovascular parameters. Also noted is the specific support impact of flavonoids such as hesperidin on the vessel wall. (Assini JM, et al. Citrus flavonoids and lipid metabolism. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2013 Feb;24(l):34-40.)
...several nutrients serve a double purpose when looking to support general metabolism for weight maintenance or heart metabolism for health benefits.
Pomegranate has an abundance of flavonoids and polyphenols. It is exceptional support for digestive/weight metabolism and also heart metabolism. Additionally, a gut microflora-derived metabolite of pomegranate called ellagitannin is known for helping maintain proper metabolic function, positively supporting energy expenditure (calorie burning), brown-fat and white-tobrown fat conversion, weight maintenance, and glucose homeostasis. (XiaB, etcil. Urolithin A exerts ... effects through enhancing adipose tissue ... PLoS Biol. 2020 Mar 27; 18(3).)
Pomegranate is another double hitter nutrient, supporting heart metabolism as much as it supports digestive and weight metabolism. Researchers went so far as to say pomegranate has potent cardiovascular action.
(Zhao CN, Meng X, Li Y, Li S, Liu 0, Tang GY, Li HB. Nutrients. 2017 Jun 13;9(6):598.)
Blueberries are yet another flavonoid double hitter. Aside from the fact that blueberries have been well documented for their heart benefits, research suggests that blueberries can change the way we metabolize fat and sugar, and in fact, may even influence the genes involved with metabolism. Blueberries support healthy metabolism and insulin levels at least partially through a gut microbiota-dependent mechanism.
(Morissette A, et al. Blueberry proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins ...metabolic health... Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jun 1 ;318(6):E965-E980.)
The effect of blueberries on cardiometabolic function was studied in a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, and researchers determined that blueberries have a definite support benefit for vascular function, nitric oxide, and lipoprotein status. (Curtis PJ, et al. Blueberries ...biomarkers of cardiometabolic function in participants... Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Jun 1; 109(6): 1535-1545.)
In conclusion, several nutrients serve a double purpose when looking to support general metabolism for weight maintenance or heart metabolism for health benefits. Many flavonoids fit this bill (including pomegranate, blueberries, green tea, etc.), in addition to herbs and nutrients, such as coleus forskohlii and d-Ribose.
Dr. Lynn Toohey organizes seminars, acts Health (www.nutriwest, a Evaluation nutritional com) and program consultant authored that analyzes to the Functional blood Nutri-West tests and DN Arawdata (www.FHEcloud.com). Reach her at [email protected] with any questions.
