Researchers discovered that a nutrient-matched, plant-based diet could prevent and reverse a hidden form of heart disease in hypertensive rats.
A new study from researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University reports that a diet centered on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes may help both prevent and improve heart disease in rats with high blood pressure.
The research explored whether coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) could be lessened in hypertensive rats. CMD is a form of heart disease that develops when very small blood vessels that supply the heart become damaged.
The investigators also aimed to better understand the biological processes that contribute to CMD.
Hypertension is known to strongly increase the risk of CMD, which can result in repeated episodes of chest pain, more frequent hospital stays, heart failure, and a higher likelihood of death. CMD also affects women more severely than men, and women face higher hospitalization rates after receiving the diagnosis.
Current treatments for CMD offer limited benefits, and many patients continue to struggle with serious complications. For this reason, new options are urgently needed. This study is among the earliest to examine whether diet could play a role in managing CMD, and the researchers focused on the potential impact of a plant-based eating pattern.
