Artery & Stroke Protection

read more articles on heart problems

"Atherosclerosis 'hardening of the arteries] is a major cause of 'heart attacks] and stroke in the U.S.," as researchers at Penn. State University point out. But why? That's what Drs. Weaver and Sidello there wanted to find out.

They then observed that within the protective layer around blood vessels, there were cell types that had a predilection for self-destruction. They noted that these cells appeared because of an undersupply of the body's anti-oxidant system.*

In their investigation they found that there was a shortage of selenium in these cells and when this was rectified, the self-destruction ceased to occur.

*An under-supply of glutathione peroxidase in this case, which requires selenium for its creation. This enzyme is one of a family of such protectors we produce naturally.

DETAILS: Selenium, while required by the body, is toxic in large doses. It is suggested that the dosage be kept at a maximum of 200 micrograms per day, including any in multiple vitamin supplements.

Artery & Stroke Protection Bibliography

FASEB Conference on Experimental Biology '99. Drs. Weaver and Sidello