Mineral-rich diet 'may decrease risk of stroke'

Healthcare News
07/07/2008
Research looking into the effects of increased mineral intake.

A diet rich in certain minerals may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, a US study suggests.

Taking higher levels potassium, and possibly calcium and magnesium, through your diet may also reduce the risk of high blood pressure and lower the blood pressure of people with hypertension, according to the findings published in a supplement with the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

Potassium in particular is cited as a reason for low cardiovascular disease rates in vegetarians and in populations with diets that are relatively high in potassium and low in sodium.

Referring to the population of the US, study author Mark C Houston said: "If we were to achieve the correct potassium-sodium ratio through dietary means, there would be less hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the population as a whole."

Last week, one in ten apparently healthy middle-aged participants in a separate US study were found to have suffered "silent strokes".

Sudha Seshadri, co-author of the study and associate professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, said the research highlights the need for early detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in middle-age.

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