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Salicylic Acid May Protect Vegetarians From Disease

The high salicylic acid content of fruits and vegetables may explain why vegetarians suffer less heart disease and bowel cancer than meat-eaters, suggests research in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.

Salicylic acid is the main anti-inflammatory component of aspirin, which is widely prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks. Research also suggests that aspirin may combat bowel, breast, and lung cancer as well as Alzheimer's disease.

When researchers analyzed the blood samples taken from 37 vegetarians and 39 meat and fish-eaters in their early 40s, they found that blood levels of salicylic acid were up to 12 times higher in the vegetarians.

(Although average blood levels of salicylic acid were much lower among the vegetarians than among 14 diabetic patients in their late 50s who were taking 75 mg of aspirin a day, the range of blood values overlapped between these two groups.)

The researchers point out that although dietary intake does not mimic the anti-clotting properties of aspirin, most cardiovascular disease is the result of artery narrowing and hardening, which is a chronic inflammatory disease process.

And they add that even very low levels of dietary salicylic acid may inhibit powerful pro-inflammatory enzymes. This perhaps explains why a diet rich in fruits and vegetables protects vegetarians from serious illness such as heart disease and bowel cancer, they suggest.

(Reference: Salicylic acid in the serum of subjects not taking aspirin. Comparison of salicylic acid concentrations in the serum of vegetarians, non-vegetarians, and patients taking low dose aspirin, Journal of Clinical Pathology 2001; 54: 553-5)

[Contact: British Medical Association Public Affairs Division]

28-Jun-2001

 

 

 

 

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