Chia (Salvia hispanica) as a tool for helping with Cardiovascular / heart health

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that chia seed (Salvia hispanica) consumption improved the lipid profile, supporting a cardiovascular benefit of chia.

This systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials evaluated dietary supplementation with chia seed (Salvia hispanica), examining its effects on cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, lipids and glycaemia.

This systematic review evaluated the effect of chia seed (Salvia hispanica), rich in proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and fibre, on cardiovascular risk factors in humans, supporting a cardiovascular benefit of chia.

Despite strong correlations linking whole-grain consumption to reductions in heart disease, the physiological mechanisms involved remain ambiguous. We assessed whether Salba (Salvia Hispanica L.) whole grain reduces postprandial glycemia in healthy subjects, as a possible explanation for its cardioprotective effects observed in individuals with diabetes. The study used acute, randomized, double-blind, controlled design in which 11 healthy individuals (6 males and 5 females; body mass index 22.3+/-2.8 kg/m(2)) received 0, 7, 15 or 24 g of Salba baked into white bread. Capillary samples and appetite ratings were collected over 2 h after consumption. A dose-response reduction in postprandial glycemia (P=0.002, r(2)=0.203) was observed with all three doses of Salba, significantly decreasing incremental areas under the curve (iAUCs) and time point-specific blood glucose (P<0.05). Appetite ratings were decreased at 60 min after high, 90 min after high and intermediate and at 120 min after all treatments (P<0.05). Decrease in postprandial glycemia provides a potential explanation for improvements in blood pressure, coagulation and inflammatory markers previously observed after 12-week Salba supplementation in type II diabetes.

Background The effect of increasing the intake of dietary fiber on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is controversial. Methods In a randomized, crossover study, we assigned 13 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to follow two diets, each for six weeks: a diet containing moderate amounts of fiber (total, 24 g; 8 g of soluble fiber and 16 g of insoluble fiber), as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and a high-fiber diet (total, 50 g; 25 g of soluble fiber and 25 g of insoluble fiber), containing foods not fortified with fiber (unfortified foods). Both diets, prepared in a research kitchen, had the same macronutrient and energy content. We compared the effects of the two diets on glycemic control and plasma lipid concentrations. Results Compliance with the diets was excellent. During the sixth week, the high-fiber diet, as compared with the the sixth week of the ADA diet, mean daily preprandial plasma glucose concentrations were 13 mg per deciliter [0.7 mmol per liter] lower (95 percent confidence interval, 1 to 24 mg per deciliter [0.1 to 1.3 mmol per liter]; P=0.04) and mean median difference, daily urinary glucose excretion 1.3 g (0.23; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.03 to 1.83 g; P= 0.008). The high-fiber diet also lowered the area under the curve for 24-hour plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, which were measured every two hours, by 10 percent (P=0.02) and 12 percent (P=0.05), respectively. The high-fiber diet reduced plasma total cholesterol concentrations by 6.7 percent (P=0.02), triglyceride concentrations by 10.2 percent (P=0.02), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations by 12.5 percent (P=0.01). Conclusions A high intake of dietary fiber, particularly of the soluble type, above the level recommended by the ADA, improves glycemic control, decreases hyperinsulinemia, and lowers plasma lipid concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Chia (Salvia hispanica) seed improved liver inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome, indicating anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective effects of chia.