Home > RESEARCH > Functional Foods > Dietary hempseed may reduce cardiovascular disease risk

Dietary hempseed may reduce cardiovascular disease risk   Investigators in this featured research sought to assess whether dietary hempseed, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), could potentially reduce platelet aggregation under hypercholesterolemic conditions. Researchers note that hypercholesterolemia is a known risk factor for myocardial infarction due to its influence on increased platelet aggregation, which in turn raises the likelihood of blood clots. Recognizing the prevalence of high levels of cholesterol in the general public, Procuick et al sought to investigate a "plant-derived functional food" as a potential therapeutic alternative to widely available cholesterol-lowering pharmaceutical agents and fish oils supplements (which may be poorly tolerated). They acknowledge that hempseeds are a good source of protein, fiber, vitamin E and PUFAs. The authors also speculate that the therapeutic benefits may be largely due to hemp’s ratio of omega-6:omega-3 PUFAs of approximately 4:1, a ratio Procuick et al cite as recommended by Health Canada as optimal for health and wellbeing.   In this study, male New Zealand rabbits were fed one of six diets for an 8-week period, after which they were weighed and blood was collected for platelet aggregation and lipid analysis. Fatty acids were also extracted and analyzed from the dietary ingredients. The dietary interventions included: "regular control diet (RG); control diet + 10% hempseed (HP); control diet + 10% partially delipidated hempseed (DHP); control diet + 0.5% cholesterol (OL); control diet + 0.5% + 10% hempseed (OLHP); control diet + 5% coconut oil (C0)." Researchers hypothesized that the fatty acid composition of hempseeds would not only diminish platelet aggregation, but do so despite hypercholesterolemic conditions.   Notably, Procuik et al observed that "cosupplementation" of hempseeds and cholesterol actually improves the absorption of the fatty acids in hempseeds, as cholesterol was observed to "stimulate nonselective fatty acid absorption of all fatty acids present in the diet." Hempseeds are especially enriched in the fatty acids linoleic acid (LA) and Á- linolenic acid (GLA), explaining the high levels of GLA in the HP group. It was determined, "for the first time," that GLA has the capacity to significantly "inhibit the cholesterol-induced stimulation of platelet aggregation." This result was noted despite increased plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Because their results demonstrate the capacity of hempseeds rich in GLA to inhibit platelet aggregation despite high circulating cholesterol, researchers conclude their findings "may have significant potential for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease."   Study: Procuick, M. A., et al, Can J Physiol. Pharmacol. 86: 153-159, (2008)

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