Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of resistance training, designed to prevent the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) based on the Framingham Risk Assessment (FRA) score. Twenty-five healthy sedentary men with low CHD risk were assigned to participate in a 16-week (three days per week) resistance training programme (n = 13) or non-exercising control group (CG) (n = 12). Resistance training was performed using eight whole-body exercises for three sets of 15 repetitions at 60% of one-repetition maximum. Resistance training did not significantly (p > 0.05) reduce the number of cigarettes smoked daily (p > 0.133) or TC (p > 0.917), while significant improvements were found in SBP (p < 0.003), HDLC (p < 0.005) and FRA score (p < 0.021); thus improving absolute 10-year risks for CHD. The CG subjects were found to have had no significant changes in number of cigarettes smoked daily (p > 0.831), TC (p > 0.678), HDLC (p > 0.672) or FRA score (p > 0.504), but SBP increased significantly (p < 0.030). These data indicate that resistance training can effectively reduce the predicted risk of developing CHD, even in men with already low risk.

Cardiovascular disease causes 30% of deaths globally. By comparison, infectious disease accounts for 10% of global mortality. As these statistics indicate, cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the world. In South Africa, through urbanisation and changes in lifestyle and dietary habits, the prevalence of risk factors and, by extension, the resulting morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in black people, are expected to increase. Owing to the natural progression of the disease, the first ‘westernised illness’ is hypertension, which is very prevalent among the black population. Knowledge and awareness of risk factors are essential components of behaviour change; however, little is known about the knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease among the working-age people in the Ga-Rankuwa community. The purpose of the study was therefore to determine the knowledge and awareness of the identified risk factors among the working-age people (18-40 years old) in the Ga-Rankuwa community. The design was a quantitative survey. The study sample (n=604) was selected from zones 1, 2, 4 and 16 of Ga-Rankuwa to determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Only people with an identified risk factor were included in the knowledge and awareness survey (n=551). Data was gathered from July to October 2005. The data gathering was self-reported with a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and statistical analysis. The results obtained from the knowledge and awareness survey indicate that knowledge and awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are low in the Ga-Rankuwa community.

Wild rice is recognized as a whole grain by U.S. FDA and it is rich in polyphenol compounds. This study aimed to investigate the potential cardiovascular benefits of wild rice in LDLr-KO mice. Seventy-two male and female mice were randomly assigned to 3 different diet groups, control diet (a), white diet (b), and wild diet (c) for 24 weeks. Dietary cholesterol 0.06 % (w/w) was added in all diets, and digestible carbohydrate source was replaced with: (a) commercial carbohydrate source (sucrose and corn starch); (b) white rice; (c) wild rice. Incorporation of wild rice in the diet distinctly increases total phenolic content of the diet. Plasma total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol levels declined significantly in wild diet group. The hypocholesterolemic properties of wild rice were mainly attributed to the increased excretion of fecal cholesterol. Our data suggest that substituting refined grains with wild rice may potentially lower cardiovascular risks.

No description available.

Wild rice is recognized as a whole grain by U.S. FDA and it is rich in polyphenol compounds. This study aimed to investigate the potential cardiovascular benefits of wild rice in LDLr-KO mice. Seventy-two male and female mice were randomly assigned to 3 different diet groups, control diet (a), white diet (b), and wild diet (c) for 24 weeks. Dietary cholesterol 0.06 % (w/w) was added in all diets, and digestible carbohydrate source was replaced with: (a) commercial carbohydrate source (sucrose and corn starch); (b) white rice; (c) wild rice. Incorporation of wild rice in the diet distinctly increases total phenolic content of the diet. Plasma total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol levels declined significantly in wild diet group. The hypocholesterolemic properties of wild rice were mainly attributed to the increased excretion of fecal cholesterol. Our data suggest that substituting refined grains with wild rice may potentially lower cardiovascular risks.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University