Scientists from the University of Bristol found that eating large amounts of fatty, sweet and high-calorie foods in childhood contributes to increased atherosclerosis later in life. Research results published In the British Journal of Nutrition (BJN).
The study involved 4,700 people whose dietary data was obtained as part of another study by British scientists – a long-term longitudinal study of parents and children born in the 90s. Researchers collected information about how participants ate at ages seven, ten, and thirteen. The scientists then measured the thickness and stiffness of the artery walls of the volunteers, who were 17 and 24 years old at the time of the new study.
The results showed that seven- and ten-year-old children who ate diets high in calories, fat and sugar were more likely to develop hard arteries during adolescence than those who ate healthy foods. On the contrary, foods such as vegetables, fruits, cheese, whole grains and fish had a significant vascular protective effect.
The decrease in elasticity of blood vessels is a sign of their damage, the study authors noted. In the long run, this can negatively affect heart health and lead to stroke, hypertension and other diseases.
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