Thursday, August 16, 2012

Blood Type Related to Heart Risk

Not all blood types may be alike when it comes to heart disease risk. According to researchers in journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, certain blood types seem to be associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease than others. 

Specifically, people with type AB have a 23 percent increased risk of the condition compared with type Os. People with type B blood had an 11 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease, and people with type A blood had a 5 percent higher risk compared with people with type O blood. 43 percent of people in the U.S have Type O blood. 

The study included blood type analysis from nearly 100,000 people between ages 30 and 75, who participated in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, in which they were followed for at least 20 years. 

The researchers said they have yet to understand the exact cause for the blood type-heart disease connection. They did say that past research has suggested a link between having A type blood and higher levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and a link between having AB type blood and inflammation.

Last year, a study presented at the conference of the American Heart Association suggested a link between blood type and stroke risk. That study showed that AB type blood in men and women, and B type blood in women, is linked with an increased risk of stroke, compared with people with O type blood.

Bonnie: Unfortunately, one thing we cannot change is our blood type. That said, it is always good to know your blood type. This study confirms from what I have witnessed over the years: blood type O's do very well eating a lot of animal protein and do not see as many adverse cardiac events.

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