vegan food for thought
Is lowering phosphate exposure the key to preventing arterial stiffening with age?
C J Ferro1, C D Chue2, R P Steeds3, J N Townend3
1 Department of Nephrology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
2 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
3 Department of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
Correspondence to Dr C J Ferro, Department of Nephrology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2TH, UK;
charles.ferro@uhb.nhs.uk
ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death world wide. Although atheroma is clearly important, the role of arteriosclerotic vascular disease is often overlooked. Arteriosclerosis causes increased arterial stiffness, with consequent systolic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. Serum phosphate is increasingly being recognised as a cardiovascular risk factor and has been implicated in the development of arteriosclerosis and arterial calcification. Its determinants are unclear, but both diet and minor reductions in renal function may be important. Diets in affluent populations are high in phosphate because of increased consumption of animal protein and the use of phosphate-containing preservatives. This viewpoint suggests that the consumption of a phosphate-rich diet, exacerbated by the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease found in ageing populations, accelerates the development of arteriosclerosis. It is hypothesised that reducing phosphate intake will attenuate the progression of arterial stiffness with major beneficial effects upon cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
ps the phosphorus in plant protein is bound and unavailable unlike protein from BEEF which is freely available
GIVE BEEF DA BOOT!
and can lead to stiffening of the artery. 
