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A combination of common sense advice with strong individual support is an important aspect of naturopathic care

Naturopathic treatment lowers heart disease risk

Natural Health News — Postal workers at high risk of developing heart disease, experienced significant health gains from regular consultations with a naturopathic doctor, according to a new study.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, followed the progress of Canada Post employees deemed to be at risk for heart disease and concluded that those receiving naturopathic treatment were more likely to lose weight and lower their blood pressure than a control group taking a business-as-usual approach

Participants across the country were divided into two groups and followed between 2008-2010. Both groups received care from their family physicians; those in the naturopathic group also received health promotion counselling, nutritional medicine and/or dietary supplementation from regulated naturopathic doctors seven times during the year.  

All participants had a relatively high risk of developing heart disease, with 55% of the participants displaying metabolic syndrome, defined as the presence of three of these five conditions: abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high levels of triglyceride (fat) or sugar in their blood.

All were encouraged to lose  5-10 pounds (2.3–4.6 kg) through exercise and diet.

Both groups saw health improvements, but 48% of the control group still had metabolic syndrome after a year, compared to 31% of the naturopathic group – a difference of 17%.

In addition those who received naturopathic care had a 3% lower risk of experiencing a serious cardiovascular event (e.g., heart attack, stroke or death) during the next 10 years.

Individual treatment

Because naturopathic treatment is tailored to the individual it is not possible to say what specific aspect of the treatment proved most helpful. Indeed it may be that the individual nature of the treatment is what was most important.

Participants in weren’t prescribed any special naturopathic remedies, but some took omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fibre, coenzyme Q10 or plant sterols – all commonly available supplements used to promote heart health. All were given encouragement and support to lose weight and exercise more.

Co-author Serenity Aberdour, a naturopathic doctor at Vancouver’s Horizon Naturopathic clinic, said in an interview with the Vancouver Sun.

“There was definitely no magic pill, no one supplement that was given to everybody. It was more to look at the effects of naturopathic medicine as a system and working one-on-one with people to help them make those changes”.

Helpful support

The study’s lead author, Dugald Seely, a naturopathic doctor and founder of the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, added the research is the fourth trial sponsored by Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers with a focus on improving employee health.

In this case, the advice on nutrition, exercise and supplements isn’t “rocket science,” he said, but added the coaching aspect of naturopathic medicine is more likely to get patients to stick to a healthy regimen.

“That information is certainly out there and it is available but people don’t necessarily take it upon themselves without support.”

Furthermore, a traditional medical approach to metabolic syndrome might focus on prescribing cholesterol-reducing medication called statins, such as Lipitor, rather than on an improved diet, he said.

The dietary advice offered to participants receiving naturopathic care was based on the Mediterranean and Portfolio diets.