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Heritage researcher investigates Green Tea to treat Heart Disease


Dr. Hee Yul Ahn

(Edmonton, AB) Thursday, December 08, 2005... When heart disease patients undergo angioplasty, the intention is to remove a blockage and widen the artery so blood can flow freely. However, these arteries can become narrow again over time to the point where another angioplasty is required. This re-narrowing of the arteries is called restenosis. An Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) supported researcher at the University of Alberta has discovered a unique approach to treating restenosis.

Dr. Hee Yul Ahn, a Professor of Pharmacology at Chungbuk National University in South Korea, has come to the University of Alberta as a visiting scholar and is studying this problem. Dr. Ahn has discovered that catechins, a substance specific to green tea, can prevent arteries from blocking again following an angioplasty. Dr. Ahn is currently investigating whether catechins can also prevent atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Dr. Ahn is collaborating with AHFMR researcher Dr. Sandy Davidge in the Department of Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta. Both Drs. Ahn and Davidge receive support from AHFMR.


** A Photo and Interview Opportunity in a Lab will be Available **


    What: Opportunity to interview:
    • Dr. Hee Yul Ahn and
    • Dr. Sandra Davidge
    When: Thursday December 08, 2005
    Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
    Where: Heritage Medical Research Building - Lab 232
    University of Alberta - (87th Ave. and 113 St.)

Please call Dwayne Brunner, AHFMR Communications, at (780) 966-1518 to arrange an interview.

Backgrounder

  • Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) causes many deaths from heart attack and stroke and accounts for nearly three fourths of all deaths from cardiovascular disease. (source: American Heart Association)

  • 23,500 angioplasties for heart disease in Canada 1995/96. (source: Statistics Canada, Health Canada)

  • 1,204,000 angioplasties were done in the United States in 2002. (source: American Heart Association)

  • Angioplasty: Angioplasty is a procedure to widen party clogged coronary arteries. A catheter (thin tube) containing a tiny balloon is inserted into the artery. Then, the balloon is inflated inside the artery, widening the narrowed section. Finally, the balloon and catheter are removed.

  • Catechins are flavonoid phytochemical compounds that appear predominantly in green tea. Smaller amounts of catechins are also in black tea, grapes, wine, and chocolate. Four polyphenol catechins in green tea include gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

  • Dr. Hee Yul Ahn investigates the cardioprotective benefits of green tea - which has taken him to University laboratories all over the world. Dr. Ahn is a professor of pharmacology at Chungbuk National University in South Korea. He is in Alberta as part of an international collaboration with Heritage researcher and Canada Research Chair Dr. Sandra Davidge.

  • Dr. Sandra Davidge was recruited to Alberta with AHFMR funding and has been supported by the Foundation for ten years. Dr. Davidge's research focuses on cardiovascular physiology with a specific interest in the area of women's health. Studies include understanding the effects of aging and menopause on vascular (blood vessel) function. Her laboratory also studies normal cardiovascular adaptations of pregnancy as well as impaired vascular responses in the pregnancy disorder of pre-eclampsia ( a form of high blood pressure)

  • The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research currently provides funding for over 600 researchers and researchers in training at the Province's three main universities. The foundation supports a community of researchers who generate knowledge that improves the health and quality of life of Albertans and people throughout the world. AHFMR's commitment is to fund health research based on international standards of excellence and carried out by new and established investigators and researchers in training. Total AHFMR funding over 25 years is in excess of $800 million. For more information, visit www.ahfmr.ab.ca