Figure 8. Summary of the steps involved in CHD development and the proposed roles played by plant-based diets in preventing CHD.

CHD development can be divided into the preocclusion and postocclusion steps. Traditionally, plant-based diets have been thought to delay artery occlusion through inhibition of atherosclerosis (preocclusion steps). Here, we demonstrated that plant-based diets protect the heart after the onset of occlusion (postocclusion steps); when we consume plant-based diets, we also ingest plant cell wall polysaccharides constituting the diets. Arabinose and xylose generated from the hydrolysis of polysaccharides by microbiota inhabiting the large intestine and absorbed into the body protect the heart against ischaemic injury. Subsequently, they may also be involved in inhibiting the development of heart failure through mitigation of adverse left-ventricular remodelling (See the text for more details). AGP, arabinogalactan-peptide; AX, arabinoxylan; XG, xyloglucan; DF, dietary fibres; SCFA, short-chain fatty acids; MI, myocardial infarction.