Cardiovascular disease phytochemicals

There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of chemical constituents in plants that may have health-promoting properties. Increasingly, food and drinks companies are looking to exploit the association between phytochemicals and reduced risks of developing cancer or cardiovascular disease. Phytochemicals that are currently attracting the most attention include the antioxidant vitamins C, E and P-carotene polyphenols sterols carotenoids (particularly lycopene and lutein) and the flavonoids (particularly phytoestrogens) [see Chapters 2, 3 and 4]. 

There is now a growing body of evidence to suggest that phytochemicals may have a protective role against a variety of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Part 1 reviews this body of evidence, its strengths and its weaknesses. Chapter 2 discusses the ways in which phenolic... 

The above scientific information on rice bran phytochemicals indicates that a multitude of mechanisms are operating at the cellular level to bring about specific health effects. Several health benefits of rice bran appear to be the result of the synergistic function of the many phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which operates through a specific immune response. Their role in the biochemical mechanisms at the cellular level which result in major health effects is shown in Fig. 17.1. A short overview summarizing the effect of the various phytochemicals on major health issues such as cancer, immune function, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, altered liver function and gastrointestinal and colon disease will be given below. 

Phytochemicals have been the subject of many studies evaluating their effects in relation to common chronic human illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. These studies encounter difficulties in using this information to influence the dietary patterns of consumers because in the past they have used models or experiments with animals. However, in the last decade, researchers have moved away from animal studies in favour of human cell models or human intervention studies. Scientists still need to determine the likely incidence of illness from exposure to known amounts of a given natural compound in the diet and specifically in relation to the complex matrices of whole foods. Therefore, it is inevitable that some animal studies have to be continued for toxicological studies. 

Flavonoids are natural dietary phytochemicals and are currently the focus of much nutritional and therapeutic interest. However, the benefit of dietary flavonoids as part of a diet or as supplements is unclear. Results of population studies suggest that adopting flavonoid-rich diets may protect against cardiovascular disease [Hertog et al., 1995 Keli et al., 1996 Knekt et al., 1996 Huxley et al., 2003 Sesso et al., 1999 Yochum et al., 1999 Hirvonen et al., 2001 ... 

Evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may protect against coronary heart disease is accumulating. It is unclear exactly which substances in fruits and vegetables are responsible for the observed inverse association with cardiovascular disease. The inverse association may be attributed to folate, antioxidant vitamins, or other constituents such as fiber, potassium, fla-vonoids, or other phytochemicals. The protective effect of folate may be attributed to its role as a cosubstrate in homocysteine metabolism (Eichholzer et al., 2001). 

Provides research results on botanicals and inflammation, green tea formulations and skin health, and the effects of phytochemicals on vision, brain function, and cardiovascular disease... 

A variety of antioxidant phytochemicals in apples include catechin, procyanidins, hydroxyciimamates, flavonols, anthocyanins, and dihy-drochalcones. The consumption of apple contributes to the reduced risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer (Boyer and Liu, 2004). In a recent study, the phenolic phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of 67 varieties of apple cultivars were examined by Wojdylo et al. (2008). The total content of these phytochemicals varied from 0.5 to 2.7% of dry weight. In apple juice, the total phenolic content ranged from 0.02 to 0.1% of juice. Catechin and procyanidins are the major classes of apple phenolics, representing more than 80% of the total content. A small amount of anthocyanin was also found in red apples. The results of this study demonstrated that new varieties of apple, such as Ozark Gold, Julyred, and Jester, had the same... 

Johnson, L Williamson, G. 2003. Nutritional phenolics and cardiovascular disease. In Phytochemical Functional Foods (Johnson, L Williamson, G., Eds.). CRC Press, Cambridge, England, pp. 5-17. 

The rich red color of strawberries comes from numerous phytochemicals of the polyphenol family and its major subgroup, flavonoids, which are densely found in strawberries. One flavonoid class in particular, antho-cyanins, accounts for most of the red pigmentation of strawberries, but also present are ellagic acid, ellagitannins, catechins, and cinnamic acid, each having significant health research interest. In preliminary laboratory tests, these strawberry polyphenols are showing evidence that they may lower the risk of inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. 

Fruits and vegetables contain abundant nutraceuticals or phytochemicals such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, enzymes, dietary fibers, minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids, and anthocyanins and other diverse components including trace chemicals. Interestingly, the flavonoids and anthocyanins in phy to chemicals could be significantly associated with reductions of risk of cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, and improvements and preventions of many other diseases. 

A number of plants and phytochemicals have attracted attention for their ability to reduce many of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Research into these diseases has shown the relationship between lesions, fatty streaking and plaque formation in blood vessels and the development of strokes and myocardial infarctions. These effects are linked to levels of plasma lipids which comprise triglycerides, cholesterol and other fat substances. It is known that the biosynthesis of lipids involves the condensation of several molecules of acetylcoenzyme A and malonylcoenzyme A in a gradual process of elongation of the fatty acid chain involving the sequential addition of two carbon units giving rise to fatty acids such as lauric acid (12 carbons) and eventually to palmitic acid (16 carbons). Palmitic acid is the precursor... 

Phytochemicals and the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Potential Roles for Selected Fruits, Herbs, and Spices... 

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