Cardiovascular disease reactive oxygen species

In the last few decades, several epidemiological studies have shown that a dietary intake of foods rich in natural antioxidants correlates with reduced risk of coronary heart disease particularly, a negative association between consumption of polyphenol-rich foods and cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. This association has been partially explained on the basis of the fact that polyphenols interrupt lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). A large body of studies has shown that oxidative modification of the low-density fraction of lipoprotein (LDL) is implicated... 

The protective effects of carotenoids against chronic diseases appear to be correlated to their antioxidant capacities. Indeed, oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation are at the basis of oxidative processes occurring in cardiovascular incidents, cancers, and ocular diseases. Carotenoids are then able to scavenge free radicals such as singlet molecular oxygen ( O2) and peroxyl radicals particularly, and protect cellular systems from oxidation. 

Lipid peroxidation is a problem not only in the edible oil, but also in the human body. Excess production of oxygen radical species and particularly hydroxyl radicals can affect lipid cell membranes to produce lipid peroxides and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are linked to a variety of diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and acceleration of the aging process. 

Ascorbic Acid Deficiency. Scurvy is the classical disease associated with ascorbate deficiency. It is a disease of the connective tissue and probably is caused by inadequate crosslinking attributed to a lack of hydroxy-lated proline and lysine. Many consider scurvy to be an advanced stage of ascorbate deficiency. Chronic deficiencies may also (l)in-crease risk for malignancies, as evidenced by oxidized DNA markers and increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (2) decreased immune function, as evidenced by less vitamin in neutrophils and lymphocytes (3) cardiovascular disease caused by the inflammatory response on the blood vessel walls and (4) cataract formation caused by decreased concentrations of ascorbate in the ocular tissues. 

Abe, J., and Berk, B.C. (1998) Reactive Oxygen Species as Mediators of Signal Transduction in Cardiovascular Disease, Trends Cardiovasc. Med. 8,59-64. 

It is well known that drinking wine and grape juices will reduce cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular risks due to the presence of resveratrol. As a natural antioxidant, resveratrol is able to prevent LDL oxidation, scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species, lower the oxidative stress, and induce NO synthesis. Resveratrol modulates various aspects of cardiovascular diseases and is effective against atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia reperfusion injury and heart failure, and many other cardiac dysfunctions [111]. 

The antioxidant capacity of anthocyanins has been demonstrated by radical scavenging of reactive oxygen species, reducing capacity, inhibition, or delaying of lipoprotein oxidation and platelet aggregation. Anthocyanins as individual compounds or present in a more complex extract have been found to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and to be involved in several different events like the prevention of DNA damage, estrogenic activity, enzymatic inhibition, anti-inflammation response, lipid peroxidation inhibition, etc. [3-7]. 

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