Cardiovascular health

The cardiovascular health care marketplace is highly competitive. This works to the advantage of medical device companies. Hospitals are engaged in intense competition for those who might be candidates for cardiovascular therapies. Therefore, hospitals are anxious to offer the best treatment possible, having the newest devices. Medical specialties are also competing for their share of the same patient population. 

Trilinolein is a polyunsaturated fat. This type of fat is an antioxidant that has been linked to a number of potential cardiovascular health benefits. It is found in seed oils such as safflower oil and linseed oil. 

The current weight of evidence suggests that soy does have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health however, the active component has yet to be identified. Studies have also demonstrated that dietary inclusion of phytoestrogen-rich foods can lower plasma cholesterol levels (Ridges et al., 2001). However, these data do not conclusively demonstrate that phytoesfrogens are responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effect, and it is possible that some other component in soy may be responsible (Erdman and Fordyce, 1989 Ling and Jones, 1995). 

In order to get recent advances on the effects of phytoestrogens on hormonal-dependent diseases as well as on human supplementation trials, it might be useful to refer to http //www.venus-ca.org/ (EU-funded project on dietary exposure to phytoestrogens and related compounds and effects on skeletal tissues) http //www.phytos.org (EU-funded project on the prevention of osteoporosis by nutritional phytoestrogens) http //www.phytoprevent.org (EU-funded project on the role of phytoestrogens in the prevention of breast and prostate cancer) and http //www.nutrition.tum.de/isoheart.htm (EU-funded project on cardiovascular health of postmenopausal women). 

Reed, J., Cranberry flavonoids, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular health, Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., 42, 301, 2002. 

Higuera-Ciapara, L, Felix-Valenzuela, L., and Goycoolea, R, Astaxanthin a review of its chemistry and applications, Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 46, 185, 2006. Voutilainen, S. et ah. Carotenoids and cardiovascular health. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 83, 1265, 2006. 

Regular aerobic exercise, geared to the person s ability, to promote cardiovascular health, strength, improved mood, and reduce fatigue... 

The prevalence of obesity in older adults is increasing therefore, it should not be surprising that more cardiovascular risk factors are present in this group of individuals. Additionally, obesity is a major predictor of functional limitation and mobility problems in older persons. Age alone should not prejudice the clinician from treating geriatric patients, whereas the benefits of cardiovascular health and functionality should be considered. Treatments should be initiated that minimize adverse effects on bone health and nutritional status and should include dietary and activity modifications.6... 

The endothelial vascular cells have an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health, producing nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator. NO also prevents the adhesion of leukocytes and platelets to the endothelial surface and platelet aggregation (Barringer and others 2008 Erdman and others 2007). 

Geleijnse JM and Hollman PCh. 2008. Flavonoids and cardiovascular health which compounds, what mechanisms Am J Clin Nutr 88(1) 12—13. 

Kris-Etherton PM and Keen CL. 2002. Evidence that the antioxidant flavonoids in tea and cocoa are beneficial for cardiovascular health. Curr Opin Lipidol 13(1) 41—49. 

PM causes its health effects, especially its effect on cardiovascular health, are unclear there is some evidence that chemical composition of PM is not as important as particle size, with the greatest risks associated with what is designated as PM 2.5 (particle size less than 2.5 pm). Some experimental evidence suggests (but does not establish) that so-called fine (0.25 to 1.0 pm) and ultrafine (<0.25 pm) are the most potent toxicants, but regulation is now focused on PM 2.5. Regulation of PM and the primary air pollutants is highly contentious, because the costs of controlling them are enormous. 

Longstreth WT Jr, Arnold AM, Manolio TA, Burke GL, Bryan N, Jungreis CA, et al (2000) Clinical correlates of ventricular and sulcal size on cranial magnetic resonance imaging of 3,301 elderly people. The Cardiovascular Health Study. Collaborative Research Group. Neuroepidemiology 19(1) 30-A2... 

Based on the majority of the evidence provided in the scientific database, and despite the limitations, Health Canada and the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) concluded that the majority of people with celiac disease can tolerate moderate amounts of pure oats. The incorporation of oats into a gluten-free diet provides high fiber and vitamin B content, increased palatability, and beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. However, it is recommended that individuals with celiac disease should have both initial and long-term assessments by a health professional when introducing pure oats into a gluten-free diet. 

Vitamin E is a family of eight compounds, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Tocotrienols appear to affect a key enzyme in the liver (HMG CoA reductase), which plays a key role in the synthesis of cholesterol. As such tocotrienols help maintain good cardiovascular health. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and prevents the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol). Vitamin E functions as anticoagulant, which means it delays the clotting of the blood. It can help prevent thrombosis, the formation of blood clots in the arteries. 

Aside from vitamins C and E many other compounds present in fruits and vegetables have been shown to have anti-oxidant properties. Among these compounds there are several classes of phenolic compounds. Aside from preventing scurvy these compounds have a positive influence on cardiovascular health. 

Geleijnse et al., 2002 Mukamal et al., 2002], Mechanisms by which these compounds exert their cardiovascular protective effects are still unknown. It is widely hypothesized that dietary flavonoids improve cardiovascular health and may help to prevent cardiovascular diseases/events by inhibiting pathogenic processes such as oxidative stress (lipid and protein peroxidation), inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation [Nijveldt et al., 2001]. 

Studies from several laboratories including ours have revealed that quercetin is able to prevent or revert hypertension and endothelial dysfunction, and we believe that this is a fundamental mechanism involved in the protective effects of flavonoids on cardiovascular health. Oral administration of quercetin (5 or... 

Lissin LW, Cooke JP. 2000. Phytoestrogens and cardiovascular health. J Am Coll... 

Sacks FM, Lichtenstein A, Van HL, Harris W, Kris-Etherton P, Winston M. 2006. Soy protein, isoflavones, and cardiovascular health An American Heart Association Science Advisory for professionals from the Nutrition Committee. Circulation 113 1034—1044. 

It remains to be seen whether the observed advantageous health effects of milk or dairy consumption are affected by the level of fat within these food items. It had previously been hypothesized that saturated fat in milk would have unfavorable health effects, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health and obesity because of the observed links between dietary saturated fat and CVD. In the Hoorn study, however, low-fat dairy consumption was positively related, while high-fat dairy consumption... 

Turpeinen, A. M., Jauhiainen, T., Jakala, P., Lehtinen, R., Vapaatalo, H., and Korpela, R. (2009). Milk peptides and cardiovascular health—Effects on blood pressure and beyond. Aus. J. Dairy Technol. 64, 26-28. 

Hence, ACE inhibitors reduce the detrimental effects of excess angiotensin II and aldosterone, and prolong the beneficial effects of bradykinin. These effects work in combination to sustain cardiovascular health in people with heart failure. 

Francucci CM, Camilletti A, Boscaro M. Raloxifene and cardiovascular health its relationship to lipid and glucose metabolism, hemostatic and inflammation factors and cardiovascular function in postmenopausal women. Curr Pharm Des. 2005 11 4187-4206. 

Valentin Fuster MD PhD Director, Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular institute and the Marie-Josee and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health The Mount Sinai Medical Center Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of... 

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