Cardiovascular system basal function

FMD and blood pressure have been often used for the evaluation of the effect of the dietary intake of polyphenols on the protection of the cardiovascular system. Indeed, the basal FMD is increased in healthy subjects after two glasses of red wine with or without alcohol [100] or after consumption of 3 ml/kg of red wine [101]. Similarly, intake of red wine has been shown to restore a normal endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic patients with impaired FMD [99,102]. A study by Papamichael et al. has also shown that acute intake of two glasses of red wine with or without alcohol is able to reduce the endothelial dysfunction induced by the smoking of one cigarette by healthy nonsmokers [103], Moreover, acute intake of two glasses of red wine without alcohol improves FMD in patients with coronary artery disease, while intake of regular red wine was less effective, suggesting that the beneficial effect is due to the polyphenol content rather than the alcohol component of red wines [104]. 

Dopamine is the immediate precursor in the synthesis of norepinephrine (see Figure 6-5). Its cardiovascular effects were described above. Endogenous dopamine may have more important effects in regulating sodium excretion and renal function. It is an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and is involved in the reward stimulus relevant to addiction. Its deficiency in the basal ganglia leads to Parkinson s disease, which is treated with its precursor levodopa. Dopamine receptors are also targets for antipsychotic drugs. 

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