Eicosanoid cardiovascular effects

Resveratrol has also been reported to offer protection against cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease. The effects of resveratrol on factors implicated in the development of coronary heart disease - human platelet aggregation and the synthesis of eicosanoids (lipids) from arachidonate by platelets - were investigated and compared with the actions of other wine phenolics - catechin (1.39), epicatechin (7.18a), and quercetin (1.43) - and the antioxidants a-tocopherol (7.10a), hydroquinone and butylated hydroxytoluene. Resveratrol and quercetin demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation, whereas the other compounds tested were inactive. Resveratrol also inhibited the synthesis of the eicosanoids in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the other phenolics were less effective of not effective at all. Removal of the alcohol from the wine did not diminish the effect on platelet aggregation (Pace-Asciak et al., 1995 Goldberg et al., 1995). 

Other Pathologies. Because of their many varied physiologic effects, the eicosanoids are involved in a number of other pathologic conditions. Prostaglandins have been implicated in cardiovascular disorders (hypertension), neoplasms (colon cancer), respiratory dysfunction (asthma), neurologic disorders (multiple... 

The development of these chronic. Western-type diseases is associated with an excessive formation and function of eicosanoids derived from n-6 fatty acids. As balance can be restored to eicosanoid biosynthesis by dietary n-3 fatty acids, an effective strategy to diminish cardio-cerebrovascular mortality (in addition to several other serious disorders) may be to decrease the intake of n-6 fatty acids and replace them with n-3 fatty acids (116). Such a strategy is supported by studies that show an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, specifically ischemic heart disease, in Japanese whose diet has increasingly become more Westernized (113, 117). 

EGCG possesses beneficial effects in cardiovascular diseases in which inflammation and oxidative stress are the primary causes of concern. EGCG has been shown to inhibit DNA damage, LDL oxidation, and nitric oxide production. It has also been shown to scavenge free radicals, decrease the production of inflammatory mediators (such as cytokines and eicosanoids), and modulate inflammatory genes (such as NE-kB and... 

Seaweeds are known as low-energy food. Despite low lipid content, (B-3 and (B-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) introduce a significant part of seaweed lipids. PUFAs are the important components of all cell membranes and precursors of eicosanoids that are essential bioregulators of many cellular processes. PUFAs effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, ostheo-porosis, and diabetes. Because of the frequent usage of seaweeds in Asia and their increasing utilization as food also in other parts of the world, seaweeds could contribute to the improvement of a low level of (B-3 PUFAs, especially in the Western diet The major... 

In 2008, a group of Centro de Investigacion Cardiovascular, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas/lnstitut Catala de Ciencies Cardiovasculars-Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain examined whether oleanolic acid (43) could modulate the eicosanoid biosynthesis and if so, to determine the mechanism on the effect. 

The combination of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with PS is having an emerging interest it has been reported that it is effective in reducing the levels of inflammation markers [38, 46] and cardiovascular risk factors including total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, pro-aggregatory factors, eicosanoid, and thromboxane A2 levels [47]. Moreover, MicaUef et al. [38] estimated that sunola or fish oils (4.0 g day ), which are rich in n-3 fatty acids, were more efficient in reducing cancer risk when administered in combination with 2.0 g day of PS than when administered alone. 

Eicosanoids produced from AA appear to be involved in the development of such diseases as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, hypertension and asthma. Much research has been conducted in recent years on the potential beneficial effects of co-3 fatty acid-rich diets on these disease... 

In this aspect, novel anti-inflammatory mediators, including resolvins and protectins derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 6 FA), are discovered in association with the beneficial effects of dietary DHA on prevention of cardiovascular diseases [37, 38], In contrast, lipidomics research further confirmed the association of a variety of eicosanoids, oxylipins, and endocannabinoids with initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases [39], These studies strongly suggest that the levels of n-3 and n-6 PUFA should be well balanced. 

The available evidence suggests that n-6 fatty acid-derived eicosanoids are generally proinflamma-tory and prothrombotic. In contrast, eicosanoids derived from n-3 fatty acids have attenuated biological activity on cardiovascular risk factors. The effects of altering n-6 PUFA intake, in conjvmction with changes in other polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as other classes of fatty acids, on endothelial function, thrombosis, and inflammation are not understood. The relative proportion of all the classes of fatty acids in the diet may well be more important and relevant to cardiovascular risk reduction than any single class of fatty acids. Clearly such research warrants further investigation. 

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