Group items tagged

A compound found in vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, may protect arteries from disease by boosting a natural defence mechanism, says a new study from the UK. Researchers from Imperial College London (ICL) report that sulforaphane, a compound most widely associated with broccoli, may activate a protein called Nrf2 in arteries, according to findings published in Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. While the protein is normally protective, in areas of arteries that are susceptible to disease the London-based researchers found that Nrf2 is inactive.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease: results from NHANES 2001 to 2004. Melamed ML, Muntner P, Michos ED, Uribarri J, Weber C, Sharma J, Raggi P. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008 Jun;28(6):1179-85. Epub 2008 Apr 16. PMID: 18417640 doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.165886 Conclusions- Low serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with a higher prevalence of PAD. Several mechanisms have been invoked in the literature to support a potential antiatherosclerotic activity of vitamin D. Prospective cohort and mechanistic studies should be designed to confirm this association. Vitamin D is an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system and has antiinflammatory and anticoagulant properties. Among 4839 NHANES 2001 to 2004 participants, low 25(OH)D levels were associated with a higher prevalence of PAD, after multivariate adjustment. To confirm this association, longitudinal cohort and mechanistic studies are needed.

Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention (ASAP) study: a randomized trial of the effect of vitamins E and C on 3-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis. Salonen JT, Nyyssönen K, Salonen R, Lakka HM, Kaikkonen J, Porkkala-Sarataho E, Voutilainen S, Lakka TA, Rissanen T, Leskinen L, Tuomainen TP, Valkonen VP, Ristonmaa U, Poulsen HE. J Intern Med. 2000 Nov;248(5):377-86. PMID: 11123502 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2000.00752.x Conclusions. Our study shows that a combined supplementation with reasonable doses of both vitamin E and slow-release vitamin C can retard the progression of common carotid atherosclerosis in men. This may imply benefits with regard to other atherosclerosis-based events.

Six-year effect of combined vitamin C and E supplementation on atherosclerotic progression: the Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention (ASAP) Study. Salonen RM, Nyyssönen K, Kaikkonen J, Porkkala-Sarataho E, Voutilainen S, Rissanen TH, Tuomainen TP, Valkonen VP, Ristonmaa U, Lakka HM, Vanharanta M, Salonen JT, Poulsen HE; Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention Study. Circulation. 2003 Feb 25;107(7):947-53. PMID: 12600905 doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000050626.25057.51 Conclusions- These data replicate our 3-year findings confirming that the supplementation with combination of vitamin E and slow-release vitamin C slows down atherosclerotic progression in hypercholesterolemic persons.

Mercury, fish oils, and risk of acute coronary events and cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality in men in eastern Finland. Virtanen JK, Voutilainen S, Rissanen TH, Mursu J, Tuomainen TP, Korhonen MJ, Valkonen VP, Seppänen K, Laukkanen JA, Salonen JT. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005 Jan;25(1):228-33. Epub 2004 Nov 11. PMID: 15539625 doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000150040.20950.61 Conclusions- High content of mercury in hair may be a risk factor for acute coronary events and CVD, CHD, and all-cause mortality in middle-aged eastern Finnish men. Mercury may also attenuate the protective effects of fish on cardiovascular health. Mercury may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, high mercury content in hair increased the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in middle-aged Finnish men and attenuated the beneficial effects of fish oils on cardiovascular health. Regular consumption of fish with high mercury content should be avoided.

Conjugated linoleic acid impairs endothelial function. Taylor JS, Williams SR, Rhys R, James P, Frenneaux MP. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 Feb;26(2):307-12. Epub 2005 Dec 8. PMID: 16339498 CONCLUSIONS: A CLA isomeric mixture had at most modest effects on adiposity and worsened endothelial function. On the basis of these results, the use of the isomeric mixture of CLA as an aid to weight loss cannot be recommended