Dietary antioxidants and cardiovascular disease

Antioxidized LDL antibodies are associated with different metabolic pathways in patients with atherosclerotic plaque and type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Oxidized lipoproteins and antioxidized LDL antibodies (antioxLDL abs) have been detected in human plasma and atherosclerotic lesions. The principle aim of this study was to analyze the possible relationship between IgG and IgM antioxLDL abs and factors involved in different metabolic pathways (inflammation, lipid metabolism, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest profile) in the occluded popliteal artery (OPA) compared with the femoral vein (FV).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Fifteen patients with advanced atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes undergoing lower limb amputation participated in this study. Each patient had OPA and FV biopsy specimens and peripheral arterial occlusive disease. By real-time PCR, gene expression was analyzed from the OPA and FV specimens, and antioxLDL ab levels were measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The OPA and FV showed a positive correlation between only IgM antioxLDL ab levels and the expression of genes involved in different metabolic pathways, including inflammation (TFPI), apoptosis (BAX, caspase 3, AKT1), plaque disruption (MMP2 and MMP10), lipid metabolism (SCARB1, PPARg), and cell turnover (CDKN1A), and genes for transcription and growth factors (NFkB and VEGFA, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that gene expression in the metabolic pathways (apoptosis, lipid metabolism, and inflammation) in the OPA and FV are directly related to the levels of IgM antioxLDL abs.

Ageing and the Mediterranean diet: a review of the role of dietary fats

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the relationship between food and health. Concerns have been raised about dietary fats and their relative nutritional advantages or disadvantages. In investigations of the associations between health and fat intake, special emphasis has been placed on the benefits of virgin olive oil for counteracting certain neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. With respect to ageing, accumulating evidence indicates that an improvement in quality of life can be reached by modulation of the extrinsic factors that influence many ageing processes. Of the modifiable factors, nutrition appears to be one of the strongest elements known to influence the rate of ageing as well as the incidence of age-associated diseases such as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative pathologies. This paper reviews the theory of ageing and the role of fatty acids in the mechanisms affecting its evolution. It also confirms that virgin olive oil, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, provides large amounts of stable and not easily oxidizable fatty acids as well as remarkable quantities of powerful antioxidant molecules.

Oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: the role of antioxidants and pro-oxidants

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant capacity. This may be due to increased free radical formation in the body and/or loss of normal antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress has been associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. The role of antioxidants in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease is currently under study. Although epidemiologic evidence indicates that antioxidants may decrease cardiovascular risk, clinical trial data are not conclusive. Information regarding the use and benefits of antioxidants in persons with diabetes is limited. Persons with diabetes may be more prone to oxidative stress because hyperglycemia depletes natural antioxidants and facilitates the production of free radicals. In addition, other factors such as homocysteine, insulin resistance, and aging may be contributory. This article highlights landmark clinical trials that have examined the cardioprotective effect of antioxidants. Because these trials have not been designed to study persons with diabetes, and clinical trial data for this group are not available, correlational studies are also presented. Finally, the concept of oxidative stress, the antioxidant and pro-oxidant factors that may contribute to oxidative stress, and the consequences of oxidative stress in persons with type 2 diabetes are presented. Key words: antioxidants, clinical trials,