|
|
||||||||
Review Article |
1 From the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.
The vascular endothelium is the primary site of dysfunction in many diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease. A variety of risk factors, including smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, adversely affect endothelial function. Emerging evidence suggests an important role of dietary factors in modulating endothelial function. In particular, n-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins (especially vitamins E and C), folic acid, and L-arginine appear to have beneficial effects on vascular endothelial function, either by decreasing endothelial activation or by improving endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease as well as in healthy subjects. These effects may serve as one potential mechanism through which these nutrients reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as observed in epidemiologic studies and several clinical trials. This article reviews clinical and experimental evidence regarding the role of these nutrients in modulating endothelial function and their potential to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Key Words: Cardiovascular disease endothelial function folic acid antioxidants vitamin E n-3 fatty acids L-arginine diabetes
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J. Magne, J. F. Huneau, D. Tsikas, S. Delemasure, L. Rochette, D. Tome, and F. Mariotti Rapeseed Protein in a High-Fat Mixed Meal Alleviates Postprandial Systemic and Vascular Oxidative Stress and Prevents Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Healthy Rats J. Nutr., September 1, 2009; 139(9): 1660 - 1666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Ros Nuts and novel biomarkers of cardiovascular disease Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2009; 89(5): 1649S - 1656S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Chechi, J. J. McGuire, and S. K. Cheema Developmental programming of lipid metabolism and aortic vascular function in C57BL/6 mice: a novel study suggesting an involvement of LDL-receptor Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2009; 296(4): R1029 - R1040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Siekmeier, T. Grammer, and W. Marz Roles of Oxidants, Nitric Oxide, and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Endothelial Function Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, December 1, 2008; 13(4): 279 - 297. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. C. Almeida, T. Zelmanovitz, J. S. Vaz, T. Steemburgo, M. S. Perassolo, J. L. Gross, and M. J. Azevedo Sources of Protein and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids of the Diet and Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus J. Am. Coll. Nutr., October 1, 2008; 27(5): 528 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. M. Kris-Etherton, F. B. Hu, E. Ros, and J. Sabate The Role of Tree Nuts and Peanuts in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Multiple Potential Mechanisms J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1746S - 1751S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
U. J. Jung, C. Torrejon, A. P Tighe, and R. J Deckelbaum n-3 Fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: mechanisms underlying beneficial effects Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2008; 87(6): 2003S - 2009S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Siekmeier, C. Steffen, and W. Marz Role of Oxidants and Antioxidants in Atherosclerosis: Results of In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, December 1, 2007; 12(4): 265 - 282. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. S. Getz and C. A. Reardon Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, December 1, 2007; 27(12): 2499 - 2506. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. de Bree, L. A van Mierlo, and R. Draijer Folic acid improves vascular reactivity in humans: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2007; 86(3): 610 - 617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Giugliano, A. Ceriello, and K. Esposito The Effects of Diet on Inflammation: Emphasis on the Metabolic Syndrome J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 15, 2006; 48(4): 677 - 685. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A Nettleton, L. M Steffen, E. J Mayer-Davis, N. S Jenny, R. Jiang, D. M Herrington, and D. R Jacobs Jr Dietary patterns are associated with biochemical markers of inflammation and endothelial activation in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2006; 83(6): 1369 - 1379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. B Schulze, K. Hoffmann, J. E Manson, W. C Willett, J. B Meigs, C. Weikert, C. Heidemann, G. A Colditz, and F. B Hu Dietary pattern, inflammation, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2005; 82(3): 675 - 684. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Jula, J. Marniemi, T. Ronnemaa, A. Virtanen, and R. Huupponen Effects of Diet and Simvastatin on Fatty Acid Composition in Hypercholesterolemic Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, September 1, 2005; 25(9): 1952 - 1959. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. J Pattison, D. P. Symmons, M. Lunt, A. Welch, S. A Bingham, N. E Day, and A. J Silman Dietary {beta}-cryptoxanthin and inflammatory polyarthritis: results from a population-based prospective study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 451 - 455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. T Fung, M. L McCullough, P. Newby, J. E Manson, J. B Meigs, N. Rifai, W. C Willett, and F. B Hu Diet-quality scores and plasma concentrations of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2005; 82(1): 163 - 173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Parikh, M. C. McDaniel, M. D. Ashen, J. I. Miller, M. Sorrentino, V. Chan, R. S. Blumenthal, and L. S. Sperling Diets and Cardiovascular Disease: An Evidence-Based Assessment J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 3, 2005; 45(9): 1379 - 1387. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. M Hjerkinn, I. Seljeflot, I. Ellingsen, P. Berstad, I. Hjermann, L. Sandvik, and H. Arnesen Influence of long-term intervention with dietary counseling, long-chain n-3 fatty acid supplements, or both on circulating markers of endothelial activation in men with long-standing hyperlipidemia Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2005; 81(3): 583 - 589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Lopez-Garcia, M. B. Schulze, J. B. Meigs, J. E. Manson, N. Rifai, M. J. Stampfer, W. C. Willett, and F. B. Hu Consumption of Trans Fatty Acids Is Related to Plasma Biomarkers of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction J. Nutr., March 1, 2005; 135(3): 562 - 566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A Armitage, I. Y Khan, P. D Taylor, P. W Nathanielsz, and L. Poston Developmental programming of the metabolic syndrome by maternal nutritional imbalance: how strong is the evidence from experimental models in mammals? J. Physiol., December 1, 2004; 561(2): 355 - 377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Lopez-Garcia, M. B Schulze, T. T Fung, J. B Meigs, N. Rifai, J. E Manson, and F. B Hu Major dietary patterns are related to plasma concentrations of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2004; 80(4): 1029 - 1035. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A. Laukkanen, S. Kurl, R. Salonen, R. Rauramaa, and J. T. Salonen The predictive value of cardiorespiratory fitness for cardiovascular events in men with various risk profiles: a prospective population-based cohort study Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2004; 25(16): 1428 - 1437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Lopez-Garcia, M. B. Schulze, J. E. Manson, J. B. Meigs, C. M. Albert, N. Rifai, W. C. Willett, and F. B. Hu Consumption of (n-3) Fatty Acids Is Related to Plasma Biomarkers of Inflammation and Endothelial Activation in Women J. Nutr., July 1, 2004; 134(7): 1806 - 1811. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
E. Ros, I. Nunez, A. Perez-Heras, M. Serra, R. Gilabert, E. Casals, and R. Deulofeu A Walnut Diet Improves Endothelial Function in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects: A Randomized Crossover Trial Circulation, April 6, 2004; 109(13): 1609 - 1614. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Fonseca, C. Desouza, S. Asnani, and I. Jialal Nontraditional Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetes Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2004; 25(1): 153 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. Khan, K. Elherik, C. Bolton-Smith, R. Barr, A. Hill, I. Murrie, and J. J.F Belch The effects of dietary fatty acid supplementation on endothelial function and vascular tone in healthy subjects Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2003; 59(4): 955 - 962. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Ros Dietary cis-monounsaturated fatty acids and metabolic control in type 2 diabetes Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2003; 78(3): 617S - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Khodr, J. Howard, K. Watson, and Z. Khalil Effect of Short-Term and Long-Term Antioxidant Therapy on Primary and Secondary Ageing Neurovascular Processes J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2003; 58(8): B698 - 708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Samman, G. Sivarajah, J. C. Man, Z. I. Ahmad, P. Petocz, and I. D. Caterson A Mixed Fruit and Vegetable Concentrate Increases Plasma Antioxidant Vitamins and Folate and Lowers Plasma Homocysteine in Men J. Nutr., July 1, 2003; 133(7): 2188 - 2193. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. B. Hu, E. Cho, K. M. Rexrode, C. M. Albert, and J. E. Manson Fish and Long-Chain {omega}-3 Fatty Acid Intake and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Total Mortality in Diabetic Women Circulation, April 15, 2003; 107(14): 1852 - 1857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. J. Padayatty, A. Katz, Y. Wang, P. Eck, O. Kwon, J.-H. Lee, S. Chen, C. Corpe, A. Dutta, S. K Dutta, et al. Vitamin C as an Antioxidant: Evaluation of Its Role in Disease Prevention J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2003; 22(1): 18 - 35. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. De Bree, W. M. M. Verschuren, D. Kromhout, L. A. J. Kluijtmans, and H. J. Blom Homocysteine Determinants and the Evidence to What Extent Homocysteine Determines the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Pharmacol. Rev., December 1, 2002; 54(4): 599 - 618. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |