Important New Research
Demonstrates The Protective
Benefits Of Antioxidants,Carotenoids and Phytonutrients
For Maintaining Cardiovascular Health
Dietary supplementation with
polyphenols from red wine may
slow the decline in vascular function
associated with age, suggests a
new study. Subjects administered red wine polyphenols in
the laboratory were found to have less dysfunction of the
endothelium (the cells lining blood vessels) as well as
an improved ageing-related decline in physical exercise,
according to findings published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
Endothelial function naturally and gradually decreases
over time, and it has been linked to range of age-related
diseases, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). “The
present findings indicate that regular intake of red wine
polyphenols starting at a young age reduces the
endothelial dysfunction and the impaired physical exercise
capacity at an advanced age,” report researchers from the
University of Strasbourg in France.
Commenting on the mechanism, the French researchers
believe that the clear benefits were linked to a
reduction in vascular oxidative stress, which may occur
by inhibiting the enzyme NADPH oxidase. The enzyme
generates superoxide and has been linked to the
hardening of arteries and an increased risk of heart
disease.
Red Wine and Heart Health
The heart health benefits of red wine led to the coining
of the phrase ‘the French Paradox’ in 1992 by Dr Serge
Renaud from Bordeaux University to describe the low
incidence of heart disease and obesity among the French,
despite their relatively high-fat diet and levels of wine
consumption.
The focus of the French Paradox then shifted towards
resveratrol, a powerful polyphenol and anti-fungal
chemical, as being the bioactive compound in grapes
and red wine.
Study Details
The researchers divided subjects into four groups:
Group 1 received 3 percent ethanol (control); groups 2
and 3 received 25 or 75 mg of red wine polyphenols per kg
of body weight per day in 3 percent ethanol; the last group
received the antioxidant and NADPH oxidase apocynin at
100 mg/kg/day in 3 percent ethanol.
Results showed that both polyphenol groups and the
apocynin group showed much lower levels of
aging-induced vascular oxidative stress in the endothelium.
Furthermore, the high dose polyphenol group, but not the
lower dose group, displayed a lower decline in physical
performance, compared to the control subjects. When
tested on a treadmill, the control subjects had an
endurance capacity of six minutes, while the high dose
group had a capacity of 9.9 minutes, and the apocynin
group had a capacity of 10.9 minutes.
“A major novel finding of the present study is that regular
intake of red wine polyphenols by the subjects prevented
aging-induced endothelial dysfunction,” wrote the
researchers. “The beneficial effect of red wine polyphenols
is explained best by their ability to support oxidative stress
in the old arterial wall to a level similar as that observed in
young arteries.
due to their direct antioxidant properties but possibly also
to changes in the expression pattern of endogenous
pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes in the arterial wall,”
they added.
Source:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
14 January 2011
“Chronic intake of red wine polyphenols by young rats
prevents aging-induced endothelial dysfunction and
decline in physical performance: Role of NADPH oxidase”
Editor’s Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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