Mediterranean diet and cardioprotection: The role of nitrite, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols

Abstract

The continually increasing rate of myocardial infarction (MI) in the Western world at least partly can be explained by a poor diet lacking in green vegetables, fruits, and fish, and enriched in food that contains saturated fat. In contrast, a number of epidemiological studies provide strong evidence highlighting the cardioprotective benefits of the Mediterranean diet enriched in green vegetables, fruits, fish and grape wine. Regular consumption of these products leads to an accumulation of nitrate/nitrite/NO • , polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and polyphenolic compounds, such as resveratrol, in the human body. Studies have confirmed that these constituents are bioactive exogenous mediators, which induce strong protection against MI. The aim of this review is to provide a critical, in-depth analysis of the cardioprotective pathways mediated by nitrite/NO • , PUFA, and phenolic compounds of grape wines discovered in the recent years, including cross-talk between different mechanisms and compounds. Overall, these findings may facilitate the design and synthesis of novel therapeutic tools for the treatment of MI.

The effect of natural polyphenol complex of red grape wine ON L-arginine/NO system

“…Окрім того, кверце-тин та галова кислота регулюють активність цього ензиму підвищенням концентрації Ca 2+ через вивільнення в цитоплазму із внутрішньоклітинних депо або рецепторзалеж-ним механізмом, ключовою подією якого є зро-стання активності гуанілатциклази. Внаслідок цього зростає активність кальційзалежних ізоформ NOS, підвищується продукуван-ня NO і відповідно змінюється оксидативно-нітративний стан клітин [12,[22][23][24].…”

Apple Extracts Present Catabolic and Hipocolesterolemic Effect in Mice

“…Of foods that are consumed, one of the main candidate compounds are the phenols which have high antioxidant capacity [36].…”

Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Risk

“…These effects are carried out, at least partly, by the minor compounds of virgin olive oil (Fuentes et al, 2008;Fuentes et al, 2001;Perez-Jimenez et al, 1999;Perez-Martinez et al, 2010c;Rallidis et al, 2009;Ruano et al, 2005), and may be also mediated by a lesser activation of leukocytes, a lower inflammation, and a higher bioavailability of nitric oxide (Carluccio et al, 2007;Covas, 2007;Davis et al, 2007;Fuentes et al, 2008;Leighton & Urquiaga, 2007;Perez-Jimenez et al, 1999;Perez-Jimenez et al, 2007;Perez-Martinez et al, 2010b;Perona et al, 2006;Schini-Kerth et al, 2010;Serra-Majem et al, 2006;Visioli et al, 2005). Apart from olive oil, other important players in the effects of Mediterranean diet on endothelial function are nuts, fish and vegetables, all contributing to the wellbeing of this organ by promoting a lower proinflammatory, prooxidant environment (Estruch, 2010;Harris et al, 2003;Mena et al, 2009;Nadtochiy & Redman, 2011;Papoutsi et al, 2008). Furthermore, it has been recently shown that people following Mediterranean Diet improve the regenerative capacity of the endothelium and that elderly persons may partially blunt the oxidative processes associated to aging by adhering to Mediterranean diet, especially when combined with a rich antioxidant environment(Gutierrez-Mariscal et al, 2011).…”