Is oxidative stress a therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease?

Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered major drivers in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including renal and cardiovascular disease. A symbiotic relationship also appears to exist between oxidative stress and inflammation. Several emerging therapies target these crucial pathways, to alleviate the burden of the aforementioned diseases. Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, a pathological state which not only leads to direct cellular damage but also an inflammatory cascade that further perpetuates tissue injury. Emerging therapeutic strategies tackle these pathways in a variety of ways, from increasing antioxidant defenses (antioxidants and Nrf2 activators) to reducing ROS production (NADPH oxidase inhibitors and XO inhibitors) or inhibiting the associated inflammatory pathways (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, lipoxins, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and AT-1 receptor antagonists). This review summarizes the mechanisms by which oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to and perpetuate diabetes associated renal and cardiovascular disease along with the therapeutic strategies which target these pathways to provide reno and cardiovascular protection in the setting of diabetes.

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The Role of Antioxidants Supplementation in Clinical Practice: Focus on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10020146 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

Vittoria Cammisotto ◽

Cristina Nocella ◽

Simona Bartimoccia ◽

Valerio Sanguigni ◽

Davide Francomano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Antioxidant Supplementation ◽

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Human Disorders ◽

Stress Burden

Oxidative stress may be defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant system to counteract or detoxify these potentially damaging molecules. This phenomenon is a common feature of many human disorders, such as cardiovascular disease. Many of the risk factors, including smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and obesity, are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, involving an elevated oxidative stress burden (either due to enhanced ROS production or decreased antioxidant protection). There are many therapeutic options to treat oxidative stress-associated cardiovascular diseases. Numerous studies have focused on the utility of antioxidant supplementation. However, whether antioxidant supplementation has any preventive and/or therapeutic value in cardiovascular pathology is still a matter of debate. In this review, we provide a detailed description of oxidative stress biomarkers in several cardiovascular risk factors. We also discuss the clinical implications of the supplementation with several classes of antioxidants, and their potential role for protecting against cardiovascular risk factors.

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Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, Nut-Related Antioxidants, and Cardiovascular Disease

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12030682 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 682 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Julia Lorenzon dos Santos ◽

Alexandre Schaan de Quadros ◽

Camila Weschenfelder ◽

Silvia Bueno Garofallo ◽

Aline Marcadenti

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Prevention ◽

Food Sources ◽

Dietary Antioxidants ◽

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽

Atherosclerosis Progression ◽

Coronary Syndrome ◽

Biomarkers Of Oxidative Stress

Atherosclerosis is related to fat accumulation in the arterial walls and vascular stiffening, and results in acute coronary syndrome which is commonly associated with acute myocardial infarction. Oxidative stress participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, the inclusion of food sources of dietary antioxidants, such as different kinds of nuts, may improve biomarkers related to oxidative stress, contributing to a possible reduction in atherosclerosis progression. This article has briefly highlighted the interaction between oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, in addition to the effect of the consumption of different nuts and related dietary antioxidants—like polyphenols and vitamin E—on biomarkers of oxidative stress in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Studies in vitro suggest that nuts may exert antioxidant effects by DNA repair mechanisms, lipid peroxidation prevention, modulation of the signaling pathways, and inhibition of the MAPK pathways through the suppression of NF-κB and activation of the Nrf2 pathways. Studies conducted in animal models showed the ability of dietary nuts in improving biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as oxLDL and GPx. However, clinical trials in humans have not been conclusive, especially with regards to the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

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